THE STEELERS GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH PHILADELPHIA
As the negotiation between the owners and players continued with the players return to work, there was no let up in the war of words. At a press conference called by the Players Association, the players made public what they described as “its bottom line offer” to the owners. “We have withdrawn the demand to eliminate the Rozelle rule, leaving it to the courts and to the Congress of the United States,” said Ed Garvey, union executive director. “In all other areas, including trades, players placed on waiver and the option clause, we have suggested substantial compromise.”
Garvey observed that after meeting with the players for the past three days, the owners refused to negotiate and apparently didn’t appear to want to settle the dispute.
John Thompson for the owners countered, “The proposal, which they stressed was their final one, does as much as anything to show how far apart we stand after five months of bargaining.”
With most of the veterans fresh in camp after the fourteen day cooling off period coming into force, the Steelers next exhibition game would provide coach Noll with an additional opportunity to see more of his rookies. The 2-0 Steelers were playing the 0-2 Eagles and Noll was not expected to give a lot of playing time to those veterans that were not yet match fit, especially as he knew what they were capable of when ready for the season.
The preseason game was a chance for Noll to take a look at his rookies and free agents. With less than a month left before his squad was reduced to 40 for the first regular season game against the Baltimore Colts, Noll was expected to see more of those players fighting for a spot on the roster.
In Philadelphia, Joe Gilliam and John Stallworth again worked well together. Gilliam completed 11 of 17 for 234 yards with no interceptions compared to Terry Bradshaw’s 7 of 15 for 60 with one interception. Stallworth finished with 4 receptions for 96 yards complemented by Randy Grossman (picture right) with 3 receptions for 61 yards.
Initially using their veterans, the Steelers jumped off to a 23-7 lead at half time before yielding their advantage to fall 23-27 behind. With a little more than two minutes remaining in the game, Grossman’s touchdown catch put the Steelers 30-27 back in front. An exchange of field goals saw Pittsburgh defeat Philadelphia 33-30 to give them a 3-0 record and 109 total points for preseason.
The game was a feisty affair. Besides the local rivalry, rookies went all out to make an impression while the veterans were forced to compete to reclaim their starting jobs. With the game going into overtime, the Steelers sealed the victory with their first sudden death field goal.
THE STEELERS OVERLOADED WITH TALENT?
Following the Steelers third victory of the exhibition season, training camp was buoyant with the prowess shown on the field by the '74 rookies. Expectations for the regular season had been high, and with the addition of the new talent to strengthen the team, the Steelers continued to be predicted to go close to winning their first championship.
In a normal (strike-free) preseason, there is only a short period in which coaches can evaluate their new players. That’s why many rookies, who later become star players, are let go by the teams that drafted them. When instant success is paramount, sufficient time to assess a rookie’s potential is a luxury.
With the absence of veterans in camp for the first couple of weeks, the Steelers’ rookies were provided with a great chance to show off their talent. Coach Noll observed, “The rookies have an opportunity to show they can become consistent and prove their staying power this year because of the Players’ Association strike. Most year, you just don’t have the time to give them this thorough an inspection.
The biggest single obstacle a rookie must overcome is convincing himself that he belongs here physically. That takes some kids more time than others, but this year they all have had a longer grace period. They’ve gotten more personal attention and live scrimmaging than most years, too.”
Noll’s observations on his rookies:
Randy Grossman:
“A surprise? No, I wouldn’t go so far as to say he is a surprise, but he was a long shot from the start of camp. We look at our tight ends as blockers first; receivers second. All of our tight ends are getting a lot of practice on blocking techniques.”John Stallworth:
He’s done everything we’ve asked of him so far and been impressive in doing so. His speed and hands you’ve got to like.”Mike Webster:
He shows a lot of potential as a guard even though he had no experience there because he has played center. He’s a little short, but so is Miami’s All-Pro Larry Little. But he’s quick and strong and, when he learns how to pull, he could be a good one.”Jack Lambert:
“He’ll hit anything that comes his way. He’s a tough kid and his progress has been sensational.”Lynn Swann:
“We can’t tell very much about yet. He’s been hurt too much. First, he hurts a heel, then a thumb and we just haven’t seen enough of him yet. Maybe this week.”Noll summed up the enthusiasm for his new players saying, “In fairness to the young players, we have more competition for more positions now because of the rookies than we’ve had here in my five previous seasons.
