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Tuesday, October 09, 2001

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

Steelers (2-1) vs. Chiefs (1-3), 1 p.m. Sunday, Arrowhead Stadium. TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

One day after his second-best rushing performance with the Steelers, Jerome Bettis limped around the locker room, his left knee wrapped but not seriously injured.

"It's hurting today," said Bettis, whose knee was twisted in a pileup in the second quarter. "It's going to be a little sore after the fact, nothing that's going to keep me out."

After a check on the field and again yesterday morning, it was determined that no damage occurred. He also has his little finger on his left hand wrapped. It swelled up after it was caught between his helmet and a defender's pads.

Bettis ranks fourth in the AFC with 295 yards rushing, but his 5.2-yard average is better than the top 17 rushers. The only runner with a better average among the top 20 is teammate Amos Zereoue, who has a 7.5-yard average per carry and 157 yards.

QB Kordell Stewart had a chance to run out of bounds on a sweep around right end Sunday. Instead, he lowered his head to get a few more yards on a run that produced 11. Stewart said he will run out of bounds and slide so as not to take unnecessary shots, but if he has the chance to pick up extra yards by not doing so he will.

"When you have the opportunity to make a guy miss and cut inside to make a play, so be it," he said. "That's what keeps me involved in the game. I'm not going to be so conscious and worried about things to a point where now I'm just thinking about ... I have to slide, no. If I'm in position where I can take a guy one on one or one on two, I'll take advantage of that and try to get the most out of it."

At 6 feet 1 and 217 pounds, Stewart is not frail and he has no intention of turning into a frail quarterback.

"I'm not going to get to the point where I become a pretty boy and try to slide all the time, and get away from how I play the game."

And that is?

"Physical, all the way across the board. That's what's going to allow us on offense to use all our weapons, and I'm one of those weapons that will allow us to keep the ball moving down the field. I'm a playmaker. I'm going to do my best to make a play, regardless how it's done."

SS Lee Flowers was ready to go Sunday, so he's really ready to go this Sunday in Kansas City. Flowers was declared out by Coach Bill Cowher on the team's injury report Wednesday because of a sprained MCL in his left knee. Flowers, however, got stronger as the week went on, and he was on the field Sunday morning running forward, backward and sideways with no apparent problems. Nevertheless, he was inactive and Myron Bell started in his place.

"It feels pretty good so I'm going to give it a shot this week," Flowers said.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation announced that Nicko Sports is marketing a limited-edition, commemorative football to honor the Steelers' first regular-season game at Heinz Field.

Nikco Sports hopes to raise $37,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation -- a group that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses -- by donating $7.50 (or 7.5 percent) from each ball sold. Only 5,000 footballs will be produced, priced at $99 each.

The footballs will be sold only via a toll-free number (1-800-345-2868) or at http://www.nikcosports.com/.

WR Hines Ward is fourth among AFC receivers with 24 receptions, halfway to his team-high 48 receptions last season. Ward is the only receiver among the top five who has played three games. The rest have played four. ... P Josh Miller resides in an unusual place in the rankings. He's next-to-last in the AFC with a 38.6 average and next-to-last with a net of 29.9. Miller has punted only eight times. ... Hank Poteat ranks third in the AFC with an 11.8-yard average on 12 punt returns. ... The Steelers' offense is last in the AFC in scoring once they get inside the 20. Of the eight times they have done so, they've scored just one touchdown and two field goals. ... While Stewart ranks 14th among AFC passers with a 65.3 rating, he is fifth with a 78.2 when he throws on third down. He completed 13 of his final 15 passes Sunday against Cincinnati.