BENGALS NOTEBOOK Cowher respects O'Donnell Thursday, October 8, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Steelers coach Bill Cowher was upbeat about his quarterbacks, past and present.
Cowher expressed respect for Cincinnati's Neil O'Donnell, who played for Pittsburgh from 1990-95, and sounded hopeful about Kordell Stewart, who ranks next-to-last among AFC quarterbacks with a 45.5 passer's rating.
Asked what he recalled about O'Donnell, whose four-year streak in helping the Steelers reach the postseason (1992-95) culminated in an AFC championship, Cowher said Wednesday in a conference call, "I remember a lot of good times . . . He was a big part in getting us to playing for the Super Bowl and a chance to win it. He continually got better each and every year."
Of O'Donnell's current attributes, Cowher said, "I see a very mature quarterback, a guy who understands defenses very well and makes good decisions."
Probably because the Steelers are 3-1, Cowher isn't too disturbed by Stewart's struggles, which have manifested themselves in a 49.6 completion percentage and two touchdown passes against six interceptions.
Cowher said he mainly wants Stewart "not to press. I think that's the most important thing."
Speaking generally of Pittsburgh's offense, which ranks next-to-last in the NFL with an average of 12.5 points a game, Cowher said, "We've shown signs of doing some things well. We just haven't done them on a consistent basis. No need to reinvent the wheel, make any kind of drastic changes or overreact or panic."
More O'Donnell
Peppered with questions by Pittsburgh-area reporters about his departure from the Steelers and his interception-marred performance in Super Bowl XXX right before it, O'Donnell refused to be provoked.
"I know what happened in that game," O'Donnell said of the Super Bowl in which his two second-half interceptions generated 14 Dallas points in a 27-17 Cowboys' victory. "That's all ancient history now. I think I was very upset at the outcome of that game. I think a lot of us were. I've put that behind, though. Right now I'm focused on what's at hand, and that's playing for the Bengals."
Injury update
O'Donnell practiced fully and insisted he'll be "ready to go" come Sunday, despite the bruised ribs he suffered Sept. 27 at Baltimore. He admitted that he still felt some pain early in the workout.
"I think as practice went on I felt better and better," he said.
Cincinnati's official injury list consists of three players rated as probable: nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen (elbow), center Darrick Brilz (back) and guard Mike Goff (hyperextended left knee). Former Bengals safety Bo Orlando (hamstring) was listed as doubtful on Pittsburgh's injury report. Orlando, who led Cincinnati in tackles in 1996 and was released after last season, has been bothered by the injury since preseason.
Also listed as doubtful were offensive linemen Jim Sweeney (foot) and Will Wolford (chest).
Etc.
The Bengals released defensive end Ramondo Stallings, a fifth-year veteran who was placed on injured reserve Aug. 25 after pulling a hamstring muscle early in training camp. Stallings, who recently completed his injury rehabilitation, played in 38 games and started five during his career.
Only a few days after saying Cincinnati's Neil O'Donnell should apologize for the way he departed Pittsburgh two years ago, Pittsburgh's Lee Flowers told his teammates he was sorry for unnecessarily riling up the Bengals.
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