That’s a positive situation for everybody if I can find time to get all of them some playing time in each exhibition game.”
Lambert had acquired his first admirer in the NFL after the Eagles coach Woody Widenhofer watched the film of his team’s defeat to the Steelers. “For a rookie, Lambert played super,” Widenhofer commented. The promise Lambert had shown in camp allowed the Steelers to trade veteran George Webster to New England for a future draft pick.
The arrival of tackle Tom Keating into camp August 20th brought the total of veterans to 42, together with 32 rookies and free agents.
THE STEELERS RECEIVING GAME SHINES
With the regular season due to begin in three weeks, the Steelers were approaching their fourth exhibition game in upbeat fashion. Undefeated, with the rookies shining and the veterans finally back in camp the there was a buzz in Latrobe..
Writing in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, David Fink enthused over John Stallworth (picture left).
"The hands are long and slender, capable of enveloping a football with graceful elegance. The running stride is deceptively long and alarmingly quick. The body is sufficiently slenderised to make fat people jealous, yet suitably muscular to make skinny people envious.
Clearly, those are the characteristics which when lumped together, compose the terrifying image NFL defensive backs will come to loathe. "
When written, those complimentary words were so prophetic; no reader would have appreciated how visionary they were.
Drafted in the fourth round, Stallworth had expected to go earlier despite his lack of national exposure. The absence of a receiving coach at Alabama A&M and playing defensive end and running back in high school were handicaps that he overcame to show enough to be selected by the Steelers.
“My reputation was not too big, but the scouts knew who I was and where I was. I caught 48 passes last year and they knew what I could do. I figured I’d go a round or two earlier, but I’m not disappointed about it now. Things have worked out great.”
While Stallworth was confident of making the team, the Steelers found themselves with a plethora of receivers. The five rookies and the two veterans in the form of Frank Lewis and Ron Shanklin made a magnificent seven that was perceived as one of the AFC’s quickest and deadliest groups.
With the fourth exhibition against New York on the horizon, coach Noll suggested, “I intend to use all my receivers as much as possible, but the veterans will play a lot more this week than they did last week. Last week, it would have been wrong to use the vets, more because the rookies had their timing down so much better. Now the vets are catching up a little and they need the work.”
Noll admitted the Steelers had spent more time on the passing phase of the team’s offense and that they needed to get the running game going. That deficiency would be addressed against New York.
Travelling back to Pittsburgh for their game against the Giants, the Steelers were leaving Latrobe for the final time in 1974. Coach Noll remarked, “I really hate to see training camp come to an end. It has been a difficult period because of the Players Association strike. Making any kind of plans has been impossible because you never know from day to day who is going to be here.
Really, we need more work like we can fit in during training camp, but there is nothing I can do about the situation but make the best of it.”
THE STEELERS (3-0) vs THE GIANTS (2-1)
Despite Terry Bradshaw being sidelined with a sore hand, the Steelers went into their fourth exhibition game as ten-point favourites.
Seven of those points were made up in the first quarter as the Steelers went ahead on a 16-yard Joe Gilliam (picture left) touchdown pass to Ron Shanklin. New York tied the game in the second period after a costly Terry Hanratty interception was returned 26 yards for seven points.
A 20-yard field goal in the third quarter put the Steelers back in front before a fourth quarter scoring plunge of one-yard by Steve Davis completed the scoring to give the Steelers a 17-7 victory.
“All week we practiced our running game and in the game we practiced our passing game,” observed Noll. “Our running game didn’t do a thing. You have to go with what you do best though, and what we were doing best was throwing the ball so we stuck with that.
We have the makings of a very promising football team. Right now, our running game needs improvement, but it will come, I’m sure. It may take time, but it will come.”
