Willie Parker’s dropoff in production and relevance has been swift. He was once considered to be one of the fastest running backs in football, and his greatest accomplishment was running for a 75-yard touchdown in the Super Bowl against the Seahawks. Injuries and the strain of hundreds of carries sapped Parker’s speed, and the Steelers got rid of him.
Parker signed with the Washington Redskins last season and ended up being released before the season began after he suffered a groin injury. You can’t really fault the Redskins for cutting a running back who was old and banged up, but it left a bitter feeling with Parker. In fact, Parker shared some of his feelings during an interview on KDKA radio in Pittsburgh.
“Being in Washington, they don’t care about football. I didn’t feel good from day one there,” Parker said. “They weren’t about football. They were about partying. You appreciate Pittsburgh a little bit more after going somewhere else and seeing what another team has to offer.”
Parker also took a shot at owner Daniel Snyder when comparing him to the Steelers’ owners, but that’s about as unfair of a fight in the octagon between Big Bird and Elmo. It’s no surprise to hear Parker make those comments. The Steelers have had a reputation of being a classy, no-nonsense organization. Daniel Snyder gets routinely turned down by big-name coaches and offers embarrassing insults towards others.
I can’t speak about the issue of partying, but I do know the Steelers are said to have a pretty straight-edge reputation. Well, except for their quarterback and wide receiver who seem to have been distracted the past year.
You can listen to the entire interview here
