"Willie Parker carried the ball 50 times in the first two games of the 2007 season, prompting somebody to ask first-year Steelers coach Mike Tomlin if he planned to continue riding Parker so hard.

Tomlin replied that he would "ride Willie until the wheels come off."

Earlier this week, I reminded Parker of that quote. He managed a smile but quickly turned serious.

"That year," Parker said, "he did run me a little too much."

Too much?

"I think I was leading the league in carries that year," Parker said. "I don't think that was smart of us as an offensive unit. You can look back at it, and I guess we would change some things. But it is what it is. It's about now."

Actually, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians wouldn't change a thing. After tying for fifth in the league in attempts with 337 in 2006, Parker was first in attempts (nearly 23 per game) and yards going into the 15th game of '07, at St. Louis, when he suffered a broken leg on his first carry."