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Willie Parker: Fast, Tough, But Best Of All Healthy

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: January 30, 2009

TAMPA - Willie Parker has carried the nickname "Fast Willie" for most of his life, but Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians doesn't think it truly describes Pittsburgh's running back.

"He's a tough guy," Arians said. "People think of him as 'Fast Willie,' that he's an outside runner. He's a violent little inside runner, now. He runs most of the time between the tackles. He may start up in there and go around the corner, but that's what his special talent brings."

Perhaps "Fast and Furious Willie" would be better suited for Parker. But, then again, the word the Steelers are most content using to describe Parker right now is healthy.

Parker battled injuries for much of the 2008 season, but the fifth-year pro says he's back at 100 percent as the Steelers prepare for Sunday's Super Bowl against Arizona.

"I'm glad to see the old Willie is back, that he's healthy and ready to go," Steelers tackle Max Starks said.

The Steelers should be. After all, Pittsburgh is 6-0 all-time in the playoffs when Parker starts, and he did pretty well the last time he was on the NFL's grandest stage. Three years ago in Detroit, Parker produced a Super Bowl-record 75-yard touchdown run and finished with 93 yards on 10 carries in a victory over Seattle.

"When Willie's back there," Arians said, "he brings such an energy and a passion to the game."

Parker entered 2008 coming off three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, the final two of which earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl. However, in a Week 3 loss to Philadelphia, Parker sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for a month.

While rehabbing, Parker often spent his time with trainers and away from his teammates who were going through the daily grind. Receiver Santonio Holmes said several Steelers often jokingly teased Parker about being "selfish" while he was away, even though "we understood what he was doing and how much it meant to him to get back on the field."

As playful as it was, Parker said, "It was tough just to see them out there playing and practicing. I wished I could have been out there with them. So then, just to hear their mouths and stuff, it kind of rushed me back on the field before I was really ready."

Parker struggled after his return, managing one 100-yard rushing performance (115 yards in a Week 11 win against San Diego) and one rushing touchdown in his next seven games while averaging only 3.4 yards per carry. But in a victory over Cleveland in the regular-season finale, Parker broke through with 113 yards and a TD on 23 carries, displaying the moves that helped the undrafted free agent out of North Carolina earn the featured role in the Steelers' backfield.

Parker hasn't slowed down in the postseason, rushing for 193 yards and two touchdowns in two games. He'd like to have another memorable Super Bowl performance, but he understands the most important aspect for the Steelers' offense.

"The main thing we've got to do is just execute," Parker said. "It's not about how many yards I have or how many yards quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gets. We've just got to execute."

It's safe to say, however, the Steelers are counting on a big game from "Healthy Willie."

"We don't expect him to have a pretty good game," Holmes said. "We expect him to have the best game in the Super Bowl."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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