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Bus fare Steelers looking to offer Bettis contract extension
Posted: Friday March 10, 2000 03:43 PM
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to open contract extension talks with running back Jerome Bettis, who has had four successive 1,000-yard seasons. "It's a deal that makes sense for both sides," said Bettis' agent, Lamont Smith. "It makes sense for Jerome, gives him more security, and it lowers their cap number." The Steelers could lower the $3.2 million due him in salary by paying Bettis a signing bonus and trimming his salary. They have done that recently with four others on the team. Currently, Bettis' $4.2 million salary cap number ranks second on the team to Levon Kirkland's $5.5 million. Unable to afford both Bettis and his backup, Richard Huntley, the Steelers have discussed trading Huntley to the Miami Dolphins, possibly for receiver Yatil Green. Huntley rushed for 567 yards last season, mostly in long-yardage situations after the Steelers fell behind. The Steelers can match any offer Huntley, a restricted free agent, receives, although the Dolphins seem to be the most interested. Bettis is entering the last year of a $14.4 million, four-year extension he signed in early 1997 following his first season in Pittsburgh. He ranks fourth among active NFL rushers with 8,463 yards, even though his 1,091 yards last year represented the worst of his four Steelers seasons. Bettis will have minor ankle surgery next week that Smith described as a "cleanup job, very minor." Bettis is expected to resume his offseason conditioning program two weeks after the surgery. Bettis has been one of the NFL's busiest backs since joining the Steelers in 1996. He carried 299 times last season and only once has he carried fewer than 294 times. He led the Steelers in 1997 with 375 carries and 1,665 yards and won his second consecutive team MVP award that season.
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