Tough as Steel

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Kent Graham, drafted Tee Martin and tried to trade for Chad Pennington. Kordell Stewart says it doesn’t bother him at all.

Stewart, who must beat out Graham in training camp to start his fourth consecutive opener as the Steelers quarterback, says he isn’t as concerned as much about the new quarterbacks as he is being the player he once was.

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter,” Stewart said. “I don’t care who they bring in, what they do. I have something I want to get accomplished--that’s getting the respect back from my coaches and my teammates, and let everything else fall into place.”

Stewart led the Steelers to the AFC championship game in 1997 but has since had two poor seasons. He was benched for the final 5 1/2 games of last season as the Steelers finished 6-10.

Stewart has thrown 13 touchdown passes the last two seasons after throwing for 21 and running for 11 touchdowns in 1997. He had the AFC’s worst passer rating at 58.2 last season and spent the final month of the season as a receiver.

“I just want to get out there and prove--first of all, to myself--that my skills are still there, the will to get out there and make it happen like I’ve done before is still there,” Stewart said as the Steelers opened a weekend minicamp for rookies.

“It is there, it’s just a matter of getting out there and having the confidence in myself. Once that comes back the way I want it to, it won’t matter what happens.”

As he did at the end of last season, Stewart said he won’t play receiver again.

“I’ve made the statement and I’ll say it again: ‘I’ll never go back to wide receiver because it’s almost like I’m somewhat slashing my own throat,’ ” said Stewart, whose nickname is Slash. “I have to perform, I know that. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about that. I have to perform and I have to do well.”

Stewart doesn’t doubt he will again be the player he was in 1997.

“I want to come back--and more,” Stewart said, “And it’s going to come back. I’ve been working hard this off-season, watching film, working out, doing everything I need to do to get myself prepared. Not worrying about what anybody else thinks or what anybody says. Just get myself prepared mentally and physically.

“And once I get on the football field, I’m going to let all my actions speak for themselves.”

Director of football operations Kevin Colbert said recently that Stewart needed more help, and it may come from newly drafted wide receivers Plaxico Burress of Michigan State and Danny Farmer of UCLA.

But will Stewart be throwing to them--or will Graham, who couldn’t hold his starting job with the New York Giants?

“Obviously he’s going to come in and compete,” Stewart said. “That’s the attitude it should be among all the players.”