PITTSBURGH Steelers' Randle El says he's confident he can fill in at QB

The wide receiver was a record-breaking quarterback at Indiana.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- As the offensive linemen walked into a Steelers quarterbacks meeting for a game-simulation drill, the room seemed more crowded than usual.
There was Ben Roethlisberger, injured and not expected to play Sunday in Baltimore. And backup Tommy Maddox, who will start three weeks after being No. 3 on the depth chart. And Charlie Batch, the starter last weekend who is sidelined with a broken bone in his right hand, plus practice squad QB Rod Rutherford.
But why was wide receiver Antwaan Randle El in the room?
"El broke the huddle and all the linemen turned around and looked at him, so it was pretty funny," Maddox said.
The thought of pressing a receiver into duty as an emergency quarterback might not make many NFL owners and coaches smile but, to Randle El, the idea isn't as preposterous as it might seem.
"I've got all the confidence in the world in my ability," said Randle El, an NCAA record-breaking quarterback at Indiana. "I know all the offense. It's just a different perspective when it comes to playing quarterback. It's just again getting the trust of them."
Randle El ready
With Roethlisberger and Batch hurting, Randle El is ready to play quarterback if an in-game injury occurs, and there is some precedent for it in team history.
Tony Dungy, now the Colts' coach but then a Steelers defensive back, filled in at QB in a 1977 game against Houston with Terry Bradshaw and Mike Kruczek hurt -- making an interception but throwing two while going 3-of-8 for 43 yards. He is the only player since the NFL merger in 1970 to throw an interception and make one in the same game.
The most famous example of a position player being thrust into a quarterback's role came in 1965, when Baltimore Colts halfback Tom Matte started two important games after Johnny Unitas and Gary Cuozzo were injured.
Calling plays written on a wristband -- possibly the first such use of what now is a familiar tool for young QBs -- Matte led the Colts past the Rams to force a playoff with Green Bay for the Western Conference title. Matte nearly got the Colts into the NFL title game, only to lose to the Packers 13-10 in overtime after a disputed tying field goal by Don Chandler.
Considers himself a QB
While Randle El is in his fourth season as a receiver, he still considers himself a quarterback and is annoyed when it's suggested it would be a folly for him to play QB in the NFL.
Randle El was the first QB in Division I-A history to throw for more than 6,000 yards and run for more than 3,000, totaling 11,384 yards with 86 touchdowns. Randle El was also the first major college player to throw for at least 40 touchdowns and run for 40. Missouri's Brad Smith has since accomplished both feats.
And guess which NFL player has the highest passer rating?
No, not Roethlisberger, but Randle El after throwing a 51-yard scoring pass to Hines Ward on a wide receiver option pass Sunday night against Cleveland. Randle El's last two passes have gone for touchdowns, and he also had a 43-yard run on a reverse two weeks ago in Green Bay.
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