Happy with his passing game, Noll said, “Right now you have to say it’s very lopsided in Gilliam’s favour. The strike gave him an opening and he has taken advantage of it to the fullest. Right now, he’s way ahead of both Hanratty and Bradshaw.
You have to judge by what a man does in a game. Practice counts for something, but the game is what it is all about and in each game Gilliam has been excellent. Again, he was sharper when the younger receivers were in there because those guys have had more work, but early he worked Frank Lewis to good advantage.
The players thought so much of Gilliam they gave him the game ball for the second time this season. That says a lot for the way they have responded to him so far. If things go the way they have so far, he has to be my quarterback, but there are two weeks left and things could still change."
Gilliam contributed 18 completions from 31 attempts for 225 yards and 1 interception while Terry Hanratty could only manage 3 completions from passes 10 for 30 yards with 2 interceptions.
Despite his numbers, Gilliam thought there was still room for improvement in his game. He remarked, “If I had thrown one pass on the goal line a little earlier, we would have scored and broken it wide open.”
STEELERS RUNNING GAME STUMBLES
In the first four exhibition games, the Steelers were delighted with four wins, but no one was getting carried away with that success as their running game had stalled. Joe Gilliam passed his team to victory while the usually dominant Steelers ground game was conspicuous by its absence.
Since being selected two years earlier as their number one draft pick, Franco Harris (picture left) had made an impact in the previous seasons, but his game had been dormant during this summer's exhibition games. “I’m concerned about it,” he commented. “But I know it’s not going to stay that way.”
The Steelers backfield coach, Dick Hoak, had some unease about the situation and said, “I don’t think there is anything wrong really. We haven’t been working on the running game. When the veterans came back to camp, there were so many people, we had to sacrifice something and work on one phase of the game.
We’ve been working on the passing game. Before the vets came back, we drilled the rookies on the ground game and it clicked. The vets coming in have worked almost exclusively on pass blocking.
So much of what Franco does depend on timing. He’s so quick, he overruns his blockers. We have nine running backs and they all need work. And it’s the kind of thing they can’t get in practice. With the people we have, we can run the ball.”
Harris didn’t entirely agree with his coach’s assessment. “I feel very slow,” he said. “Not quick at all. I feel like I’m stumbling when I run.”
Coach Noll was realistic when he observed, “We are running out of time. This is just the reason it’s necessary to get into camp on time. The fact is we missed those 50 practice sessions and we can’t get them back. We have to make the most of the time we do have.
I can’t say we’re not going to throw the ball. Good teams do whatever is necessary to win. If your running game isn’t going, you hope you can pass. If your passing game is not going, you hope you can run. If neither works, you hope your defense can get the job done.
We’re going to go with whatever is working.”
BRADSHAW CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE
While the running game needed to pick up, the passing game was also providing coach Noll with a challenge, but one he didn’t mind. Gilliam had proved himself to be the standout in the exhibition games, while Terry Bradshaw was struggling.
Bradshaw had suffered an injury three days after reporting to training camp. “I was throwing the ball and suddenly I felt a strange tingle in my right arm just below the wrist in the forearm area. I didn't think much about it at the time. Early in practice, those kind of aches and pains are almost routine.
Only it never went away. It got worse and by the time we played Philadelphia I couldn't control a pass worth a darn. That bugged me. So I figured maybe a little treatment and a week's rest would help, but it didn't it didn't work at all. Now, the only thing I can think of is to live with the pain and if it never goes away I'll have it taken care of at the end of the season.
The more I threw, the better it felt. It took me a long time to warm it up, but once I did, it felt good enough. This is the first time I've thrown with any control in more than two weeks.”
Regarding Joe Gilliam appearing to be the number one, Bradshaw was philosophical. “You start the guy who has produced,” Bradshaw commented. “Joe's been producing. The only way I can beat him out, unless I do it this week, is if he gets hurt and I don't want him to get hurt. In order for me to accomplish anything this week, I realise I had to practice – pain or no pain.”
“I've never been in this situation before. I've always been number one wherever I've been. If I don't do something exceptional this week, I won't be number one when the regular season begins.
