For Openers, Cowher Decides to Bench Bettis

Jerome Bettis, the 10th leading rusher in NFL history, will start the season on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bench following his surprise demotion Wednesday by Coach Bill Cowher.

Cowher, unhappy not only with his team’s play in the exhibition season but also with how it is practicing, also benched tight end Mark Bruener.

Amos Zereoue, who replaced an injured Bettis at the end of each of the last two seasons, will start the Sept. 7 opener against Baltimore. Jay Riemersma, signed during the off-season, replaces Bruener.

Cowher announced the moves now because he doesn’t want any distractions the week of the opener.

“We want the focus to be on Baltimore and not on who’s playing for us,” Cowher said. “That’s the reason why I made the decision, so there’s no more speculation.”

Bettis, the second-leading rusher in Steelers’ history to Franco Harris, did not accept the news well.

“He’s disappointed but he accepted it,” said Cowher, who called the move a gut decision by him. “I don’t think one player has outperformed the other player.”

Cowher said that just because Bettis won’t start doesn’t mean he won’t play.

“This is not like a quarterback situation where you can’t keep going back and forth,” Cowher said. “That creates disruption in your offense. You can very easily change running backs.”

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The Washington Redskins acquired defensive tackle Martin Chase from the New Orleans Saints in an attempt to fill a major hole on the defensive line.

Chase, 28, a backup for the Saints, will probably start for the Redskins, who released Dan Wilkinson last month when he refused a pay cut. Brandon Noble was lost for the season last week with a knee injury.

The Saints will receive a selection in the sixth or seventh round of next year’s draft, depending on whether Chase is on the field for more than 40% of the plays this season.

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Green Bay nose tackle Gilbert Brown returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since tearing a biceps muscle during the Packers’ exhibition game against Atlanta on Aug. 9.

After participating in six full-contact plays, Brown said he felt the practice was a positive sign that the injury won’t require surgery, which would likely sideline him for the season.

“There’s no pain or nothing. I just felt great,” Brown said. “It felt good to be out there with my teammates. That’s the main thing.”

Brown was on the field for only the first half of the two-hour, full-contact practice in pads. He took part in six plays during a nine-on-seven rushing drill.

Brown could get an increased workload in practice today. There’s a possibility he could play in Saturday’s exhibition game against Carolina at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. The season-opener is Sept. 7.

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Defensive end Michael McCrary of the Baltimore Ravens will announce his retirement today, closing the book on an injury-filled 10-year career in which he earned two Pro Bowl berths and a Super Bowl ring.