Asked and Answered: Aug. 13

LEE COOMBS FROM MUNHALL, PA: In a recent Asked and Answered, you made reference to a former Steelers quarterback nicknamed “Slash.” Could you please refresh my memory of Steelers history about this player and his roster position(s)?
ANSWER: It was Coach Bill Cowher who dropped the moniker “Slash” onto Kordell Stewart during his rookie season of 1995. This was the situation: Because starting quarterback Neil O’Donnell and backup Mike Tomczak both were eligible to be unrestricted free agents following the 1995 season, the Steelers kept four quarterbacks on their roster in a way of protecting themselves should both O’Donnell and Tomczak seek greener financial pastures. As the rookie, Stewart was No. 4 on the quarterback depth chart through the preseason and the early part of the regular season, and so when injuries struck the Steelers wide receivers early in the 1995 regular season (and because there were no practice reps available for a fourth quarterback during the weekly grind of the season), the coaches asked Stewart if he would help out at receiver during practices. A few weeks into this, the coaches started seeing that no one could cover Stewart, and that he also was athletic enough to run the correct routes and catch the ball when thrown to him. Eventually, a package was developed for Stewart, and he was inserted into games as a short-yardage quarterback, and he would take the snap and either run or throw short passes. That package continued to evolve, and Stewart’s role expanded even more to being a receiver in games as he was doing in practice. The Steelers ultimately came to list Stewart on the roster as QB/WR. Cowher picked up on that and started referring to him as “Slash.” During the 1995 season, Stewart finished with 15 carries for 86 yards, good for a 5.7 average and one touchdown; he also completed 5-of-7 for 60 yards, with one touchdown, no interceptions, and a rating of 136.9; and he caught 14 passes for 235 yards, good for a 16.8 average and…