Three days before the team’s next preseason game against the Redskins, Terry Bradshaw decided to be proactive and give his forearm injury some drastic therapy, as much for his peace of mind as for the injury.
After the practice session, coach Noll commented, “I was glad Bradshaw threw today, but he did not throw very well. Let's just say he threw.”
THE PLAYERS' STRIKE FADES AS STEELERS PLAY IN WASHINGTON
Three days before the end of August, the NFL strike appeared to come to a quiet conclusion when the Players Association voted 25-1 to remain in training camp and go into the regular season without a new collective bargaining agreement if required. After the latest attempt to find an agreement by the federal mediator failed, he remarked, “I don’t plan to call both parties into any more negotiations in the near future.
While the strike came to a soft landing, the 3-0 Steelers travelled to Washington to play the 1-3 Redskins, who were embroiled in a quarterback controversy of their own. Long-time fan favourite Sonny Jurgensen had been pushed out of the limelight by his backup and fellow veteran Billy Kilmer.
When the Steelers fell 0-7 behind after Washington’s first snap, they looked like the three point underdogs Vegas had made them. A minute into the second quarter, a second Redskins’ touchdown gave the Steelers a thirteen points deficit to close.
While Joe Gilliam initially struggled, he eventually confirmed the talent he had shown in the previous exhibition games. Playing only for the first half, he contributed with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Frank Lewis, followed by a completion to John Stallworth for a 14-yard touchdown that put the Steelers in front before the teams retreated to the locker rooms.
BRADSHAW EVENTUALLY FINDS HIS FEET
Both teams swapped their quarterbacks for the second half. Washington’s Jurgensen replaced Kilmer while their import from the Canadian League, Joe Theismann, stood on the side-line and watched.
Terry Bradshaw came on for the Steelers and stumbled through three series finishing with an interception. Early in the fourth quarter, a coffin corner punt from Washington pinned Pittsburgh on their own two before a penalty put them back an extra yard and into difficult territory.
Throwing from the end zone on second down, Bradshaw found Stallworth with a 53-yard completion. Bradshaw completed the drive with a with a perfectly thrown 21-yard sideline touchdown pass to Stallworth to give the Steelers a 21-13 lead.
The Redskins fans’ favourite Jurgensen then gave his supporters hope of a victory taking his team 76 yards in six plays that finished with a 27-yard touchdown pass. Washington’s missed extra point left the Steelers with a precarious two point lead with 5:28 remaining in the game.
An imposing Steelers’ drive, led by Bradshaw saw the clock run out to give Pittsburgh a 4-0 preseason record. Rocky Bleier led the rushing stats with 69 yards on nine carries while Stallworth was the leading receiver with four catches for 97 yards.
NO TIME LEFT FOR THE DEFENSE
With just one more exhibition game remaining before the start of the regular season, Coach Noll was rueing the disruption to his training camp because of the players’ strike.
“The biggest problem now is time,” Noll said. “We have the short work week to get prepared for Dallas Thursday night. I might want to start another training camp after that. This has been the longest training camp and yet the shortest training camp I’ve ever known. The reason it has been so short is that the veterans have not been here for most of the work. That hurts.
Still, I pretty much know who I’m going to keep, but the problem for me now is deciding who to play. No position stands out in my mind as troubled spots, but there are some positions where I’ve got a lot of talented people begging for playing time.”
The Steelers had begun the reduction in squad size required in two weeks before the season opener. With the squad now reduced to 66, Noll commented, “I might cut a few more players before we play the Cowboys, but I’ll probably wait until afterwards. The league has not given me any guidelines or rules to go by in cutting the squad yet.”
JACK LAMBERT BEGINS TO MAKE HIS MARK AS A STEELER
The Steelers draft of 1974 was one of the best in the history of the NFL, but for the Steelers it just meant the final plates of the Steel Curtain came out of the furnace.
Rookie Jack lambert (picture right) believed football has to be played in an aggressive manner and confirmed, “I’m tall, but not that heavy. To make up for some of that weight I’m missing, I’ve got to be aggressive. That’s the way I’ve always been.
