PITTSBURGH - Many NFL quarterbacks would feel uncomfortable going a few weeks without starting. Tommy Maddox is about to learn what it's like to play after 10 years without a start. Maddox, a former first-round flop with Denver who revived his career in the Arena League and earned another NFL shot by starring in the XFL, will be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starter Sunday in New Orleans.

        The decision, announced Wednesday at a team meeting, sends 2001 team MVP Kordell Stewart to the bench for the third time in four seasons. It also signals that coach Bill Cowher is running out of patience with an underachieving team that was favored to win the AFC title but is 1-2 this year.

        “He came up in his little crystal ball that he wanted to start Tommy,” Stewart said. “It's not the end of the world for me, and I'm going to have an opportunity to start again. I just don't know when.”

        Stewart went to the Pro Bowl after the Steelers advanced to the AFC title game last season, but he committed six turnovers in the first two games this season, against New England and Oakland.

        With Pittsburgh trailing Cleveland 13-6 Sunday, Maddox replaced Stewart and led two scoring drives in the Steelers' 16-13 overtime victory. Running a hurry-up offense with four receivers, Maddox was 11-of-13 for 122 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

        “At quarterback, you've got to go out and play and put your team in a position to win,” Maddox said. “If you don't, there's going to be somebody else that's going to get a shot.”

        Stewart has three touchdown passes, five interceptions and two lost fumbles in three games.

        “I just feel it's the right thing to do at this time, and now let's move on,” Cowher said.

        Maddox, 31, has never started and won an NFL game, going 0-4 as a rookie replacement for the injured John Elway in 1992.

        Stewart and Maddox talked at length Wednesday morning, and Stewart promised to be supportive. Still, Stewart was visibly unhappy.

        “This is three times,” he said. “At some point it gets old, but I'm not going on a spiel about how I feel or what I think.

        “It's his (Cowher's) team, and he's got to make the move he thinks is in the best interest of his team - and he's got to live with it.”

        TEXANS: Houston signed guard Milford Brown, who was chosen in last week's NFL supplemental draft after being declared ineligible in August by the NCAA. The NFL gave the Texans a two-game roster exemption for Brown, allowing them to carry an extra player as the 6-foot-4, 320-pounder became acquainted with the team.

        Brown, a junior-college transfer to Florida State, was not allowed to play in college after the NCAA determined he had used up his eligibility. The Texans used a sixth-round pick to take him, forfeiting that pick in next year's draft.

        RAVENS: Chris McAlister's return of a missed field goal against Denver Monday will go into the record books as 107 yards, not 108.

        His return remains the longest in NFL history, eclipsing the previous mark of 106 yards. But after studying photos and video footage of the play, the Elias Sports Bureau determined that the kick by Denver's Jason Elam went 7 yards into the end zone.

        JETS: Coach Herman Edwards said Wednesday he will rotate players at several spots, including middle linebacker, cornerback, safety and guard. Most upset by that plan was middle linebacker Marvin Jones, mainly because the coach never told him anything.

        “Sure, why not?” Jones said when asked if he would have preferred to hear directly from Edwards about losing playing time. “But you know, I don't get into why people do certain things. I guess that's just some people. Get your answers from upstairs.”

        Several other Jets who probably will be involved in the shuffling - safety Damien Robinson, linebacker James Darling, guard J.P. Machado - indicated they also were not told about the rotations. None was as angered as Jones, a 10-year veteran who has been practically invisible in the team's 1-3 start.

        “Maybe I can just run down on punt teams,” Jones said.

        The Jets have surrendered 139 points this season. That will lead to rookie Jon McGraw getting more time at safety at the expense of Sam Garnes and Robinson; cornerbacks Ray Mickens and Jamie Henderson rotating with starters Donnie Abraham and Aaron Beasley; Darnell Alford possibly starting at right tackle for Kareem McKenzie, who is questionable with a groin injury; rookie Jon Goodwin in a left guard rotation with J.P. Machado; and Darling splitting time with Jones.

        BILLS: Defensive tackle Tyrone Robertson was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The NFL would not provide more details about the violation.

        Robertson, Buffalo's seventh- round pick in last year's draft, had been inactive for all four Bills games this season. He appeared in 12 games as a reserve last season, recording 27 tackles and two sacks.

        Robertson was not available for comment, and a message left with his agent, Patrick Dye, was not immediately returned.

        PANTHERS: The team auditioned former Dallas kicker Tim Seder but decided to stick with Shayne Graham Sunday against Arizona. Graham missed a 24-yard field goal - his only attempt of the game - with 16 seconds left in a 17-14 loss to Green Bay Sunday.

        PACKERS: A neurologist confirmed wide receiver Terry Glenn has post-traumatic migraine headaches, probably caused by a hit he took in the season opener. Glenn will try a different type of medicine for the headaches, which limited him one half of play Sunday against Carolina.

        REDSKINS: Coach Steve Spurrier will wait until Saturday to name his starting quarterback. Indications have pointed to Danny Wuerffel starting ahead of rookie Patrick Ramsey against Tennessee, but Spurrier is delaying his decision.

        “They don't need to know,” Spurrier said. “They're both ready. They're both sitting on go.”

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