THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TAMPA - Pittsburgh is back at the Super Bowl, and so is retired Steelers running back Jerome Bettis.
The Bus broke out his NFL championship ring from three years ago for interviews Tuesday as part of NBC's broadcast team for Sunday's title game. He said it feels a little strange to be here as a pregame analyst rather than playing for his former team.
"It's kind of weird because you know the experience and you're familiar with it, and you're familiar with the guys. But now you're kind of on the outside looking in, instead of on the inside looking out," Bettis said.
"But it's fun because for me there's no pressure. I get a chance to interact with the guys. … I can still get access without the other pressures. A little part of me says, 'Man, you possibly could be in that game.' But the other side of me says, 'Naw, I wouldn't have been able to make it to this point.' "
Bettis, who rushed for 10,571 yards and 78 touchdowns for the Steelers from 1996-2005, retired after Pittsburgh won its fifth Super Bowl by beating Seattle 21-10 in his hometown of Detroit.
He's made a smooth transition from the playing field to life after football and said he rarely wears his championship ring.
"The first couple of months I wouldn't take it off," he said. "Now, it's just media situations."
Bettis has spoken with several of his former teammates, but hasn't offered any advice for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.
"I really haven't told them anything. I've just talked to them as a friend, as a confidant, not really as 'Hey, do this, do that,' because they've all been here before. … They know what needs to be done. So it was really just congratulating them and letting them know this is a great opportunity for them and don't lose sight of it."
