By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kordell Stewart's career has died so many times, it seems he has nine lives.

"My number is 10, bro, so I've got one more left," Stewart said.

This week could be the start of his last go-round in Pittsburgh.

Stewart will start Sunday against the Bengals, his 10th against them, in place of Tommy Maddox, who suffered concussions of the head and spinal cord last week against the Tennessee Titans and is out at least one week.

By his own count, Stewart has been benched and reinstated as Steelers quarterback three times in his eight-year career.

A Pro Bowl quarterback last season, Stewart was replaced in Game3 by Maddox, who rallied then-winless Pittsburgh to a 16-13 overtime victory against the Cleveland Browns.

Maddox went on to go 4-2-1 in seven starts, and the Steelers have decided to make him their No.1 quarterback next season.

Stewart says he isn't thinking that far ahead. He has at least one more game left with Pittsburgh.

"I have to be concerned about and be prepared to play this game this week," he says. "I can't think about Week17, Week18 or Week16."

Stewart, who threw for 3,109 yards last season, took the brunt of the Steelers' 0-2 start. He had 586 passing yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions when coach Bill Cowher pulled him in favor of Maddox.

Pittsburgh is expected - still - to be a championship contender. The Rooney family committed some $40 million this year to signing bonuses to keep together what they believed was a Super Bowl winner.

The heat is on Cowher to win now. Stewart knows it.

"It's business, first and foremost," Stewart said. "When you're put in the situation that I'm in, you have to approach it as if it's a business and not allow yourself to take it personal or be mad at anybody."

Stewart said he kept himself in the game, even as he watched from the sidelines. He proved he was paying attention when Maddox went down at Tennessee. Stewart was 13-of-17 passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns in relief.

"He's handled this very well throughout the course of the time that Tommy's been playing," Cowher said.

"He's been our No.2 quarterback. He's prepared every week. He's been very supportive of Tommy and he's taken a very unselfish approach to the situation that exists. He's been the consummate pro."

Still, this season is likely Stewart's final one with the Steelers. He is scheduled to make $6.3 million next season, way too much for a backup. He turned 30 in October. Maddox turned 31 in September.

Pittsburgh plans on going with Maddox as its starter, Charlie Batch as its backup and Antwaan Randle El as its emergency third quarterback. Randle El, a former Indiana University quarterback, is a wide receiver in the NFL, but he will get some work at QB in practice.

Stewart is 5-4 in nine career starts against the Bengals, with 10 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. He also has run for 340 yards and three TDs on 42 carries.

"You can't count the Bengals out," Stewart said. "We've always had a grudge match against those guys. Regardless of whether we were 10-0 and they were 0-10, they've always stepped up to play us."

Stewart was benched in 1999 in favor of Mike Tomczak, after cornerback Rodney Health intercepted two passes in a 27-20 loss to the Bengals on Nov.28.

Stewart was given the job back before the 2000 season but lost it in training camp to Kent Graham. Stewart regained the job halfway through the season.

"The first time, it hurt because I couldn't understand it when I had to sit down," Stewart said. "And the second time, I was pretty frustrated, (but) I handled my business when I had the opportunity to come in and play.

"And this time, it's like you become immune to it. You get irritated by it, but, hey, you just go along with the flow of the wave, and when the wave hits you, you just have to be ready to take on that challenge."

E-mail: mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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