I came to training camp with the idea that I would be a starter this season. I really did not care where I played, but I felt 99 percent sure it would be as an outside linebacker, not a middle linebacker.
But I couldn’t have written a better script myself considering the way things have turned out for me. First, the strike, then both Henry Davis and Ed Bradley (the Steelers’ number 1 and 2 middle linebackers) got hurt. Not only did I get the practice field time I needed, but I got the experience you have to get under game conditions.
Things have worked out great for me. I’m not so sure I’ve got the middle linebacker’s job locked up yet, but I think I’ve earned a good shot at it, and that is just what I’m getting.”
Steelers’ linebacker coach Woody Widenhofer was less reserved with his praise for the Kent State star. “Unless he gets hurt, Lambert will be our starting middle linebacker when the regular season opens,” observed Widenhofer. “The kid is going to be a great, great middle linebacker,” he prophesied.
“He has tremendous range, quickness and strength. His strength is deceiving because of his tall lean build, but ask any back he’s hit and they’ll tell you just how strong he is.
His greatest asset is his ability to keep his balance and keep on his feet. He can play off and shed blockers without losing the ball and without losing any ground. That is an ability you don’t teach. You dream of finding an athlete who can do that.”
Had David not been injured, the battle for the starter’s job would have been a tense one. “Things may have turned out the same way, but it probably would have taken Lambert longer to win out," said Widenhofer.
"Don’t forget, David was a two year man at linebacker. It was not his natural position so he was still learning too. Lambert might not have gotten as much instruction time or playing time if it had not been for the strike and that could have slowed down his progress. But he is so dedicated and competitive; I’m not so sure anything would have stopped him from taking over.”
Lambert was elevated through the ranks because of Davis’s mild concussion and eye injury suffered against the Eagles and Bradley’s injured sprained toe against the Giants. “But the kid earned it on the field with a lot of excellent plays against Philadelphia, New York and Washington,” confirmed Widenhofer. “He has the speed to cover more ground than most middle linebackers and his height (almost 6-5) will be an asset on pass defense.”
Despite the praise, Lambert was aware of his weaknesses. “For one thing, I need more weight,” he said. “I’m giving away something like 25-35 pounds to every center in the league, and that is not good. If I put on more weight, I think I’ll have more durability, and that counts for a lot in this business.
The other thing I need is more experience in reading offenses. Every time I’d go to do something against Washington, they would always know what I was planning to do. That is what only experience can teach you.”
Looking ahead to their next opponents, Lambert enthused, “Dallas is going to be a real challenge for me. I’ve never seen an offense so complicated. That multiple offense is unbelievable. They have more formations and variations than anybody else I’ve ever watched on films.”
PRESTON PEARSON - PLAYERS REP AND STILL RUNNING BACK
Around the league, several of the players who represented their teammates in the strike, found they were unemployed as owners appeared to make a point by letting them go. On the contrary, running back Preston Pearson, who was the Steelers’ representative, found he was in demand as Pittsburgh’s running game stalled.
Despite missing over a month of camp, Pearson was proving the absence hadn’t affected his fitness. “I’m always in good shape,” he said. “That’s no brag, it’s just the way it is. I keep myself in shape the year ‘round. Not because of football, but because that’s the way I want to be, always.”
The principal Steeler backs, Franco Harris and Frenchy Fuqua, were showing the effects of a reduced training regime, averaging just two yards a carry through their exhibition games. After seven season of pro football, Pearson was hoping to become a principal part of the Steelers’ ground attack.
"I can’t say what my role is. It’s a good question. I don’t know what my role was last year. We had a lot of injuries and I played a lot; I liked that. I’m here to be the very best at whatever it is they feel I should be. That much I know.”
“This is a team that hasn’t yet realised its potential,” offered Pearson. “But the circumstances and combination of talent, experience and potential are now right.
This is a Super Bowl team. Of course, there are variables and anything could happen between now and the Super Bowl, but all the ingredients are here.”
