The 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers uphold some of the franchise's proudest traditions.

        They have a bruising running game anchored by a big back, Jerome Bettis.

        There are hard-hitting linebackers in Levon Kirkland, Earl Holmes and Jason Gilden.

        But this year's Steelers also have a dandy quarterback controversy brewing, as well, in the same spirit as the Terry Bradshaw-Terry Hanratty-Joe Gilliam and Bubby Brister-Neil O'Donnell competitions.

        The 2000 participants are Kent Graham and Kordell Stewart.

        Graham, a free agent pickup from the Giants, started the first three games, all of which the Steelers lost. He was 48-of-98 for 625 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.

        Stewart, the Steelers' starting quarterback in 1997, '98 and most of last season, started the last two games and led the team to two victories. He was an efficient 27-of-42 passing for 272 yards one touchdown and an interception and ran for 94 yards at Jacksonville and the New York Jets.

        Coach Bill Cowher has said Graham is his quarterback and will start when the Bengals come calling Sunday, “No ifs, ands or buts about it. That's the way it's going to be. It's a dead issue.”

        He reinforced his decision Wednesday and disagreed that the QB competition was not good for the club.

        “I don't know if it's a bad situation,” Cowher said. “The team understands. I've tried to inform them as to what I'm doing, and to a degree, why I'm doing it. It's been something I've been very upfront with the whole football team about. They've accepted it.

        “Again, it's not about individuals. It's about a football team and trying to do what's in the best interest of the football team.”

        So Graham will start, and Stewart will wait for another chance. But opposing coaches, like Cincinnati's Dick LeBeau, have to prepare his team for both.

        “They supposedly said it's going to be Graham, but Kordell has done very well the last two weeks, and I know if they're having any problems we're going to see Kordell,” LeBeau said.

        “The biggest difference I think is Kordell's going to scramble out to run. And Graham is very good at scrambling to buy time to throw. Other than that, they run the same offense. They may have some special plays from the "Slash' days for Kordell to run because he's a special guy.”

        Stewart, after saying he accepted the backup role after the win in New York, said this week that he doesn't understand why he's going to the bench and that he won't criticize Cowher but also won't endorse the demotion.

        “I'm just doing my job,” Stewart told reporters who cover the Steelers.

        Graham, a former starter with the Giants and Cardinals, told beat writers that he and Stewart are trying to help each other and are unselfish but that he wants to make the most of the opportunity to start.

        It was Stewart who took most of the heat from fans for last year's fall to 6-10 and the disappointing 7-9 in 1998. He was booed at Three Rivers Stadium. But two polls this week in Pittsburgh — one in a newspaper and the other on radio — both have fans favoring Stewart by 62 percent.

        But team leader Jerome Bettis insists the quarterback situation is not a distraction.

        “You have to earn what you keep. And that's the way you live,” the running back said. “If Kordell had been given something, that would have hurt the football team. You want fair competition. You feel that, "Hey, if I'm not the high-priced guy, do I still have the chance to be a starter?' And the answer is yes.”

        Cowher's decision to bring Graham back as the starter after an injury also supports a long-held coaching philosophy in the NFL: Players don't lose a starting job because of an injury.

        “Just about every one of us has been in the situation where you've been hurt,” Bettis said. “And when you come back you expect to get your job back. There are special circumstances, but you don't normally lose your job to injury. That's just how it is.”

        The Steelers are glad to have two good quarterbacks the team can count on.

        “Kordell has been playing well, but Kent's still our guy,” Bettis said. “We're looking to him long term. He's an efficient quarterback. He's able to get the ball out of his hands and distribute it to the right people. And that's all you can ask of your quarterback.

        “When your No.2 guy can come in and win some ball games for you, it makes it a lot easier to play.”

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