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Long considered to be one of the best players who hadn't won a Super Bowl, Jerome Bettis wanted nothing more than to finally get a ring. Five times he'd been to the playoffs, but never made it to the big game. After 12 NFL seasons, it was likely that the 2005 season would be his last. Super Bowl XL was to take place in his hometown of Detroit, and if his Pittsburgh Steelers could get there, it would be a classic swan song ending and the lone achievement missing on a Hall of Fame résumé. Steven Spielberg couldn't write a better script. Bettis was the heroic star chasing a lifelong dream, the good guy everyone pulled for. Although he didn't play a major statistical role in the Steelers' comfortable victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, his impact leading up to that day was immense and his influence on the situation was unmistakable. "The Bus" had made its last stop, and it's now permanently parked. Next stop: Canton, Ohio. "It was incredible," Bettis said of experiencing a Super Bowl victory. "It was definitely a blessing. I was the happiest guy in the stadium, I'll tell you that." The hefty, genial former running back truly enjoys his post-playing life. Had he not finally become a Super Bowl champion, he'd probably still be happy in retirement. But that vindication of the long road he traveled to get there truly made it sweet—the definition of "icing on the cake," Bettis said. After finishing his first year as a studio analyst for NBC's "Football Night in America" pregame show, Bettis still has close ties to the game. Whenever he gets a chance to mingle with friends, old teammates and opponents who are still active players, such as at a recent public appearance, he's reminded of his playing days. "I enjoy seeing all those guys—I hadn't seen any of them [in a while]," Bettis said of the event. "I've been tucked away in New York with NBC so I hadn't seen any of the other players. It's a good opportunity to see all the guys. "To get a chance to see the sponsors, the players and everybody who's associated with the NFL is always great," he continued. A well-liked player in the NFL, Bettis' influence still resonates with the Steelers and around the league. The void he left since handing over the reins to current starter Willie Parker is clear to longtime Steelers supporters. Always a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, he was as good on the field as he was cordial off it. So what takes up most of the time for a person who could probably succeed at anything he tried? "Golf," said Bettis, whose handicap is about a 15 right now. "I'm working on getting it lower. I'm trying to play more and more, as much as I can." With 13,662 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns over 13 seasons, Bettis is one of the more prolific running backs the NFL has ever seen. He did it the hard way—with a punishing, downhill running style that took no mercy on would-be tacklers. A penchant for getting the tough yards, coupled with a low fumble rate and stocky frame, added up to a nightmare for defenses in the 1990s and 2000s. He stockpiled his share of awards and honors, but stayed humble throughout his career. Does all that mean Bettis wishes he was still playing in the NFL? "No," the six-time Pro Bowler emphatically answered. "I don't miss playing at all. You start to get older, and in the 13 years, I had more than my share, so I was ready to go," added Bettis, who grew tired of the wear and tear on his body.
The departure of Bettis' role in the backfield was felt throughout the Steel City last season. Pittsburgh often struggled, following up its Super Bowl season with an 8-8 record and missing the playoffs. Though it was a disappointing year, No. 36 sees an upturn in the near future for his beloved black and gold. "I think they'll still have a really good core of guys and I think they'll be fine," Bettis said. "I think they just need to regroup and get the priorities back together, and I think they'll be able to work through it." Although the Bill Cowher era—the coach and friend Bettis played under for so many years—is over, Bettis has no doubts that the new regime under head coach Mike Tomlin will be a positive change for the Steelers in 2007. "It gives you a fresh outlook and it gets everybody aggressive going into next year," he said. Having been an Offensive Rookie of the Year, team MVP, Comeback Player of the Year and Walter Payton Man of the Year, Bettis' name will surely go down in history as one of the best running backs of his era. But he's most proud of hanging up his pads and cleats as the fifth-leading rusher in NFL history. "I'm fifth, that's it," Bettis said of his all-time ranking among running backs. "I mean, you can say what you want to say, [but] I'm fifth and it is what it is." "The Bus" is clear about the legacy he hopes he left behind. "I just want people to say, 'When No. 36 put that jersey on, he did everything you asked him to do,'" Bettis concluded. |
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