The place was Three Rivers Stadium. The date was December 7, 1997.

Kordell Stewart had just torched the Denver Broncos for 3 TD passes en route to a 35-24 victory. I can remember thinking how great it was to be a Steeler fan. We had the most exciting QB in the National Football League, and he wasn't even close to being in his prime. Little did I know we wouldn't see another performance such as this for 3 long years.

He finished his debut season as the first quarterback in the NFL to throw 20 or more TD passes and rush for 10 or more TDs. He also set an NFL mark as the only player to have two games with at least two rushing TDs and three passing TDs in a game.

Since then, he has been ridiculed, harassed, booed, benched and criticized. He has unjustifiably been the victim of vicious rumors. He has been the scapegoat for numerous losses, the whipping boy on radio talk shows, and the anti-christ to most religious followers of the Steelers.

On Sunday, he stopped some of the bleeding.

Even if it's just for one game, Kordell Stewart deserves every accolade he receives. Here is a man that has endured more than probably any other QB who has ever donned the cleats. Yet he never complained. He has never shunned the media, or put the blame on any of his teammates. Although the fans have been on his back for 3 years, he has never said an ill word about them. He simply refers to them as the greatest fans in the world.

When he lost his starting job to Mike Tomczak last year, he didn't sulk, or whine, or cause a commotion. He just vowed that he would be back.

When he lost his starting job to Kent Graham this year, he just held his emotions inside, and worked on being prepared in case he got another shot. He has been a class individual all the way, and he deserves every success that comes to him.

He had arguably his best game as a QB on Sunday. For sure it was the best since that day in December, 1997. This time it was against the lowly Bengals, but it it was poetry just the same. He threw 3 TD passes, and rushed for 1 on a QB sneak. He looked poised and confident in the pocket, and did the best job of reading defenses that I can remember. When nothing was open, he would scramble with the elusiveness that gave him the "Slash" moniker.

After the game, players on both teams were singing his praises. I'm happy for him, he deserves it. Will it continue? It's hard to say.

At 6-6 the Steelers still have faint playoff hopes, but they are slim at best. Right now the 3 wild card teams would be the N.Y. Jets, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Denver Broncos. They are all sitting with only 4 losses. The Buffalo Bills and the Indianapolis Colts are sitting at 7-5. With only 4 games remaining, the Steelers face a tough uphill climb.

I know stranger things have happened, but realistically, the team will not likely see the post-season. I plan on watching the last 4 games and rooting hard for Kordell to continue the success he has enjoyed the last couple of games.

Next year the Steelers move into a new stadium, and they desperately need a QB that can lead their young WR core to greatness. Some people think that should happen through free-agency. Others think it should happen through the draft. I think the answer is right under our noses.

Congratulations Kordell. Now get out their and prove the nay-sayers wrong.

by SteelerGil (November 27, 00)