Veteran Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis puts his chances of returning at "50-50" February 14 2005

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Even Jerome Bettis doesn't know whether he suited up for the final time at the Pro Bowl on Sunday.The veteran Pittsburgh running back puts his chances of returning to the Steelers at "50-50," he said after rushing for 23 yards on five carries in his sixth Pro Steelers 10 Santonio Holmes jersey
Bowl.Bettis, who replaced New England's Corey Dillon on the AFC roster earlier in the week, rushed for 941 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He revitalized his career while leading the Steelers to a 15-1 regular-season record and the AFC championship game. "This is a special game for me because regardless if I play or not, I probably won't be back here," Bettis said in the AFC locker room.Bettis plans to spend a few weeks at home relaxing and getting acquainted with his new daughter, whose birth last week briefly caused him to consider skipping the game. He doesn't know when he'll decide whether to return to Pittsburgh for his 13th NFL season.Teammate Hines Ward would love to see the Bus back in black next season. But the receiver said only Bettis "knows what his body can or can't do. I kept lobbying all week, but if the situation is right, then he'll come back. If not, so be it. I'm sure he'll make the right decision."So what will Bettis miss if he retires? "The locker room, the guys, the 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
camaraderie and the competition," he said.Furthermore, Hawaii wouldn't be a bad place to call it quits. "These guys are the best guys in the world, that's significant," he said. "If it is (the last game), this is a great way to finish up."