Maddox and Cowher meet.

[Durango53]

PITTSBURGH -- Tommy Maddox expects to remain the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback now that he has had a clear-the-air meeting with coach Bill Cowher.


Maddox insisted Wednesday he isn't upset the Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger in the first round of last weekend's draft, though his agent has suggested otherwise. He said he is ready to help the rookie become an NFL starter.


Just not right away, of course.


"Until they tell me differently. I'm preparing, planning, and getting ready like I am playing this season," Maddox said.


Maddox was assured during the 45-minute meeting Tuesday that the Steelers won't hand the job to Roethlisberger. They also plan to give Maddox a pay raise after June 1, once they release or trade linebacker Jason Gildon to free up salary cap room.


Maddox was due to make $750,000 this season under the contract he signed while still a backup, which would have put him in the uncomfortable role of making less than either Roethlisberger or backup Charlie Batch.


Maddox was said to be emotional when the meeting with Cowher started, but Maddox insisted the talk wasn't heated or one-sided. Cowher said Sunday he needed to talk to Maddox to judge his frame of mind.


"We had a good conversation," Maddox said. "I appreciated the things he had to say and I appreciated him listening to me. We had a good, long meeting."


Maddox's agent, Vann McElroy, had said the meeting would be Monday, but Maddox was too upset to attend then. Maddox denied that.


"I think there's always emotion in this business ... whether you're on the field or the things that go on off it," he said. "[But] I don't get that bad unless it's really bad."


Despite saying repeatedly he wasn't angry, Maddox said he waited until Wednesday to talk to reporters because "I didn't want to say anything I didn't want to say."

Hats off to the Steelers. What a class team!!! Nice to see them give Madox a chance and going to show him how much they like him. No one lost any tempers and everything looks like it is going to work out!!!

[imgreat95]

Maddox needs to quit his damn whining. The Steelers do not owe him a thing.
Madden: Steelers are not obligated to be fair with Maddox
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

By Mark Madden

Starting quarterback Tommy Maddox got upset because he will be the Steelers' third-highest-paid quarterback upon the signing of first-round draft choice Ben Roethlisberger. Maddox spoke with Bill Cowher yesterday, and things are supposedly hunky-dory. For now, anyway.

Placating Maddox isn't necessary. Maddox signed a contract. He should be told to take it or leave it. If Maddox's unhappiness returns, the Steelers should cut him.

Maddox has no leverage. He's in no position to make demands. The expiration date on his tenure as the Steelers' starting quarterback was set in stone the minute Roethlisberger was drafted.

Big Ben will become the starter by 2005 at the latest. Maddox can't play well enough to prevent it. If Maddox doesn't believe that, he should ask Jon Kitna.

Kitna did a marvelous job for Cincinnati last year. But Carson Palmer will start at quarterback for the Bengals this season. He's a No. 1 draft choice on a big ticket. Palmer has a much bigger upside, and the Bengals have to justify the pick and the investment. It's the same with Roethlisberger.

Maddox will be gone in 2005. It would be absurd to give him more money. There's no reason to keep him happy. If need be, the Steelers could get by with Charlie Batch as the starter for a season.

Talk about being "fair" to Maddox is silly. The word "fair" should never be used in a sentence with the words "pro sports." Pro sports became big business long ago, and big business just isn't fair.

Maddox got big coin when Denver drafted him in the first round in 1992. When he stiffed, I don't recall him giving the Broncos any money back. Even though that would have been fair.

Bob Smizik wrote on these pages recently that the Steelers should increase Maddox's contract from $750,000 to $2 million for next season. To paraphrase John Travolta in "Pulp Fiction," "Dan, if you give that nimrod $2 million, I'm going to shoot him on general principle."

Maddox was also peeved because the Steelers didn't tell him in advance that they were going to draft Roethlisberger. I agree. As long as the Steelers told Chad Scott in advance that they were going to draft Ricardo Colclough. And as long as they notified Oliver Ross that they were going to draft Max Starks. But the Steelers did none of that. So Maddox should have watched ESPN like everybody else.

