Staley grateful for Cowher having confidence in him
By MARK KABOLY, McKeesport Daily News Sports Editor
November 08, 2005
Duce Staley enjoyed getting back on the field. He liked being able to contribute to a win. And he loved scoring his first touchdown in more than a year. But what really made Staley smile was the fact that coach Bill Cowher had enough faith in him to entrust Sunday's game in Green Bay to a running back who hadn't carried the ball since last season's AFC title game.
"The big thing was going in there and knowing the coach had the confidence in me to give me the ball as much as he did," Staley said. "I wanted to be productive when I got the ball. It was good because it tested me. I was surprised that coach has confidence in me and trusts me. If he didn't he wouldn't have given me the ball."
Actually, Cowher didn't have much choice. Jerome Bettis was inactive because of a knee injury and starter Willie Parker left with an ankle injury in the second half of the 20-10 win over the Packers at Lambeau Field. Still, Cowher went with Staley over third-down back Verron Haynes.
"Missing all of preseason, then missing half the season, of course you have doubts," Staley said. "After that first play you kind of have to put it behind you."
Staley rushed 15 times for 76 yards and scored the game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the first rushing touchdown Green Bay allowed at home all season.
"He really seemed to get stronger as the game went on," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said. "We were pretty thin at running back by the end of the game, but he really carried the load."
Staley had just three first-half carries, but was called on to carry the load in the final two quarters.
"That was his first live contact since last year's championship game," Cowher said. "He's been running well in practice the last couple of weeks. He has been a trooper. He has sat there and been patient."
Ironically, patience hasn't always been Staley's strong suit. His desire to be an every-down back led to him leaving Philadelphia after the 2003 season to sign a five-year, $14 million contract with the Steelers.
Staley held out in training camp in 2003 because he was unhappy with his contract and playing time.
Coming off a season in which he ran for more than 1,000 yards, Staley wanted a contract extension. Facing the likelihood of splitting time with Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook in the final year of his deal, he held out.
He reported to camp before the season started, but was in coach Andy Reid's doghouse. He logged just 96 carries for 463 yards in his contract year.
This season, Staley hasn't complained about a lack of playing time since recovering from preseason knee surgery that was supposed to sideline him for a month.
"It is just the person I am," he said. "That is how I was raised. Everything happens for a reason and sooner or later your time will come. Look at all the running backs who are here now and one of us got hurt and the other had to step in. It feels good to be able to step in knowing that it won't stop."
"Guys accepted their roles," said quarterback Charlie Batch, who stepped in for injured starter Ben Roethlisberger against the Packers. "If guys are complaining it could create chaos around the locker room. It is something that this team has not done. It's nice to know that we all have one common goal."
Staley was a healthy scratch four times before getting his first carry Sunday.
"We have a bunch of good backs here and I am just happy to be back in the rotation," he said. "Whatever it takes. If it takes for me sitting back down and Jerome coming back in to play then that's how it has to be."
"Now I got to keep getting stronger and hopefully get back to the old Duce."
©The Daily News 2005
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