Reed, Bettis Win Weekly Hard Hat Award (Game #12, @ Jax)
Stiller K Jeff Reed and RB Jerome Bettis are the co-winners of our weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player(s) who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.
In yet another tough decision, the committee was again bitterly divided on whom to award this weeks Hard Hat. One side favored Jerome Bettis and his gutsy performance for returning to the game after suffering a broken nose, while the other faction wanted to acknowledging new placekicker Jeff Reed�s perfect 7 for 7 day of kicking. The first group was satisfied but not overly impressed with Reed, after all he was merely doing his job. The second group, while happy that Jerome seems to be back on track with his running, wasn�t all ga-ga about his return following a broken nose. After all, they said, he doesn�t run with his nose. Unkind words were exchanged and it looked like the committee would come to blows over the decision until finally a voice of reason stepped in and settled the matter. (Ok, so that we me, threatening to leave with my case of beer if a consensus could not be reached.) In the end it was decided that yet again two players were deserving of the award.
Jeff Reed�s contribution to Sunday�s victory was as impressive as it was obvious. His total of 19 points (6 FGs and 1 PAT) was clearly the biggest contribution by any player on the field that day. However, it was his calm and poise that most impressed the committee. Kickers in the NFL often have perfect days kicking, however that is rarely the case when asked to kick 2 to 3 times the average number of per game FGs. Also consider that 2 of his last 3 kicks were under fairly tense game situations: FG #4, a 46 yarder with the game at 16-10; and FG #6, a late 50 yarder with the score at 22-17, which turned out to be the game winner. Jeff also contributed one tackle on special teams, a likely TD saving tackle of Jax returner Elvis Joseph on his 53 yarder in the first quarter. Remember, at this point the score was only 6-0 in favor of the Stillers, and had Jeff not made that play, Joseph would probably have given the Jags a 6-7 lead. In his other job, Reed�s kickoffs were solid, if less than spectacular, landing (in chronological order with the return yards in parentheses) on the Jags 11 (9), 1 (53), 12 (20), 30 squib (5), 22 (0), 11 (14), 30 squib (10) and 16 (19). Average landing spot is the 16.6 yard line; factoring out the two squibs (in which a team intentionally gives up 10-15 yards of kickoff distance in order to prevent a big return) his average landing spot was the Jags 12.2 yard line; again, decent, if unspectacular. And, it is interesting to note that Jeff�s best kickoff, to the 1 yard line, resulted in a 53 yard return that Jeff himself had to put a stop to. Now, I have heard of outkicking ones PUNT coverage, but on a kickoff? Are the Stiller�s special teams so used to short kickoffs that they cannot properly cover a good one? A good question for Tuesday�s press conference with Coach Cowher, but one that, of course, no one in Da "Burgh media has the cojones to ask. In any case, Reed�s production Sunday totals to: 19 points, 1 TD saving tackle, and 659 yards of kicking (427 KO yds, 213 FG yds, 19 PAT yds). Just doing the job his is paid for? More like going above and beyond the call of duty, IMHO.
Jerome Bettis also had himself a solid if unspectacular day, with 86 yards on 20 carries, for a nice 4.3 yard per carry average. However, Jerome�s contribution is much more impressive when considering that he suffered a broken nose in the middle of the second quarter, yet still returned to the game in that same quarter and went on to produce 46 of his 86 yards AFTER the injury. In fact, on his very first run after the break, when some players (say Fragile Freddy Taylor perhaps) might be tentative, Jerome reeled off a nice 13 yarder on 1st and ten from the Stillers 44 to the Jags 43. Now, some have poo-pooed the notion that a broken nose could in any way hamper a running backs production. These people obviously have never suffered a major blow to the proboscis. Due to the proximity of the nose to the eyes, the first thing that happens is your eyes begin to water profusely. So much so that it is nearly impossible to see. This is followed by swelling in the central face area, usually right under the eyes. It is most likely that today Jerome is walking around with not one, but two puffy black eyes. Another thing that can happen is that the nose can become obstructed, hampering breathing. Given Jerome�s asthma, this is not a lightly ignored consideration. And then of course, there is the pain. A broken nose is, usually, quite a painful ordeal. So, here we have an overweight, asthmatic RB with two black eyes, can�t breathe through his nose, in pain, who guts it out and produces 46 tough yards to help the team salt away another win. All this AFTER suffering an injury that would put many players on the sidelines for the rest of the game. And oh yeah, by the way, Jerome also just happened to pass John Riggins on the all-time list for career yardage later that day. Jerome now sits at number 10 with 11,373. Next up is Thurman Thomas with 12,074.
Kudos to Jeff and Jerome for winning the weekly Hard Hat Award. Wear the Hard Hat proudly, fellas!!
Game # 11, vs Cinci: Jeff Reed and Kordell Stewart.
Game # 10, @ Tenn: Hines Ward
Game # 9, vs. Atl: Joey Porter
Game # 8, @ Clev: Amos Zereoue
Game # 7, @ Balt: Chukky Okobi
Game # 6, vs. Indy: Mike Logan
Game # 5, @ Cinci: Rodney Bailey
Game # 4, @ N.O. Alan Faneca
Game # 3, vs. Clev: Tommy Maddox
Game # 2, vs. Oak: Joey Porter
Game # 1, @ NE: No winner, due to total lack of Hard Hat-qualifying play.