The Associated Press

Jerome Bettis (right), the Steelers' No. 2 all-time rusher, will take a back seat to Amos Zereoue when Pittsburgh opens its season Sept. 7. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

PITTSBURGH - Jerome Bettis, the 10th-leading rusher in NFL history, will start the season on the Pittsburgh Steelers' bench following his surprise demotion Wednesday by coach Bill Cowher.

Cowher, unhappy not only with his team's play in the preseason but also with how it is practicing, also benched tight end Mark Bruener, and said cornerback Deshea Townsend will play more with the starting defense.

Amos Zereoue, who replaced an injured Bettis at the end of each of the last two seasons, will start the Sept. 7 opener against Baltimore. Jay Riemersma, signed from the Bills during the offseason, replaces Bruener. Chad Scott or Dewayne Washington will take off some series to accommodate Townsend's increased playing time.

Cowher announced the moves because he doesn't want any distractions the week of the opener.

"We want the focus to be on Baltimore and not on who's playing for us," Cowher said.

Bettis, the second-leading rusher in Steelers' history to Franco Harris, didn't take the news well.

"He's disappointed but he accepted it," said Cowher, who called the move a gut decision. "I don't think one player has outperformed the other player."

The moves came as the Steelers wind up perhaps the worst of their 12 training camps under Cowher. They're 0-2 going into tonight's exhibition game against Dallas, and their camp constantly was disrupted by injuries, rain, lightning and field problems.

Bettis, 31, has rushed for 11,542 yards in 10 seasons, easily the most ever by a running back of his size; he is listed at 255 pounds.

But his string of six consecutive 1,000 yard seasons in Pittsburgh ended last season when he was limited to 666 yards in 12 games. Zereoue led the team with a career-high 762 yards in his fourth NFL season.

Cowher cautioned that just because Bettis won't start, it doesn't mean he won't play.

"You can very easily change running backs," he said.

RAVENS: Defensive end Michael McCrary will announce his retirement today, ending an injury-filled 10-year career. He recorded 561 career tackles and 71 sacks.

TITANS: Defensive end Jevon Kearse plans on recovering from his sprained ankle in time to play in the team's regular-season opener against Oakland Sept. 7. X-rays and MRI results showed some swelling in the ankle Wednesday.

REDSKINS: Washington acquired defensive tackle Martin Chase, who probably will be an instant starter. The Redskins cut Dan Wilkinson last month when he refused a pay cut and lost Brandon Noble for the season to a knee injury.

GIANTS: Coach Jim Fassel and fullback Charles Stackhouse have patched up their differences following a practice confrontation. Stackhouse angered Fassel on Tuesday by throwing a punch at linebacker Dhani Jones after a scuffle between the players apparently ended.

The second-year fullback stopped by Fassel's office later that evening. "He just wanted me to know that he's sorry," Fassel said.

JAGUARS: Eight years after he was supposed to take over for Jerry Rice as the 49ers' top receiver, J.J. Stokes is finally getting his chance to be No. 1. Brought in to complement Jimmy Smith in the Jaguars passing game, Stokes must take Smith's place now that the five-time Pro Bowl receiver was suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Stokes never has caught more than 63 passes in a season and has not gained more than 770 yards.

DOLPHINS: Strong safety Arturo Freeman says he's still committed to the Dolphins even though his agent is trying to negotiate a trade or his release. "I'm going to deal with lumps, I'm going to deal with bruises, because I'm all about winning," said Freeman, who becomes a free agent after the season. "... My whole thing is to control what I can control, and that's coming in here every day and working hard and getting better."

REDSKINS: Quarterback Patrick Ramsey did some light throwing for the first time this week, but it's still uncertain whether he'll play Saturday against Baltimore. Ramsey bruised the knuckle on the his index finger in last week's loss against New England.

Coach Steve Spurrier said guard Randy Thomas is "very doubtful" for the game with a sprained ankle.

BROWNS: After going undrafted out of Middle Tennessee State, being waived four times by Tampa Bay and ending up stuck as backup to Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, Kelly Holcomb is glad to finally be a starting quarterback.

"I always believed deep down in my heart that I could be a starting quarterback in the NFL," he said.

On Sunday, coach Butch Davis made it official, choosing Holcomb over Tim Couch, the Browns' starter the past four years and the club's No. 1 overall draft pick in 1999.

Holcomb said Davis' decision hasn't affected his relationship with Couch. Perhaps that's because Holcomb can relate to the pain Couch is feeling.

"It kind of weighs on your mind," he said. "You start thinking, 'They're trying to get rid of me, and there's nothing I can do to change their mind.' It starts wearing on you."