Whatever happened to noble Tommy Maddox, the former insurance salesman who beat the odds to make a big comeback and was enjoying every precious second in the NFL? That guy wouldn't have gotten his knickers in a twist over impending competition at his position.

Maddox has a decision to make. He can eschew whining and try to have a big final season as the Steelers' starter, perhaps earning a job somewhere else while exiting with class. Or he can mope over inequities, distract himself from the duties at hand and go out like a bum. Either way, Maddox will not start for the Steelers past this season. That can't be changed.

It's going to be a rough season for Maddox even if he doesn't wear the boo-boo face. Maddox has to deal with A) the looming inevitability of Roethlisberger taking his job; B) fan demand for Big Ben, which will kick into high gear as soon as Maddox throws his first incompletion; and C) holy cow, that is still one really lousy offensive line.

Drafting Roethlisberger was a great move. For the first time in a long time, the Steelers are giving the quarterback position the high priority it deserves. Big Ben isn't as NFL-ready as Philip Rivers, but his strong arm and classic style give him a bigger upside. He makes the Steelers a threat to score from anywhere on the field, and that's something they haven't had since Terry Bradshaw retired.

The selection of Roethlisberger also makes obvious a few other things the Steelers must do.

They need to keep Plaxico Burress. Losing him would deprive Big Ben of a big (and necessary) target. The Steelers also need to bring in a stud offensive lineman for 2005, via free agency or a first-round pick. If you invest in a big-time quarterback, you need to do certain things to maximize that investment.

There has been considerable fan support for Maddox, before and after the selection of Roethlisberger. Callers to my radio show are not clamoring for Roethlisberger to start immediately, which says something about Maddox's popularity (and about the fact that he succeeded Kordell Stewart).

Maddox is a career washout who has had a marvelous resurrection with the Steelers. But he also has had only one good year, that being his adrenaline-fueled 2002 campaign when he beat out Stewart. Maddox was decidedly subpar last season, and that can't all be blamed on Burress, a poor running game and/or the offensive line. Maddox was very inconsistent, especially in terms of accuracy. He did throw for big yardage, but that's because the Steelers almost always trailed.

Giving Maddox respect is one thing. Giving him a chance to rock the boat would be inadvisable. Giving him more money would be downright idiotic.

The Steelers should trade Maddox. If the Steelers can't make a deal, they should cut him. The Steelers' 2004 season doesn't hold much promise anyway. Get by with Batch and get Roethlisberger ready. Meantime, I'd be curious to see if Maddox can get more respect, more money and more opportunity elsewhere. Frankly, I doubt it.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Mark Madden is the host of a sports talk show from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays on WEAE-AM (1250).)

[rockin500]

quite as nfl worthy? try a coupla years away.

if they play Ben this year, prepare for many losses.

[imgreat95]

They are already prepared tfor several losses this season.

[Durango53]

[b][i]
The Steelers' 2004 season doesn't hold much promise anyway. Get by with Batch and get Roethlisberger ready.
Now that is high hopes for a team!!!
But if you are counting on Batch as the QB you will need to sign one anyway because he will always be hurt. Batch is a great backup to come in but damm he could get a hang nail or something and be out a few weeks. Ask any Lions fan.

IMO the Steelers should keep Maddox and let him start this year and then play it from there. This is what has made the Steelers a class team above the rest.

[imgreat95]

Charlie Batch hasn't exactly been a wimp when he comes to injuries. He played several games with what turned out to be a broken sternum back in his days in Detroit. He may not be one of the most durable, but he plays injured and is a pretty tough SOB.

Maddox shoul dbe given NO guarantees of playing time. He should be brought in and have to compete for the job right along with the other 3 QBs. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING should ever be handed to ANY QB in the league, I don't care what your name is.