PITTSBURGH’S FINAL 1974 EXHIBITION GAME AT DALLAS
Whenever the Steelers play the Cowboys, the rivalry means something has to give and, although just an exhibition game, there was more to play for than pride. If the Steelers left Dallas with a victory, they would become the only NFL team to go unbeaten through the ’74 preseason; while the Cowboys needed to retain their unbeaten preseason record since moving to Texas Stadium.
In their previous 1974 five exhibition games, the Dallas defense has kept its opponents passing game to just 88.6 yards per game and to only a 36.2 completion rate. The Cowboys’ Doomsday Defense would be facing the leading quarterback of the preseason, Joe Gilliam so the battle would be intense.
Asked about Chuck Noll’s problem of having three quarterbacks with above average ability to choose from, the Dallas coach Tom Landry (picture right) said, “That’s a road I’ve been down a lot before. I don’t have that problem anymore.”
Reflecting on the Cowboys' Roger Staubach, Landry continued, “It’s all his and I’m glad.” Because of a rib injury suffered earlier in the exhibition season, Staubach would be replaced by Craig Norton against the Steelers, but Landry was emphatic in emphasising, “If there is any way humanly possible, Staubach will start the regular season, not Morton.”
While preparing for the Dallas match up, the Steelers released defensive tackle Tom Keating who had been the vice-president of the National Football Players Association. His departure was viewed by many as a retaliation move for his off-field activities with the strike. “Keating was expendable because we had better young players,” commented coach Noll.
THE STEELERS HUMBLE THE COWBOYS
The Steelers left a marker behind in Texas Stadium letting the other twenty five NFL teams know Pittsburgh were finally ready to make a run for the Lombardi trophy.
From the opening play, Pittsburgh showed their Dallas rivals how great a force they had developed into under their coach.
Joe Gilliam (picture left) led the first drive of the game and the final play endorsed the credentials Gilliam had put together during the exhibition season. Faced with a third and five on the Steelers’ 44, the quarterback threw a 56-yard bomb to Charlie Waters for the opening score.
The Cowboys replied with a 31-yard field goal before Roy Gerela missed one from 34 yards for the Steelers. Preston Pearson’s one yard run increased Pittsburgh’s lead to 14-3. As the end of the first half approached, a Mel Blount interception returned 37 yards set Gilliam up for a quick score. Four straight completions, finished by a 31-yard touchdown catch by John Stallworth sent the team into the locker-room with a 21-3 lead.
Terry Bradshaw replaced Gilliam for the third quarter with the initial emphasis on the Steelers ground game that led to a Gerela 26-yard field goal.
At the end of the third quarter a Jack Lambert interception, that he returned 22 yards enabled the Steelers to extend their lead with a 34-yard field goal. Bradshaw continued the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Larry Brown to put the Steelers 34-3 ahead.
A minute and half later, Dallas reduced the deficit to 34-9 before Terry Hanratty continued Pittsburgh’s scoring with a 30-yard touchdown completion to Dave Davis. Clint Longley for the Cowboys completed the scoring as the Steelers ran out 41-15 winners.
Shortly after the victory, coach Noll announced, “Joe Gilliam will be our starting quarterback when we play Baltimore next weekend.” With those words, coach Noll was making history in the NFL. Joe Gilliam would become the first starting quarterback in the League. It also meant there would be no quarterback debate in Pittsburgh before the season began.
Gilliam welcomed the endorsement. “All I wanted was the opportunity to prove my worth,” he said. “I’ve gotten that chance and earned the starting job. I came to camp with that intention in my mind, so I certainly had no doubts about my ability.”
Dallas’s veteran cornerback, Mel Renfro, contributed his accolade saying, “We didn’t mount much of a pass rush and our coverage was terrible. Of course, the way Gilliam was throwing, I don’t think anything would have made much difference. That’s the most impressive offense I’ve seen in a long time.
ACCOLADES FOR THE STEELERS OFFENSIVE LINE
Dallas’s top veteran defensive tackle, Bob Lilley, was full of praise for the Steelers offensive line that provided the protection for their quarterbacks as they overpowered the Cowboys in the final exhibition game. “Their offensive line had an outstanding game,” he enthused.
