Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Of the approximately 1.2 billion words that have been written and spoken to explain the unraveling of the Steelers' season, the most honest and most on the mark are the comments of running back Willie Parker.
Parker, one of the younger and less sophisticated Steelers, spoke to the heart of what's wrong with this team, and he said it with only a comparatively few words after the loss Sunday to Denver.
"Last year, we were getting the job done, we just seemed hungrier. This year, it seems like we already got what we want, what's the use? What's the use of going out there and selling out?"
Out of the mouths of babes ...
The truth hurt, which is why there will be attempts to refute what Parker said. But there's no getting away from those comments. They explain what ails this team. The hunger and drive that moved the 2005 Steelers to come back from the brink of playoff expulsion to win the Super Bowl championship is missing. This is something that has been speculated upon, but only by people outside the team. These were words coming from inside the team, from a player more apt to speak from his heart than some of his more experienced, media-savvy teammates.
It should surprise no one.
This proud franchise had hungered for a Super Bowl. It had gone more than a quarter of a century without one. The coach hungered even more for such a win because it would, and did, validate his career. The players, more than anyone, wanted it. It really isn't all about winning and the ring, which is what they like to say. It's really about money. But these guys all have money. So this is what they wanted. Just like it validated Bill Cowher, it validated them. They are Super Bowl champions. Nothing, not even their 2-6 record, can take that away from them.
The Steelers are going through the kind of letdown that is common to Super Bowl champions. Winning it is so huge that a letdown is more the rule than the exception. Maybe Parker's words will wake them up and make them realize they have been remiss in their focus and their dedication, not that any reawakening could dramatically change the course of this season.
His critics will point to Cowher for failing to motivate his players. Cowher must accept some of the blame. He's not nearly demanding enough of his players. But the players must take most of the blame. In the end, it's up to them to determine about what kind of dedication they have. They know that dedication is more than talk. It's doing. It's knowing in your heart, not your head, that you care.
Of course, there will be attempts to back away from Parker's comments. When Parker meets with the media today, there's a good chance he'll use the favorite excuse of anyone who makes a comment that draws unwanted attention: He was taken out of context. Except his words are on videotape, and they were not taken out of context.
Cowher attempted to minimize Parker's statement at his news conference yesterday, which was not surprising. No coach wants to hear those words coming from a player.
"I've talked to the team," Cowher said. "You've got to be careful what you say. I think everything you're talking about is pure speculation. I talked to Willie about it. Willie certainly was not implicating any teammates, by any stretch of the imagination. To read that into it would be a misrepresentation of what he said."
Actually, it was Cowher who was misrepresenting what Parker said, and it is a stretch of anyone's imagination to believe Parker wasn't speaking from his heart, regardless of what kind of denial he might issue today.
Parker said more that hurt.
"Right now, I don't think we're believing in everybody. I don't think we're looking at the guy next to us and being like, 'He has my back. I can trust this guy.' I don't think we trust the guy next to us right now."
Damning words, to be sure, but words that explain what's wrong with the Steelers.
Parker wasn't the only Steeler speaking out.
Commenting on how Denver receiver Javon Walker caught two 10-yard touchdown passes on fade patterns, cornerback Deshea Townsend said, "Every week, the teams know what [defense] we're getting in. We have to do some situations to help us out on the outside."
Townsend wasn't just second-guessing the coaching staff, he was second-guessing the most-revered man in the Steelers' locker room, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. It bordered on blasphemy, but it shows what's going on with the Steelers. It's finger-pointing time and even the great LeBeau is subject to it.
Hines Ward, team captain, spoke what might be on the minds of a lot of the players.
"At 2-6, you have to audition for next year."
In effect, he was saying the 2006 season is over. It is, but players aren't supposed to say that.
But they're saying that and much more on the Steelers.
They're talking the talk; they're just not walking the walk.
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