Farrior: Perfect landing in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH - As Bill Parcells' first draft pick for the Jets, James Farrior was supposed to be the cornerstone of a championship defense at outside linebacker. But after starting as a rookie in 1997, he turned out to be something less than the Jets' version of Lawrence Taylor. He made only two starts the next season as the Jets reached the AFC Championship Game in Denver under Parcells.

What followed in his next three seasons with the Jets had the makings of a disappointing NFL career. Parcells left after the 1999 season and was followed by two more coaches (three, if you count Bill Belichick's one day as "HC of the NYJ"). Even though he regained a regular starting job under Herman Edwards in his fifth Jets season, Farrior knew he needed a change of scenery and grabbed the chance to sign with Pittsburgh as a free agent.

For all intents and purposes, that's when what has become a 14-year NFL career really took off. Farrior moved to inside linebacker, where he has been the bedrock of the Steelers' defense, won All-Pro honors in 2004 and has earned two Super Bowl rings.

But life has a way of coming full circle, and now he finds himself facing his old franchise in tonight's AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. Reflecting on the journey this week, Farrior said: "It was a tough situation with the Jets. Going through three coaches in five years was pretty tough, but once I got here, I felt like everything was stable.

"This is a great organization, one of the best in pro sports. The Rooney family does a great job of getting people in here to fit within the Steeler mold. I felt a lot more comfortable here. I knew I was going to have guys in place for the long run."

What a run it has turned out to be. Parcells certainly had Farrior's character pegged as the kind of guy who could emerge as a team leader. The problem was he had the peg in the wrong hole. Once Farrior moved inside in the Steelers' 3-4 defensive scheme, he found his footing.

As Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said: "Our unquestioned leader is James Farrior. I think if you polled anybody, player or coach, equipment man or receptionist, they realize he sets the tone for this outfit."

The tone always has been one of quiet professionalism and dedication. The fact that he's going against his former team doesn't hold much juice for Farrior. He said all he recalls from the 1998 AFC title game in Denver is leading 10-0 at halftime before "it seemed like the wheels fell off in the second half."

There's nothing personal about facing the Jets now. "I am so far removed from being with the Jets that I really don't even think about it anymore," Farrior said. "We're just happy to be here in the AFC Championship Game. I don't think it would have mattered who we played."

Admittedly, he rooted for the Jets to beat New England last week, but not out of any allegiance to the past. It was so the Steelers would be home Sunday, playing for another trip to the Super Bowl.