We suggested during Sunday’s edition of ProFootballTalk.com’s Countdown to Kickoff on Sporting News Radio that Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker, who missed the last two games with a toe injury, could be getting Wally Pipped.
According to Jay Glazer of FOX, it’s happening.
Per Glazer, Rashard Mendenhall is the new featured back in Pittsburgh, with Parker playing only when Mendenhall is hurt.
(Or after Ray Lewis breaks Mendenhall. Again.)
Mendenhall has performed well in Parker’s absence, and the fact that Mendenhall arrived via round one on current coach Mike Tomlin’s watch means that one of the heroes of Super Bowl XL is likely on his last legs with the Steelers.
Parker was one of the great scouting finds in recent years, discovered by Steelers scout Dan Rooney, Jr., who lives in North Carolina. Parker, who was undrafted, played college football at Chapel Hill -- where he was never the starting tailback.
He’ll likely regain that title only if he opts via free agency to go to a new team.