Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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INDIANAPOLIS -- Who can forget the front-page picture in this newspaper a year ago, of an emotional Hines Ward, tears rolling down his cheeks after the Steelers lost at home to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game, not so much because he wasn't going to the Super Bowl, as much as that hurt, but because Jerome Bettis wasn't going to get to make the trip?Now ask yourself this:
What would Ward have done yesterday if Bettis' big fumble had cost the Steelers everything against the Indianapolis Colts and been the final play of Bettis' fabulous career?
"Thank God," Ward said, "I don't have to think about that."
Actually, that's exactly what Ward told Bettis to do when they embraced moments after the Steelers survived, 21-18, and lived to play another day -- Sunday -- in Denver in another AFC Championship Game.
"Count your blessings. Pray tonight. Thank the Man above,' " Ward said, recalling their conversation.
"I truly believe He didn't want Jerome to go out like that."
Considering the opponents were the Colts, coached by Tony Dungy, whose son committed suicide last month, it would be horribly wrong to somehow suggest a Bettis fumble could be thought of as horrific.
But, strictly in a football sense and considering everything Bettis has meant to the Steelers and the NFL in his storied career, it would have been incredibly sad if that fumble had been the play that sent him into retirement.
Do you have any idea how few times Bettis has fumbled?
Would you believe 41 times in 3,679 regular-season touches, according to NFL.com?
It's no wonder coach Bill Cowher felt comfortable giving Bettis the ball after the Steelers, leading by that 21-18 margin, took over at the Colts' 2 with 1:20 remaining. Cowher would have been tortured for not having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger take a knee three times if Bettis' fumble had lost the game, but his strategy was correct. The Colts had three timeouts. Even if a Jeff Reed field goal had made it 24-18, the Colts still would have had a minute to work with. One minute is more than enough for quarterback Peyton Manning to pull off a miracle.
"I was almost in shock when [the fumble] happened," Cowher said.
What Cowher didn't anticipate was a breakdown by his offensive line.
"I feel a little responsible," said All-Pro guard Alan Faneca, who, along with fullback Dan Kreider, led Bettis off right tackle. "I probably turned up into the hole a little prematurely. That was my man who hit Jerome."
Linebacker Gary Brackett made a fabulous play, putting his helmet on the ball and sending it flying, although Bettis wasn't in the mood to pass out much credit.
"I'm supposed to take care of the football. That's my job."
The fumble would've beaten the Steelers if Roethlisberger hadn't tackled cornerback Nick Harper on the return at the Colts' 42. Fans here long will debate if Harper would've scored if he hadn't been playing on a bad left knee, injured in a knife attack Saturday, allegedly by his wife, Danielle, in a domestic incident.
The fumble also would've beaten the Steelers if their defense hadn't made the stand of the season. It forced the Colts to settle for Mike Vanderjagt's 46-yard field-goal try with 21 seconds left. Words can't describe how impressive that was. Do you know how hard it is to be on the sideline, celebrating what you think is a victory, and then, suddenly, unexpectedly, have to go back out and turn the switch on again?
What's amazing is no one on the team would have held it against Bettis if that play had lost the game. That's how respected he is in the locker room. As it was, most of the offensive players made sure to find him on the sideline to console him. Backup running back Duce Staley was among the first.
" 'Wash it away,' " Staley told Bettis. " 'We're going to need you again.' "
The Steelers thought it would be in overtime.
As it turned out, after Vanderjagt's kick missed badly to the right, it will be in Denver.
If the Steelers win there, it will be on to Detroit for Super Bowl XL.
"To have that chance," Ward said, "is the only reason Jerome came back this season."
Because Bettis so badly wants to play in a Super Bowl. And because Detroit is his hometown.
"How amazing would that be?" Ward asked. "Somebody should write a book."
You might guess Ward already has the perfect ending in mind.
"Jerome wins the Super Bowl for us in Detroit and rides off on a stage coach ... "
Or maybe into the sunset.
Hey, you get the idea.
(Post-Gazette sports columnist Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1525.)
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