Steelers Notebook: Parker leads league in rushing
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Willie Parker's 124 yards rushing Sunday against the Patriots boosted him ahead of the Vikings' Adrian Peterson as the top rusher in the NFL. (at Patriots 12/9/2007)
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It garnered little attention because of the fallout to the Steelers' loss in New England and then their loss of Aaron Smith, but Willie Parker leads the National Football League in rushing.
Parker's 124 yards against the Patriots boosted him to 1,217 yards, 17 more than Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson, who missed two games with an injury.
No Steelers player has led the NFL in rushing in 60 years. The last to do it was Hall of Famer "Bullet" Bill Dudley in 1946, when he gained 604 yards. Dudley also led the NFL with 696 yards as a rookie in 1942.
The only other Steelers player to lead the NFL in rushing was Byron "Whizzer" White with 567 yards in 1938, also as a rookie.
Barry Foster is the only player to lead the AFC in rushing with the Steelers when he set the team record of 1,690 in 1992.
Also making a run at the NFL rushing title is San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, who has 1,195 yards.
Only two other players have topped 1,000 yards: Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook with 1,110 and Baltimore's Willis McGahee with 1,093. The Steelers play at Baltimore in the season finale.
Parker has gone over 1,200 yards three consecutive seasons and is on pace for 1,498 yards at an average of 93.6 per game. He had 1,494 yards last season.
Free safety Troy Polamalu, who missed the past three games with a sprained knee, is scheduled to practice today and could return to the starting lineup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Polamalu practiced last Wednesday, too, but his knee was re-injured in practice and he did not suit up again.
Ben Roethlisberger has a sore right shoulder, which would be cause for concern if coach Mike Tomlin did not throw ice on it when he cautioned that "I don't want to make more out of it than what it is; it is just sore."
Starting right tackle Willie Colon has a calf strain that Tomlin said could limit him somewhat in early practices starting today. And while Santonio Holmes returned to start in New England after missing two games with a high ankle sprain, Tomlin said he might limit Holmes' practice time as well, although he should be available to play.
Other injuries, all minor according to the coach, involve linebacker Andre Frazier (groin) and cornerback Bryant McFadden (ankle).
LaMarr Woodley, who has missed two of the past three weeks with a hamstring injury, also will practice today.
Cornerback Deshea Townsend left the game Sunday briefly but returned. "Deshea got hit by James Harrison. Friendly fire if you will. He is going to be fine," Tomlin said.
Tomlin responded to Patriots coach Bill Belichick's criticism of the Steelers' safeties. Belichick said about Anthony Smith: "We've played against a lot better safeties than him, I'll tell you." And about the team's safeties in particular: "Well, again, the safety play at that position was pretty inviting."
"I don't care what Coach Belichick has to say after the games regarding our performance," Tomlin said. "I compliment them for a great game and we move forward. His opinions are irrelevant to us, because we focus on what it is we do and how we prepare in moving forward. Do we need to get better play? Absolutely, but it won't be because he said it."
Tomlin on kicker Jeff Reed, whose 2-for-2 performance in New England made him 21 of 23 on field goals this season: "He's having a great year, but we prefer him to kick extra points." Reed's only misses came from 65 yards in Denver and from 44 in the muck against Miami in Heinz Field. ... The Steelers picked up linebacker Marquis Cooper off waivers from Jacksonville to play special teams, Tomlin said. The Steelers released Cooper Sept. 19.
First Published December 12, 2007 12:00 am