That dominant line was a revelation as the two starting guards were out injured. Rookies Rick Druschel and Mike Webster (picture right) replaced them with Gordy Gravelle and Jon Kolb fitting into the tackle spots. Ray Mansfield and Jim Clack initially shared time at center before Clack swapped positions with Webster to produce the most effective combination.
Kolb made an impression on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with his superior blocking. While the coaches must have been impressed with all the performances as they prepared to reduce the roster to 47. With the roster initially reduced to 54, no one would have been surprised with the trade of guard Bruce Van Dyke to the Green Bay Packers (for a 1976 draft pick) or with the retirement of tackle Ray Hines.
Steelers offensive line coach, Dan Radakovich, confirmed the confidence he had in the remaining players, “Clack is strong enough, mobile enough and fast enough to play center or guard and the rookies have looked good. Mullins had another excellent game against Dallas, even though he was not supposed to play much because of injury.”
The Post-Gazette predicted that Mullins would probably get first crack at the right guard spot, but that Clack and Webster would also figured prominently. With seven more players required to leave, the media interest centred on whether one of the three highly rated quarterbacks would go. Any one of them would attract some high value compensation if traded.
Dan Rooney was cautious, “All I know is that we have three very talented quarterbacks and people are interested in them, but we have a lot of other players people are interested in, too.”
BRADSHAW: I’D LOVE TO BE TRADED
So ran the headline in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on September 11 1974.
Disillusioned by falling into the number two slot, Bradshaw was adamant that playing in the new World Football League didn’t appeal to him, although he admitted to the Post-Gazette that a change of scenery was a very appealing idea.
With Joe Gilliam already named by coach Noll as the starter for the season opener, the Post -Gazette was labelling Bradshaw as the Steelers number 2 quarterback.
“I’ll tell it to you straight, I’d love to be traded,” Bradshaw said. “Darn right, I’d love to be traded. I’m just eating my heart out here every day knowing I’m not going to be starting Sunday. It’s tearing my guts out.
I keep hearing that I was going to be traded to San Francisco. Man, would I love that. I even went to far as to go into the locker room singing, ‘I left my Heart in San Francisco.’ Nobody laughed or said a word. I figured maybe I’d get my wish.”
Playing tribute to his teammate, Bradshaw added, “Gilliam has earned the job, but I have had a helluva good exhibition season myself. I feel I’m good enough to be starting for some team in the NFL this weekend, so if I’m not going to be starting here, I wish they would trade me to a team that needs me.”
Bradshaw confirmed his intention of discussing his future with the Steelers management. “I’m not going to ask to be traded,” he said. “But I’ll indicate to them that I’d like to be traded. I don’t feel any allegiance toward the Steelers, that’s for sure.”
With Noll now hinting that he might play Gilliam for the first half and Bradshaw in the second in the season opener, Bradshaw observed, “That system ruins a team in so many ways. We went through that two years ago and it was awful. I know Gilliam and Terry Hanratty would not like that either. Nobody would. I wouldn’t refuse to play, but I would have to come out strongly against such a policy.”
While Bradshaw was threatening to leave the team, rookie quarterback Leo Gasienica, acquired during the strike, was let go.
STEELERS ROSTER CUT FOR THE 1974 SEASON OPENER
On September 11, the Steelers cut their 1974 roster to 47. They traded defensive end Craig Hannernan to New England for an undisclosed draft pick, bringing the total to five trades for future draft picks the Steelers had made. Three veterans, middle linebacker Henry Davis, wide receiver Dave Davis and safety Dennis Meyer with two rookies, defensive end Larry Moore and offensive guard Jerone Hodges, were put on waivers.
The Steelers squad included 33 veterans with 14 rookies. Three quarterbacks, five running backs, five wide receivers, three tight ends, nine offensive linemen, seven defensive backs, six linebackers, seven defensive linemen and two kickers.
