[vincesanity82]

Former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis reveals in a new book that he faked an injury to avoid getting cut in training camp in 2000 and that he thinks former coach Bill Cowher conspired with Steelers management to run quarterback Kordell Stewart out of town.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Bettis says in his new autobiography, The Bus. My Life in and out of a Helmet, that in 2000, he reported to training camp with an injured left knee and didn't say anything about it because he thought the Steelers would release him on the spot. Instead, he waited until he was tackled during a short-yardage drill, then yelled and grabbed the knee so the Steelers would think it was a new injury and that they'd be on the hook for his 2000 salary if they released him.

"Man, did I do a nice job of acting,'' Bettis writes. "The thing is, I wasn't faking that I had an injury. I was just faking that the injury happened on that short-yardage play. I had to fool the coaches and the team's medical department into thinking the injury had occurred on that play. Otherwise, the Steelers would have had their reason to cut me and my salary."

Bettis might think the "I wasn't faking ... I was just faking" excuse is an acceptable justification, but still: He lied to the team. At the same time, given the way NFL teams often treat injured players, it's not a big surprise that players aren't always completely honest about their injuries.

Bouchette reports that Bettis also suggests that Cowher wanted Stewart to fail because if Stewart had become a star quarterback, he would have commanded more money than the team wanted to pay. Stewart played in Pittsburgh from 1995 to 2002, and Bettis believes that Cowher was looking for an excuse to replace him with Tommy Maddox as the team's starter in 2002.

"Nothing against Tommy, but I always had my doubts that he won the job fair and square," Bettis writes, adding, "I can't prove it, but in my heart I really believe that Kordell was set up for failure that season."

Bettis's other revelations include that he thinks former Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski is "a coward" and that he had a secret appendectomy before the 1999 season, which the team told him not to tell the media about. To avoid having his name show up on hospital records, he registered under the name Tex Goldstein.

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[simple simon]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Bouchette reports that Bettis also suggests that Cowher wanted Stewart to fail because if Stewart had become a star quarterback, he would have commanded more money than the team wanted to pay. Stewart played in Pittsburgh from 1995 to 2002, and Bettis believes that Cowher was looking for an excuse to replace him with Tommy Maddox as the team's starter in 2002.

Kordell had 7 years to prove himself worthy, that wasnt enough ?

Bettis is a moron that needs to shut up

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by simple simon

Kordell had 7 years to prove himself worthy, that wasnt enough ?

Bettis is a moron that needs to shut up
[/left]

Both very valid points. How stupid to write a tell all book in that fashion...and yeah, Stewart got a better shake then say David Carr.

[Lefty Noob]

First Tiki, now the Bus... why do running backs have to keep shooting their mouths off like this? Lost a lot of respect for the dude with the faked injury and stabbing his ex-coach in the back like that. And by the way, anyone else getting as sick of "tell-all books" by football players as I am?

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

First Tiki, now the Bus... why do running backs have to keep shooting their mouths off like this? Lost a lot of respect for the dude with the faked injury and stabbing his ex-coach in the back like that. And by the way, anyone else getting as sick of "tell-all books" by football players as I am?

Book sells, bus gets money,even if you call out coaches and teamates and admit you lied because after all we do what we have to for money right?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Book sells, bus gets money,even if you call out coaches and teamates and admit you lied because after all we do what we have to for money right?

Sad but true. But man, I thought Bettis was above all that, you know? Very disappointing.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Sad but true. But man, I thought Bettis was above all that, you know? Very disappointing.

yea, I did lose some respect for him, I never really thought highly of tiki but did bus..on a totally different note though, Parcells is really good on monday night football..tells how it is and makes me laugh..

[Bette]

He didnt really fake the injury, he faked when he got it. If that makes any difference. I'm not so sure I want to get into judging that one.
The thing about Cowher--he admits he didnt have any evidence. Just a feeling. I lost a lot of respect for him here. He's just trying to sell his book. I am very surprised at this. Didnt think he would do that.

[EmpireWF]

I can't judge him about the injury thing...the man was protecting himself/family and keeping his job.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

I can't judge him about the injury thing...the man was protecting himself/family and keeping his job.

What he was doing was robbing the Steelers of his 2000 salary, essentially. If the injury occurred elsewhere, they would've had ever right to cut him. But by faking that it happened on the play, he essentially committed fraud. So yes, I do have a problem with that.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

What he was doing was robbing the Steelers of his 2000 salary, essentially. If the injury occurred elsewhere, they would've had ever right to cut him. But by faking that it happened on the play, he essentially committed fraud. So yes, I do have a problem with that.

For some reason, I thought it was still a football injury. But if its not, then you are right about this.

[simple simon]

everyone is missing the point here .... Kordell Stewart sucked

[Bette]

Originally Posted by simple simon

everyone is missing the point here .... Kordell Stewart sucked

No, simon. That's not the point. Besides, Stewart sucked as a quarterback. He had other skills he should have developed instead of thinking he wa a quarterback.
Bettis just wants to make himself not look so bad by stabbing Cowher.
Could the Steelers sue him for fraud?

Boy, count on you to pick out some little thing and try and make it the whole issue.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

First Tiki, now the Bus... why do running backs have to keep shooting their mouths off like this? Lost a lot of respect for the dude with the faked injury and stabbing his ex-coach in the back like that. And by the way, anyone else getting as sick of "tell-all books" by football players as I am?

I think now the constraints by the NFL and the players code have been lifted so these guys are finally scratching the itch of wanting to slag teammates that they really have an issue with.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

What he was doing was robbing the Steelers of his 2000 salary, essentially. If the injury occurred elsewhere, they would've had ever right to cut him. But by faking that it happened on the play, he essentially committed fraud. So yes, I do have a problem with that.

Yep...sounds like fraud to me...almost seems like people (teams too) are always finding loop holes around contract...a little integrity by teams and players might be nice to have.