Maddox takes heat for poor outing

Reports of trash being thrown on his yard were not true, said his wife.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Tommy Maddox's family has been subjected to abuse since his poor performance in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 23-17 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, his agent told a newspaper.
"Having your kids deal with it at school and on the bus is a very, very tough deal," Vann McElroy, the backup quarterback's agent, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
But the player's wife, Jennifer Maddox, said reports that some fans tossed trash onto the family's yard aren't true. And she denied that her children were teased at school.
"It's not true. It's not. I was just at the gym and I heard that and I went, 'I haven't picked up a piece of trash in my yard,' " Jennifer Maddox told WPXI-TV news Thursday.
Jennifer Maddox said the negative publicity has been difficult, though nothing she and her husband haven't endured before.
"We're just no stranger to this. It comes with the territory. And there are going to be people who carry it probably a little too far," she said.
Paper's report
The paper reported some fans have tossed objects into the yard of Maddox's suburban home, and his wife has been driving the couple's two grade-school aged children to school to shield them from abuse.
Maddox threw three interceptions, including one returned for a 41-yard touchdown in overtime, and lost a fumble in the loss. Two of the turnovers came in overtime.
Maddox politely declined to be interviewed on the subject, saying the abuse has come from "just a few people."
"I just want it to go away, that's all. Just want it to go away," Maddox said.
Coach Bill Cowher was critical Thursday of those who have given Maddox a rough time, saying, "Bringing family into it, to me, is a classless thing to do. You've crossed the line totally."
Maddox's start Sunday was his first since last season's finale against the Buffalo Bills -- played after the Steelers already had won home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Roethlisberger was shelved because of a hyper-extended knee and bone bruise, but is scheduled to start Sunday in Cincinnati.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.