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There are drafts when the Pittsburgh Steelers move, make trades, and acquire players. There are also times when they just barely miss out on players due to the moves of other teams. As we revisit different Steelers drafts over the years, we will take a look inside into what made those moments both special and memorable.
In 1996, the Steelers had terrible luck trying to find their franchise running back. Tim Worley was traded in ’94, and Bam Morris, after his Superbowl performance and pleading guilty to felony drug possession, was released prior to training camp in ’96. Since Morris was arrested in late March, the Steelers were pressured to make a move on draft day. Instead of drafting a running back, the Steelers chose to send their 2nd and 97th 4th round picks to the Rams for Jerome Bettis and a 3rd round pick.
Jerome Bettis takes on his former team in 1996.
Bettis was a force for the LA Rams, under the great coach Chuck Knox, who implemented a rushing attack on offense. Bettis was a first team All Pro selection and was named Rookie of the Year for his efforts. His sophomore season saw him earn his second straight Pro Bowl. In his third season, the Rams changed cities and coaches, as they moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis in which Rich Brooks became the coach. Brooks wanted a pass attack on offense, and as a result, Bettis’ production plummeted. Moving forward, Coach Brooks gave Bettis the option of playing fullback, or being traded. He opted for a trade which opened up his opportunity to be moved on draft day. The Steelers loved his production in his first two years and realized he was being underutilized the previous season. They saw this as a great opportunity to grab a highly drafted, talented player, at a great price.
Bettis became known as “The Bus” in Pittsburgh as coined by the legendary radio personality, Myron Cope after seeing that black and gold bruiser give defenders free rides on Sundays. Bettis would become the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in ’96 under Coach Bill Cowher, and he earned another All Pro and Pro Bowl nod. Throughout the rest of his career, Coach Cowher saw Bettis as his ‘closer’, since late in games, no one wanted to tackle this physical runner, and he had a very low propensity to fumble the ball. Bettis was a huge reason for Coach Cower’s success in winning football games with leads going into the 4th quarter. The Bus would have six straight 1,000 yard seasons in Pittsburgh, earn another All Pro, and three more Pro Bowls while also being named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2001. His last game as a Steeler, he got to play Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He retired on the podium after the game as a Super Bowl Champion by stating, “I played this game for a championship. I’m a champion, and I think the Bus’ last stop is here in Detroit.” Actually, the Bus’ football career would have one more stop nine years later at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
12 Oct 1997: Running back Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the football during the Steelers 24-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
So what about the other players moved in this draft to acquire what would become a Hall of Fame running back? The Steelers 3rd round pick, LB Steve Conley, would play 21 games in 3 years as a special teamer before leaving the NFL. On the Rams side, their 2nd round pick was tight end Ernie Conwell, who played 11 years in the league while earning one All Pro and winning a Super Bowl with the Rams as part of the “Greatest Show on Turf” offense. The following year, the Rams used that pick and two 6th round picks to move up in the 4th round in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Miami would select G/T Jerome Daniels, who wouldn’t last longer than two years in the NFL. Oddly enough, the Rams used that 4th round pick as well as their 1st, 3rd, and 7th in a trade with the New York Jets to move up to the top spot in the draft and select OT Orlando Pace, who would also go on to become a Hall of Famer. For those keeping score at home, the Jets dropped back twice in the draft from 1 to 6 to 8, to select their linebacker James Farrior, who would later go on and help the Steelers win two Super Bowls!
In hindsight, I’d say both the Steelers and the Rams made out well with their moves. If you’re going by the numbers and the slots of the players selected, the Steelers win in a landslide, since the Steelers got their HOF running back. If you take into account, using those picks as tools to move in the draft, the Rams got a very good tight end and a bargaining chip to nab one of the best offensive tackles to ever play the game. Great general managing from both franchises who leveraged the picks from The Greatest Trade in Draft Day History, to lay the foundation for multiple Super Bowl appearances for each franchise.
Who do you think made out better on this trade? Leave your thoughts below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
In 1996, the Steelers had terrible luck trying to find their franchise running back. Tim Worley was traded in ’94, and Bam Morris, after his Superbowl performance and pleading guilty to felony drug possession, was released prior to training camp in ’96. Since Morris was arrested in late March, the Steelers were pressured to make a move on draft day. Instead of drafting a running back, the Steelers chose to send their 2nd and 97th 4th round picks to the Rams for Jerome Bettis and a 3rd round pick.
Jerome Bettis takes on his former team in 1996.
Bettis was a force for the LA Rams, under the great coach Chuck Knox, who implemented a rushing attack on offense. Bettis was a first team All Pro selection and was named Rookie of the Year for his efforts. His sophomore season saw him earn his second straight Pro Bowl. In his third season, the Rams changed cities and coaches, as they moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis in which Rich Brooks became the coach. Brooks wanted a pass attack on offense, and as a result, Bettis’ production plummeted. Moving forward, Coach Brooks gave Bettis the option of playing fullback, or being traded. He opted for a trade which opened up his opportunity to be moved on draft day. The Steelers loved his production in his first two years and realized he was being underutilized the previous season. They saw this as a great opportunity to grab a highly drafted, talented player, at a great price.
Bettis became known as “The Bus” in Pittsburgh as coined by the legendary radio personality, Myron Cope after seeing that black and gold bruiser give defenders free rides on Sundays. Bettis would become the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in ’96 under Coach Bill Cowher, and he earned another All Pro and Pro Bowl nod. Throughout the rest of his career, Coach Cowher saw Bettis as his ‘closer’, since late in games, no one wanted to tackle this physical runner, and he had a very low propensity to fumble the ball. Bettis was a huge reason for Coach Cower’s success in winning football games with leads going into the 4th quarter. The Bus would have six straight 1,000 yard seasons in Pittsburgh, earn another All Pro, and three more Pro Bowls while also being named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2001. His last game as a Steeler, he got to play Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He retired on the podium after the game as a Super Bowl Champion by stating, “I played this game for a championship. I’m a champion, and I think the Bus’ last stop is here in Detroit.” Actually, the Bus’ football career would have one more stop nine years later at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
12 Oct 1997: Running back Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the football during the Steelers 24-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
So what about the other players moved in this draft to acquire what would become a Hall of Fame running back? The Steelers 3rd round pick, LB Steve Conley, would play 21 games in 3 years as a special teamer before leaving the NFL. On the Rams side, their 2nd round pick was tight end Ernie Conwell, who played 11 years in the league while earning one All Pro and winning a Super Bowl with the Rams as part of the “Greatest Show on Turf” offense. The following year, the Rams used that pick and two 6th round picks to move up in the 4th round in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Miami would select G/T Jerome Daniels, who wouldn’t last longer than two years in the NFL. Oddly enough, the Rams used that 4th round pick as well as their 1st, 3rd, and 7th in a trade with the New York Jets to move up to the top spot in the draft and select OT Orlando Pace, who would also go on to become a Hall of Famer. For those keeping score at home, the Jets dropped back twice in the draft from 1 to 6 to 8, to select their linebacker James Farrior, who would later go on and help the Steelers win two Super Bowls!
In hindsight, I’d say both the Steelers and the Rams made out well with their moves. If you’re going by the numbers and the slots of the players selected, the Steelers win in a landslide, since the Steelers got their HOF running back. If you take into account, using those picks as tools to move in the draft, the Rams got a very good tight end and a bargaining chip to nab one of the best offensive tackles to ever play the game. Great general managing from both franchises who leveraged the picks from The Greatest Trade in Draft Day History, to lay the foundation for multiple Super Bowl appearances for each franchise.
Who do you think made out better on this trade? Leave your thoughts below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
