RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Steelers' Parker knows the score
Parker said last week he wasn't 100 percent healthy after sitting out two games with a sprained toe and he understood Tomlin's decision to stay with Mendenhall, who's averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
What Parker probably didn't realize was his reserve status would net him just one carry in last Sunday's 27-17 victory over Minnesota.
That was three fewer carries than third-down back Mewelde Moore and one fewer than rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace, who had 19 yards on two end-arounds.
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
"We had the ball 23 minutes," Tomlin said. "We had a couple of three-and-outs and things of that nature. You're not going to find a rhythm within games like that. We're not going to run it as much as we'd like.
"You could ask anybody about their level of participation; it will be below the line under those circumstances. ... We didn't get enough snaps."
Minnesota ran 78 plays compared to 49 for the Steelers and held a 13:56 advantage in time of possession. Parker, the Steelers' leading rusher the past four seasons, played in just one series, gaining two yards on his only carry.
While Parker might not be happy with only getting one carry in a game, he certainly is no stranger to a running back losing a starting job because of injury.
"I got my starting job when guys got hurt," he said.
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2004, Parker played sparingly that season, getting 32 carries for 186 yards.
Training camp injuries to Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis the following year left Parker with a starting role heading into the regular season. He ran with it, gaining 161 yards in a season-opening victory over Tennessee before rushing for 111 yards in a win over Houston the next week.
By the time Bettis and Staley returned, Parker was the Steelers' feature back and finished the season with 1,202 yards and four touchdowns, helping the team to a victory in Super Bowl XL over Seattle.
He's continued in that starting role the past five seasons until the toe injury suffered in Cincinnati sidelined him for two games.
Mendenhall, the Steelers' top pick in 2008, has responded with 373 yards rushing on 71 carries with four touchdowns in four games. Parker has gained 187 yards on 60 carries.
"I'm not healthy," said Parker, who's third on the team's all-time rushing list with 5,176 yards. "Coach and I talk all the time and he knows I'm not healthy. We'll see where we're at when I'm back to where I need to be."
But the writing may be on the wall for Parker.
He is one of five starters who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of this season. Nose tackle Casey Hampton, free safety Ryan Clark, placekicker Jeff Reed and right tackle Willie Colon are the others.
All have expressed an interest in returning to the Steelers next year, but the Steelers might want to go in another direction.
Odds and end zones
Tomlin gave the veterans a week off because the Steelers won't play until Nov. 9 in Denver. Only rookies were required to report to the training facility Wednesday. ... This week's bye is the latest the Steelers have had one since the 1999 season, when they were off in Week 8. ... Since the NFL instituted bye weeks in 1990, the Steelers are 11-9 the following week. Tomlin's record is 1-2 coming out of the bye. ... An official scoring change from Minnesota game has given defensive tackle Kevin Williams a sack for minus-one yard of Ben Roethlisberger. The play was originally ruled a scramble.
Related articles:
Are the Steelers Super again? Not yet, but much is going right
Home
Parker Out Moore In : 10/30/2009
With Willie becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season with the turf toe injury...Mewelde Moore will become the second Running Back for Pittsburgh
Carrying the Ball : 11/4/2009
Althought I love Parker in Black n Gold, his injuries, salary and with M&M (Mendenhall & Moore) in the starting gate, the Rooney's will probably say goodbye at the end of the season. The only thing hold back that decision is Mendelhall's fumbles. If he starts wearing "flypaper" gloves then Rashard will get the snaps for the next couple years.
willie the end is near! : 11/4/2009
as chaz noll used to say,"time to get on with lifes work!"he been a good part of steeler history ,but as they have it ,you dont produce ,we move on without you.rashad is gonna be gooD but he better get a grip on the ball.3rd round back in the draft next yr!