The rookies making the squad were John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Reggie Garrett (FA), David Reavis (1973), Rick Druschel, Mike Webster, Jimmy Allen, Dick Conn (FA), Donnie Shell (FA), Marv Kellum (FA), Jack Lambert, Jim Wolf, Charlie Davis and Randy Grossman (FA).
Commenting on his roster for the 1974 season opener, coach Noll said, “I never gave much thought to the number of rookies I was keeping or playing. I look at it as a group of 47 players, nothing more, nothing less.
I’m very glad to get the cuts out of the way,” added Noll. “It’s one of the worst times for a coach, if not the worst time. I try to talk to each player personally. I feel that is my obligation. But it is hard because you see a guy every day for a long period of time and you grow attached to him in many ways. But it is done.
Really with Henry Davis (picture left) we are stalling for time. We don’t really want to cut him, but we’re not sure he wants to play football. He is still worried about the concussion he got in the preseason game over Philadelphia.”
Davis also had a wife suffering from Bell’s Palsy disease and although his intention was to return to camp after visiting her in hospital, he did not. He was added to the waiver list in a tactical move.
“If someone claims him,” Noll revealed, “we will probably recall him and make another tough decision. We want Henry to play for us. He can help us once he is back in shape.” A decision had to be made by 4 p.m. September 13, two days before the season began.
BRADSHAW CONTROVERSY
Dan Rooney attempted to dampen the Bradshaw firestorm, ignited by his talk of wanting a trade. Rooney said, “He came in this morning and we had a long talk about his situation. I told him no one here was down on him or anything like that. I admire his attitude. I’d be more worried if he was content to be a non-starter.
But the interconference trade deadline has passed: it is very unlikely we’d trade him at this time to a team in our conference, especially to one in our division, so a trade is not likely.
He never specifically demanded or even asked to be traded. He only reiterated to us he’d like to be traded.
I’m not worried about the situation. We have three quarterbacks capable of carrying the load for us. No one here has downgraded Bradshaw in any way. I told him that and he came away with a better understanding of our position. He was just feeling a little down or depressed over not starting and apparently just wanted to get it off his chest.”
1974 STEELERS FAVOURITES TO WIN THEIR DIVISION
Having made steady progress since he became the Steelers head coach in 1969 and given Pittsburgh their first division title four years later, Chuck Noll was hoping 1974 would be the year his team would make the ultimate breakout to reach the Super Bowl.
The Vegas odds maker Jimmy the Greek made the Steelers his even money favourite to win the AFC Central division with the Bengals at 2/1. Pittsburgh were also his long shots to win the Super Bowl. For the season opener against the Colts, he made the Steelers 17 point favourites.
Against the Colts, coach Noll confirmed he might continue the preseason option to use both his quarterbacks. “Gilliam will start, but there are no rules for handling three quarterbacks as capable as the three we have,” said Noll.
He also confirmed his intention to also rotate his running backs and wide receivers saying, “If we use all our people we can stay fresh and wear down the opposition. We have so many good receivers and runners I’m not hesitant about using any of them at any time.”
During the exhibition season, the coach paired Franco Harris with Steve Davis and Preston Pearson with Rocky Bleier while Frenchy Fuqua added to the mix. Ron Shanklin and Frank Lewis were coupled as one set of receivers while rookies John Stallworth and Lynn Swann made the other pairing.
“I’ll use them in many combinations during the regular season,” confirmed Noll. “I won’t restrict myself to those combinations. All of them can contribute and will contribute.” The coach intended to use any formation to ensure the Steelers continued to make the progress he had overseen for five years.
The coach believed the added flexibility presented from the increase in roster size from 40 to 47 will help his special teams. “That is one area we ought to really as the guys get used to working together,” he said. “That was definitely one of the first advantages I saw in the extra spaces on the roster and it was a factor in cutting the squad too.”
DAVIS MYSTERY
Henry Davis was recalled from waivers to remain on the Steelers’ roster but the name of the player who made room for him wasn’t released. Davis was not in the frame to play against the Colts as he continued to commute between his wife’s bedside and the clinic in New Orleans where he was undergoing treatment for the neck injury believed to have occurred in the exhibition game against the Eagles.