Maddox still fiery competitor
For a fleeting moment late last week, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger raised concerns when he limped off the practice field with a calf injury.
It turned out to be a false alarm.
Roethlisberger was back a few minutes later, sprinting out of the pocket and doing many of the things he did a year ago when he became the first quarterback in NFL history to go 13-0 as a starter in the regular season.
Yet, while it's true that Roethlisberger escaped injury in this instance -- Jerome Bettis collided with him and caused a charley horse -- it served as an example of how, at any time, injuries can occur and a backup plan must be in place.
For the Steelers, Tommy Maddox is the current backup plan at quarterback, followed by Charlie Batch and Brian St. Pierre. Things could change as camp moves forward, but for now, Maddox is waiting in the bullpen.
"This game changes overnight," said Maddox, who knows all too well how an injury can quickly alter the fate of a team (sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad) and even a career. "One snap, and things can be different. Since I was a rookie (in Denver) playing behind John Elway, I knew that I'd have to prepare like I was going to be out there playing 16 games. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't."
It was Maddox who entered last season as the Steelers starter, but a Game 2 elbow injury against Baltimore paved the way for Roethlisberger, who never relinquished the top spot.
"You just never know," Maddox said. "Everything can be going fine, then all of a sudden, you're injured and somebody has to step in. I feel like I can do that if asked."
Of the three backup quarterbacks, Maddox counts the most against the salary cap at $1.35 million, which is reasonable for a guy who's a play away from running the team. Batch counts $450,000 and St. Pierre $416,168.
Maddox, who has 34 career starts, prefers not to discuss the backup competition.
"You have to ask the coaches about it," he said. "There's nothing to say about it."
Maddox and Batch are looking to re-establish themselves after enduring struggles last season. Maddox, a nine-year vet who two years ago set Steelers passing records for a team that finished 6-10, beat Roethlisberger out for the top job last season before the injury. He completed 30 of 60 passes for 329 yards and a touchdown.
Batch, an eight-year pro who put up big numbers his first four NFL seasons in Detroit, has attempted just eight passes since signing with the Steelers in 2002. He missed all of last season after suffering a training-camp knee injury that required microfracture surgery.
"Feeling good," Batch said the other day. "We're all out here working hard."
For Maddox, who turns 34 on Sept. 2, his drive to be the leader of the Steelers has not waned, even though he understands that Roethlisberger has earned the top spot. He has a keen understanding of the offense and is using his experience to mentor younger players, including Roethlisberger.
He threw well during Saturday's drills at training camp and continues to believe he can steer a team through an entire season.
"If you ever lose your competitiveness, you might as well hang it up," Maddox said. "I still come in saying that I want to have the best camp ever, that I want to throw the ball well in the preseason and that I want to be successful. And, wherever that takes, it takes you.
"But I think it makes it a lot easier to put your head on the pillow at night knowing that you worked as hard as you could, and you competed as hard as you could. When guys lose that, and when they question what they're doing, it's time to stop playing.
"For me, I want to make every play my best. Even if it's only four plays in practice, I want them to be the best ever."
