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Bettis' future with Steelers in doubt
Posted: Monday March 13, 2000 01:35 PM
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jerome Bettis' future with the Pittsburgh Steelers is in doubt following the Steelers' unexpected decision to re-sign backup Richard Huntley to a three-year contract worth about $4 million. The Steelers were working late last week on trading Huntley to the Miami Dolphins. Huntley, a restricted free agent, also was close to firming up a deal with the Dolphins that the Steelers would have had to match to keep him. But, shortly after apparently firming up the Dolphins' contract, Huntley told them he had decided to re-sign with Pittsburgh. At the same time the Steelers were agreeing to pay Huntley a $1 million signing bonus, they were preparing to reopen contract talks with Bettis, a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his four Steelers seasons. Bettis was in Pittsburgh on Monday for minor surgery on an ankle. His agent, Lamont Smith, was expected to start contract renegotiation talks this week. Bettis is in the last year of a contract worth $3.2 million in base salary this season. If he signs a new contract, the Steelers could reduce his base salary but make up the difference as part of his signing bonus. "I would love to have Jerome Bettis back," coach Bill Cowher said. What is uncertain is how the Steelers could pay two highly paid running backs who play the same position. If the Steelers were to trade Huntley once he signs, his entire signing bonus would count against their salary cap this season. Bettis, 28, has rushed for 8,463 yards in seven seasons, the fourth most yards among active NFL backs. He was the Steelers' most valuable player in his first two seasons with the team in 1996 and 1997. Huntley, who will be 28 in September, averaged a team-leading 6.1 yards per carry last season. But he did not have more than 11 carries in any game, and he had 200 fewer carries than Bettis last season. "He wants more carries, but he wasn't guaranteed anything," said David Joseph, Huntley's agent. "I don't know what they are going to do with Jerome Bettis. The only thing we want to know is if Richard is going to get an opportunity to compete." Last season, the Steelers also carried running backs Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Amos Zereoue behind Bettis and Huntley. But Fuamatu-Ma'afala was hurt most of the season and Zereoue seldom played.
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