The players, at least the healthy ones, never hung there heads and were able to stay positive even after scoring only 4 points in a week 7 matchup at Hartford. “The Hartford game showed me that I have a lot to learn when it comes to personnel decisions.” So if Pittsburgh wants to get back and make the playoffs, some tough decisions are going to need to be made. This team has a problem, injuries are starting to catch up with them, but WR’s Randy and Santana Moss should have their contracts renewed, after that the decision needs to be made whether QB Trent Green or RB Fred Taylor gets the third and final guaranteed contract. “We have two factions within the front office one group says keep Taylor, he has more trade value if we need to wheel and deal during the draft, and the other side screams to keep continuity at the QB position which they feel is the most important,” says Howell. It should also be noted Green is a graduate of Indiana University, a program Howell takes great pride in following each season.

Talking to an owner whose team just finished a one win season you would think, he would be in the gutter but that wasn’t the case with Howell, “You know even though it’s a trophy that is designed for futility, but I kind of enjoy having it around the house.” The best win for this team was its only win and the most disappointing loss was the season opening loss to South Carolina. “That opening loss to South Carolina was a killer I really think that’s when Randy was injured, but he just played though it until the coaching staff finally held him out 6 weeks later” said Howell.