When it comes to who will start at quarterback for the Steelers Sunday, Coach Bill Cowher's actions spoke louder than his words: It will be Kordell Stewart.
Stewart took virtually all of the snaps with the first team in practice yesterday and, while Cowher still would not reveal his decision, there remains little doubt that Stewart will start his second consecutive game when the Steelers play in Jacksonville.
Cowher said Tuesday that he already had decided between Stewart and Tommy Maddox, and he followed up by giving Stewart the brunt of the preparation time yesterday.
The coach played it coy with reporters after practice. When one asked if anything could be deduced from the fact that Stewart took the brunt of the snaps with the first team, he said, "No." Cowher said he will not announce his decision until Sunday.
Maddox and Stewart tiptoed around the issue and would confirm nothing, but it also was obvious by their reactions that Stewart will remain the starter at least for one more game.
"We know how Coach Cowher is," Stewart said. "He'll let you know when he's ready to let you know."
Said Maddox: "If Kordell's the guy this week, then I'll be over there helping him out as much as I can. It's a big game for us as a team. That's the most important thing. The most important thing is we go down to Jacksonville and win."
Maddox replaced Stewart as the starting quarterback in the fourth game, after he came off the bench and rallied them from seven points down to beat Cleveland in overtime in the third game.
He remained the starter until he was temporarily paralyzed in their game Nov. 17 at Tennessee. Stewart entered midway through the fourth quarter, with the Steelers trailing, 31-7, and drove them to 16 points, throwing touchdown passes to complete his only two series.
Last week, Stewart was 22 of 26 to help beat Cincinnati, 29-21. In 4 1/2 quarters, he has completed 35 of 43 passes for 360 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Cowher might want to ride the hot hand, he might want to give Maddox one more week's rest, he might have Stewart on a short leash, he might even stick with Stewart longer if he keeps playing well. The coach wasn't about to answer any of those questions since he wasn't ready to reveal his decision on which quarterback will start despite the obvious.
Maddox, though, said health concerns should be no reason for him not to start in Jacksonville. He was cleared by doctors Monday to resume play.
"I feel better, actually," Maddox said. "It's amazing what a week off without throwing a whole lot, running and working out [will do]. My arm felt great, I felt I was throwing the ball good. Yeah, I feel good."
Maddox could virtually do no wrong in his first six starts as he helped guide the Steelers to a 4-1-1 record. But he had his worst game at Tennessee, throwing three interceptions, completing just 14 of 28 passes and ending with a 44.9 passer rating.
Maddox has a 91.0 passer rating overall, has completed 62.8 percent of his passes and has 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
Stewart has an 85.2 passer rating, has completed 66.4 percent of his passes, has six touchdowns, five interceptions and has run 31 times for 107 yards and one touchdown.
Maddox acknowledged he would be disappointed if he does not start at Jacksonville.
"I think there's always a level of disappointment. Obviously, I feel good, I'm ready to get back out there. But that time will come. I don't know when it will be, but that time will come. I'll prepare every day and see what happens."
Maddox will be ready if Cowher decides to insert him into the game at some point Sunday, but he does not believe that two quarterbacks can share one job.
"It just doesn't work," Maddox said. "You look at other teams that tried it. If it worked, every team in the NFL would do it.
"I don't know why, I can't explain it, but the quarterback position is one that I think the guys need to know who the quarterback is. They need to get confident playing with that guy. You see guys differently, and they see you differently. Receivers have to get used to the quarterback they're playing with. If you're rotating all the time, it's hard to get in a rhythm offensively."
Maddox declined to speculate on whether he would return to the starting lineup against Houston Dec. 8 at Heinz Field.
"I'm not worried about that right now. This is Jacksonville week. Next week will take care of itself."
Stewart said he did not know if his teammates were lining up on either side of the issue.
"Truthfully, I don't know. I haven't gone around and asked anybody."
Wide receiver Plaxico Burress said he has a preference, but he wasn't about to tell anyone.
"That's for me to know and for y'all to find out," said Burress, who has thrived under Maddox. "I've been effective with both. I'm not going to say who I think should be playing because that's not my job. I'm just going to go out and play no matter who's playing."
Coaches devise their game plans Tuesday night, so Cowher likely preserved the doubt long enough to make Jacksonville work on both quarterbacks through practice Wednesday.
"You have two situations that have to be completely covered," Jacksonville Coach Tom Coughlin said.
Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878.
All signs point to Stewart at QB 
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