Nov 22, 2002 4 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Like it or not, he’s back. Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart has long endured a love-hate relationship with Pittsburgh fans. Lately, there hasn’t been much love at all.

Stewart led the Steelers to a 13-3 record last year and a second AFC title game appearance in five seasons, but the bad feelings and mutual distrust from his turmoil-filled 1998-2000 seasons never quite went away.

That’s why loud booing chorused through Mellon Arena on Wednesday night when the Penguins’ scoreboard passed along the days-old news that Stewart would start Sunday against Cincinnati. Only a few minutes before, Steelers receiver Hines Ward’s image drew only cheers.

Maybe it’s because the fans tried believing in Stewart before, only to be let down repeatedly. Or because of the fans-be-darned stance Stewart adopted after being benched for Tommy Maddox less than a month into the season, a demotion that still perplexes him.

Now, as Maddox gets over being briefly paralyzed by a routine hit Sunday in Tennessee, Stewart is again the Steelers’ quarterback. For better or worse. For this week, and perhaps longer.

“When people doubt you, when people let you down, or people tell you that you can’t do this and they turn their backs on you, I love it that way,” Stewart said. “When no one cares, everybody thinks you’re done and you know you’re not. When you know not many people are with you, but your teammates.”

Stewart’s first start since Sept. 29 comes at a critical time in the Steelers’ season. They are winless in two games since winning four in a row and, even though the lowly Bengals (1-9) are the opposition, the Steelers (5-4-1) can’t afford many more letdowns.

Stewart comes into the game off his only effective appearance all season, throwing for two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter of the 31-23 loss Sunday at Tennessee.

Before that, his season couldn’t have been a bigger flop, with miserable starts against New England, Oakland and Cleveland leading to his third benching in four seasons. The Pro Bowl-to-backup scenario followed his career-long pattern of alternating stretches of exceptional, trend-making play with those in which he struggles with his confidence and decision-making.

But while his teammates may have lost faith in him before, wide receiver Hines Ward said Stewart impressed them this time by “showing a lot of character and not complaining.”

“Sitting on the sideline is not the easiest thing to do,” Stewart said. “But the opportunity is here and it’s time to move on and take advantage of it and help this team get back on the right page, give us an opportunity to do some things later on down the road.”

No matter what happens, Stewart realizes that every start, every pass could be his last with the Steelers.

He has one year left on his contract, and the Steelers assuredly will not pay him nearly $7 million next season to be a backup. If Maddox returns to being the quarterback he was before getting hurt, the Steelers likely will trade or release Stewart after this season.

Stewart will gladly go to a new team if it means a chance to start. For now, he must try to make something out of a season that, for him, has generated nothing but disappointment.

“We had high expectations going into this season,” Stewart said. “To be 5-4-1 is hard, but we still have an opportunity.

“We’re still (in first place) in our division. We have to look forward. We can’t look back.”

The same thing might apply to Stewart himself.

“I’m feeling like a big kid again,” he said. “I’m fresh. I’m feeling good about myself. My body’s fresh. I’m just going to run around and make plays. I’ve just got to go out and have fun and do it.”