Sep 27, 2002 By Jim Wexell For The 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Kordell Stewart has been down this road before, and as a result Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Bill Cowher is hoping to put an end to his quarterback’s poor early-season play by threatening Stewart with his job. Cowher called quarterback Stewart into his office last week to warn him that his job was on the line if he performs poorly again Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Stewart was surrounded yesterday by reporters who had one question: How will you handle the situation?

“How do you handle it?” Stewart responded. “You don’t think about it. You think about doing your job, not the negativity, not the fact that Coach Cowher might pull me, you just do your job and go from there.”

And then Stewart went out and had one of his best practices of the short season.

It was certainly needed. In two games, both losses, Stewart has turned the ball over five times, compiled a puny passer rating of 68.0, been sacked five times and rushed for only 26 yards. As a result, Tommy Maddox is warming up in the bullpen.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” Stewart said. “But unfortunately, here in Pittsburgh, with the Steelers, the quarterback is the guy who gets the blame all the time. I know that and I can only do my best, and if my best is not good enough, trust me, we know what’s going to take place.”

A Stewart devotee reminded the quarterback that Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams has thrown seven interceptions.

“Yeah, and he’s still the starter from what I understand,” Stewart said. “It’s a little different here.”

Stewart has struggled early in each of his five seasons since being named the starting quarterback in 1997. That year, he passed for only 186 yards combined in games against Dallas and Washington. In 1998, Stewart threw six interceptions in the first three games. In 1999, he was benched in the middle of the third game. In 2000, he performed so poorly in the preseason that his job was lost to Kent Graham. Last year, Stewart struggled in the opening-day loss to Jacksonville and didn’t pass for more than 200 yards until the sixth game of the season. This year, Stewart is at the hub of the AFC favorite’s 0-2 start.

“I have to do my job. I know that,” Stewart said. “I have to do better at it, and the way we’re practicing this week has been with a resolve and a focus that was needed if we’re going to get the ‘W’ this week.

“You have to be conscious of your job, period. I know I need to do more.”

Ward’s take

Wide receiver Hines Ward has been a staunch Stewart supporter over the years, but he doesn’t believe that Cowher’s line in the sand will necessarily have a divisive effect on the team.

“I think competition brings out the best in everybody,” Ward said. “Tommy’s a great back-up. Maybe if things aren’t working he can provide a spark. But Kordell’s our guy. I’ll help him out all I can. We as receivers have to make the hard catches. It’s not just Kordell.”

Ward and fellow receiver Plaxico Burress have turned the ball over, and the running game has sputtered behind an ineffective offensive line.

“We have to catch, block and establish the running game,” Ward said of the sputtering offense. “Frankly, we have no identity.”

Ward believes that the addition of rookie slot receiver Antwaan Randle El may have only added to the identity crisis.

“I just think we’re too talented,” Ward said. “I mean, sometimes it can hurt you when you’ve got so much talent and you’re trying to get different people the ball. It’s not that we’re abandoning the running game. We’ve got the same team as we did last year and we were No. 1 in the league in running. That’s our identity, the running style, smashmouth football. And right now, with Antwaan, Plax, myself and Kordell, now it’s like ‘Let’s go to the passing game.’ But we shouldn’t abandon the run. Like I said, it’s like we have too much talent.”

Injuries

Linebacker Kendrell Bell missed his second consecutive practice since aggravating his sprained ankle Tuesday. Test results will determine his availability for Friday’s practice. Back-up nose tackle Kendrick Clancy also missed practice with a sore hamstring.