Maddox has worst day playing for the Steelers

He was intercepted three times, one of the pick-offs going for the winning TD.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Quarterback Tommy Maddox thought his worst day in a Steelers uniform was behind him. (Remember when he suffered an elbow injury in Baltimore in 2004's Game 2 and lost his starting job to a rookie?) Sunday, Maddox discovered a whole new level of rock bottom.
Starting for injured Ben Roethlisberger, Maddox saw his first regular season action since Jan. 2. His rust showed.
Three interceptions and a lost fumble earned Maddox his first real dose of wrath from the hometown fans since he replaced Kordell Stewart as starter in October 2002.
"I was disappointed in that," Maddox said of the boos he heard at Heinz Field. "I'd be lying if I said no. I think that sometimes it is to be expected [but] when you have a track record in a city like I do here, I was disappointed."
Maddox started because Roethlisberger suffered a bone bruise and hyper-extended knee in last Monday's win over the Chargers in San Diego.
Steelers had chances to win
Despite Maddox's struggles (11-of-28 passing for 154 yards, 30.1 passer's rating), the Steelers had chances to win in overtime.
The play that cost them was one Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis anticipated.
Mathis ran in front of Morgan at the Pittsburgh 41 and stole the ball, racing into the end zone with the winning points.
"It was a play I got earlier in the game," Mathis said. "I had one receiver on my side and the backs were offset. The back ran to the flat and the receiver curled up. We were in cover 3 the first time, so I couldn't jump it.
"But in overtime, I told [safety] Deon Grant, "Listen, I'm going to jump it. I know the route," Mathis said. "They ran the same route and I was right."
Maddox said that he thought that even if Mathis jumped the route that "Quincy would be able to get in front of him. He [Mathis] made a good play."
Came after fumble
The play came a few minutes after a Maddox fumble cost the Steelers a chance to kick a winning field goal.
"I was going to pitch it to [tailback] Willie [Parker] on the outside," Maddox said. "I didn't get it clean and I don't know for what reason. I thought I had it but I kind of bobbled it. When I was turning around, I thought I was about to control it and kind of bumped into [fullback] Danny [Kreider] and lost it."
Jaguars defensive end Reggie Hayward recovered at the Jacksonville 36.
Steelers kicker Josh Reed, who missed a 42-yard attempt in the fourth quarter, said he was prepared to go out if the Steelers were within 50 yards.
"The wind was really strong all day," Reed said. " It was very make-able."
He never got the chance.
Now, Maddox may know a similar feeling. Asked if Maddox had a bad game, Steelers coach Bill Cowher replied, "That's an obvious statement."
Thought about using Batch
Cowher admitted he thought about yanking Maddox in favor of Charlie Batch, but declined to say when.
"It's irrelevant," Cowher said.
Asked if Roethlisberger will play Sunday in Cincinnati, Cowher said, "We'll see."
Maddox accepted responsibility for the loss, but said he felt he played better as the game went on.
"I felt really good in the second half," Maddox said. "We kind of got things going a bit, but kept shooting ourselves in the foot. Sometimes it doesn't go where you want it to.
"It's a tough position. You get a lot of credit at times or a lot of blame at other times," Maddox said. "If you play long enough, you're going to have some bad days."
williams@vindy.com