STEELERS DIGEST 3
Ward should learn from Swann
It was the middle of the 1970s, and
the Pittsburgh Steelers had a problem.
Their Hall of Fame fullback was in
his prime, and the Hall of Fame
coach believed in running the ball,
partly because it complemented a de-
Bob Labriola
EDITOR
fense that itself employed four Hall of
Famers. But alas, the Hall of Fame
quarterback also was in his prime,
and his high-caliber right arm fit per-
fectly with a corps of wide receivers
that included two more Hall of Fame
players plus a guy who made a cou-
ple of trips to the Pro Bowl.
The problem? Only one football.
In those days, teams established
the run first, so Franco Harris knew
Coach Chuck Noll would get him his
touches. But since quarterback Terry
Bradshaw routinely would throw
fewer than 20 passes a game, the
team’s top wide receivers — Lynn
Swann, John Stallworth and Frank
Lewis — sometimes had to feel as
though they were fighting over scraps.
Swann and Stallworth need no in-
troduction. Their busts reside in the
Hall of Champions in Canton, Ohio,
their feats in big games immortalized
by NFL Films, their legend assured.
Lewis, the team’s No. 1 pick in 1971,
never became that famous. A magnif-
icent athlete, Lewis had size, differ-
ence-making speed, good hands, but
by nature was quiet, reserved. He
kept to himself.
Lewis, and then Stallworth, both
had come to the Steelers from small
schools in the South, Grambling and
Alabama A&M, that were known at Lynn Swann earned a place in the Hall of Fame partly because he developed a friendship with quarterback
the time as black colleges. Swann, Terry Bradshaw; Hines Ward might want to do the same with Kordell Stewart. Digest Photo/MIKE FABUS
from the University of Southern Cali-
fornia, had spent four years in Los An- *** thing he wouldn’t be playing when If they have problems, they come to
geles. He was more outgoing and Fast-forward to the past week at St. games begin to count in the stand- me and I give it to them straight,
possessed an engaging personality. Vincent College. Six full days of prac- ings. whether they like it or not. We’re not
Lewis and Stallworth were good peo- tice with no game, all of those days On the second issue, Ward was going to make decisions based on
ple, just not as extroverted. hot. A sense of humor was as rare as right. He’s a Pro Bowl receiver who what particular people may want, or
All three worked at their craft, to a patch of shade on the practice field. got there with hard work, and he’s what they might feel unhappy with.
be sure, but Swann also worked on After a morning practice early in smart enough to know he has to be We’re going to do what we feel is in
Bradshaw. They became pals and, the week, Hines Ward approached just as diligent to stay at that level. the best interests of this team.”
being a perceptive guy, Swann no Coach Bill Cowher on the field, and Ward is a team guy who wants to In truth, Cowher’s authority wasn’t
doubt figured out what Bradshaw the two men talked. There was no win, and if the Steelers are to win in being questioned by Ward, and he
craved more than anything was to be yelling, or finger-pointing. Knowing 2002 he’s going to have to perform as knows it. But there are newspaper
loved. Swann showed Bradshaw a lot Ward, and Cowher, there were no ul- he did last year. stories to write, there is air time to fill.
of love, and Bradshaw threw him the timatums. The problem? Ward’s honesty. Cowher knows what he has in Ward,
football. The subjects, apparently, were When asked by the media about the and he’d take 52 more like him if he
Lewis led the Steelers in receiving two. Ward expressed some frustration conversation with Cowher, Ward told could. And over the rest of this pre-
just once, 1974, the year Swann and at not getting the ball thrown to him the truth. In an otherwise uneventful season, count on Ward’s role becom-
Stallworth were rookies. For each of often enough during practices, not fortnight in Latrobe, this passed for ing defined, and he’ll be given the
the next four seasons, Swann was the once during the preseason opener big news. Then the facts became fod- chance to hone the skills he’ll need
No. 1 receiver, often with a decided against the New York Jets. And he der for interpretation. Was Ward starting Sept. 9.
edge in statistics. Make no mistake, also was looking for some kind of challenging Cowher? Was team On that other matter, the one
Lynn Swann was a great player and commitment from Cowher regarding chemistry unraveling before it had a about getting the ball? Ward may
deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, the position he’ll play in multiple-re- chance to form? want to take a cue from Swann.
but Stallworth and Lewis were no ceiver formations. Cowher was asked about it on a Maybe find out what kind of golf balls
slouches, either. Stallworth followed Versus the Jets, Ward was moved couple of occasions, and so he had to Kordell Stewart likes to play. Say, a
Swann to Canton, and Lewis played into the slot when the team deployed respond firmly. He couldn’t allow the couple of boxes, left at Stewart’s
in Pro Bowls after being traded to the three receivers, and Troy Edwards perception that his authority was locker. Just to be friendly, of course.
Buffalo Bills after the 1977 season. took his spot outside. Ward wasn’t being challenged, because perception
Did Swann’s romancing of the necessarily resisting this move, but he becomes reality, you know. Bob Labriola’s Steelers Reports can
quarterback have anything to do with wanted to know whether it was to be So Ward read how his coach said, be heard at 7:58 a.m. and 11:58 a.m.,
the way Bradshaw distributed the permanent. If not, his point was he “I don’t make decisions based on Monday through Friday, on Fox
football? It didn’t hurt. didn’t want to be practicing some- people being outspoken to the media. Sports Radio 970.