Sleeker Bus draws stares from Steelers

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -- The Bus has become a sports car.

Jerome Bettis, slimmed down and all business, drew stares Thursday as the Pittsburgh Steelers began training camp with coach Bill Cowher's much-despised running tests.

Bettis wants to quiet any rumblings that he isn't over the groin injury that sidelined him for nearly two months last season. He showed up in better shape than in any of his previous six training camps with Pittsburgh.

Looking 15-to-20 pounds lighter than his listed 256 pounds of recent seasons -- he isn't saying how much weight he lost -- Bettis coasted through the 14 40-yard sprints that Cowher uses to judge his players' conditioning.

The five-time Pro Bowl running back has often battled injuries before training camp.

But with the Steelers coming off a 13-3 season and still regretting their loss in the AFC title game at home to New England, Bettis said this might be the most important training camp of his 10-year career.