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E-mailNotebook: Players honor Fuamatu-Ma’afala after veteran RB was cut
Jerry DiPaola is the Tribune-Review high school sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail.
Jerome Bettis wore Fuamatu-Ma'afala's No. 45 at practice and defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen wrote Fu on his sweat pants Monday. Fuamatu-Ma'afala and von Oelhoffen are both native Hawaiians. Fuamatu-Ma'afala's departure upset von Oelhoffen to such a great extent that he said didn't want to discuss it.
"It's a great game," Bettis said, "but it's a tough business. You lose one of your guys and you show the support.
"We understand it's a business. We understand you can't keep everybody. You knew Verron (Haynes) was coming on very strong. That's the nature of the beast."
Bettis said coach Bill Cowher and other members of the team's front office weren't bothered by it.
"They didn't think I was showing them up," he said.
Bettis said that his support of Fuamatu-Ma'afala has its limits. He said he won't wear the ceremonial Samoan skirt that Fuamatu-Ma'afala sometimes wore in the locker room.
Meanwhile, four teams -- the New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns -- contacted Fuamatu-Ma'afala's agent about possibly signing a contract.
As a vested veteran with five years in the NFL, he is a free agent, but he may have to wait until next week to find a home. Any team that signs him before the first regular-season game must pay him a full year's salary, even if it cuts him before the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs are showing some preliminary interest in former Steelers cornerback/kick returner Hank Poteat, who also was cut Sunday.
INTEREST IN FOLEY
Outside linebacker Steve Foley, who was cut by the Bengals, met with Steelers officials, coaches and medical personnel yesterday.
When the Steelers finally determine the extent of linebacker Joey Porter's gunshot wound injuries, they might sign a replacement. Foley, who started 45 games for the Bengals from 1998 until 2001, is among the candidates.
The Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers also are interested in Foley, who has 9 sacks in three seasons. He missed the entire 2002 season with a dislocated shoulder.
PRACTICE SQUAD
The Steelers signed four players to their practice squad, all of whom were released in the team's final two roster cuts. They are running back Dante Brown, fullback J.T. Wall, safety Russell Stuvaints of McKeesport High School and Youngstown State and defensive tackle David Upchurch of West Virginia University. They will fill the fifth and final opening at a later date.
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