Steelers sign quarterback Leftwich [Archive] - The Orange Mane

View Full Version : Steelers sign quarterback Leftwich

Bronx33

08-10-2008, 09:02 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/news/story?id=3528603

The Steelers filled two injury-created needs Sunday by reaching agreements with quarterback Byron Leftwich and punter Mitch Berger.

Leftwich
Leftwich, 28, signed a one-year, $605,000 deal to join the Steelers. Because he signed for a minimum exception contract, the deal will only count $445,000 on the Steelers salary cap. Leftwich was chosen over Daunte Culpepper, who also visited the Steelers Sunday.

The need for a backup quarterback was created when backup Charlie Batch suffered a broken right collarbone Friday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Batch is expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Leftwich, who has started 46 career games for Jacksonville and Atlanta, may not be released when Batch returns.

"We're just going to let the play talk," Tomlin said. "You know how we do it. We're going to evaluate what we see based on performance."

The reason the Steelers picked Leftwich over Culpepper is because Leftwich felt more comfortable with the role the Steelers were offering. Ben Roethlisberger is the starter and Batch is expected to be the backup when he gets healthy again. Culpepper was hoping for a chance to compete for a starting job.

Leftwich was released by Atlanta in February and has played in just nine games the past two seasons because of ankle injuries. A first-round pick of Jacksonville in 2003, he saw action in 15 games that season, making 13 starts. He missed two games in 2004 and five in 2005 with injuries.

A serious ankle injury in 2006 limited him to just six games, opening the door for backup David Garrard to get a 10-game audition and win the starting job. Leftwich was released at the end of training camp last year and signed with Atlanta.

Berger agreed to a one-year, $830,000 contract. Punter Daniel Sepulveda suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season. The Steelers claimed Paul Ernster on waivers from Detroit last week. Berger's deal will only count $445,000 against the Steelers salary cap.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kaylore

08-10-2008, 09:26 PM

That sucks. Batch is someone who can actually play decently should Roethlisberger (sp?) go down. Leftwich is a black Drew Bledsoe.

Los Broncos

08-10-2008, 09:45 PM

Didn't Batch break his collarbone?

loborugger

08-10-2008, 09:58 PM

If you cant beat em, join em. Even thou they arent in the same div anymore, there seems to be a bit of rivalry between the 2 clubs and Pitt often comes out on the short end. Signing the ex-QB is a good way to get the playbook.

Sodak

08-10-2008, 10:05 PM

That sucks. Batch is someone who can actually play decently should Roethlisberger (sp?) go down. Leftwich is a black Drew Bledsoe.

And Patrick Ramsey is the white Drew Bledsoe? :thanku: Seeing lots of Bledsoe references lately, and they all seem to apply. Lead feet, big arm, bad timing.

Kaylore

08-10-2008, 10:08 PM

And Patrick Ramsey is the white Drew Bledsoe? :thanku: Seeing lots of Bledsoe references lately, and they all seem to apply. Lead feet, big arm, bad timing.

At least Bledsoe was accurate. Ramsey doesn't even have that.

PaintballCLE

08-10-2008, 10:52 PM

i think we need to get a kelly holcomb, lossman, type backup..........at least they won games for their teams and were always in the mix for a starting job.

BroncoDoug

08-10-2008, 11:10 PM

Where the hell does Chilipepper think he is going to get a starting job at now?

Bronx33

08-11-2008, 01:56 PM

Didn't Batch break his collarbone?

yes..

Beantown Bronco

08-11-2008, 02:17 PM

Leftwich is a black Drew Bledsoe.

Minus the production.....Bledsoe, for all the crap he takes, was an extremely productive QB. He had about 8 seasons where he was better and more productive than all but a few QBs.

Byron Leftwich has yet to reach 3,000 yards or more than 15 TDs passing in a season. Bledsoe went over 4,000 yards multiple times and had over 20 TDs 7 times.

Leftwich has yet to make it through a full season healthy. Bledsoe played in all 16 games 9 times.

Leftwich wishes he was the black Drew Bledsoe.

broncocalijohn

08-11-2008, 04:58 PM

Didn't Batch break his collarbone?

sometimes the answer is in the very first post from the maner who is making the thread........

Steelers sign quarterback Leftwich

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/traini...ory?id=3528603

The Steelers filled two injury-created needs Sunday by reaching agreements with quarterback Byron Leftwich and punter Mitch Berger.

Leftwich
Leftwich, 28, signed a one-year, $605,000 deal to join the Steelers. Because he signed for a minimum exception contract, the deal will only count $445,000 on the Steelers salary cap. Leftwich was chosen over Daunte Culpepper, who also visited the Steelers Sunday.

The need for a backup quarterback was created when backup Charlie Batch suffered a broken right collarbone Friday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Batch is expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks.

hambone13

08-11-2008, 05:22 PM

NaptownChief

08-11-2008, 05:46 PM

Minus the production.....Bledsoe, for all the crap he takes, was an extremely productive QB. He had about 8 seasons where he was better and more productive than all but a few QBs.

Byron Leftwich has yet to reach 3,000 yards or more than 15 TDs passing in a season. Bledsoe went over 4,000 yards multiple times and had over 20 TDs 7 times.

Leftwich has yet to make it through a full season healthy. Bledsoe played in all 16 games 9 times.

Leftwich wishes he was the black Drew Bledsoe.

Exactly....Bledsoe was a pretty good QB for several years. Leftwhich has never been worth a dump....He just got opportunity after opportunity that he didn't deserve in Jacksonville because they messed up and wasted a high 1st round pick on him.

The only thing slower than Leftwich's feet is his quicksand like baseball pitcher wind up and release.

NaptownChief

08-11-2008, 05:47 PM

Why's he' gotta be "black" whatever? Easy there Mr. Limbaugh.....

He was responding to Kaylore that called him that...no need to start a race argument there Mr. Jackson.

hambone13

08-11-2008, 05:53 PM

He was responding to Kaylore that called him that...no need to start a race argument there Mr. Jackson.

That's why I put "LOL" in the title. I'm the last person to start a "race" argument but it's not like people say, he's a "brunette version" of Chris Simms.... It's a strange thing to make reference to or respond directly to if there's not a "race" reference going on...

NaptownChief

08-11-2008, 06:08 PM

That's why I put "LOL" in the title. I'm the last person to start a "race" argument but it's not like people say, he's a "brunette version" of Chris Simms.... It's a strange thing to make reference to or respond directly to if there's not a "race" reference going on...

I understand what you are saying but when it comes to QB's and other skilled position players people have a typical perception of the type of player based on their skin color. Right or wrong that is generally the case especially with the media. White WR's are always assumed to be "possession receivers" regardless of how fast they might be like Kevin Curtis. White QB's are perceived as "pocket passers" even though there are guys like Tim Tebow, Steve Young and the such that were/are excellent runners and black QB's are always perceived to be more athletic "dual threat" guys whether they are fast or not.

So in this case by calling him a "black Bledsoe" everyone knows he is calling him a lead footed pocket passer.

Los Broncos

08-11-2008, 07:04 PM

sometimes the answer is in the very first post from the maner who is making the thread........

Steelers sign quarterback Leftwich

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/traini...ory?id=3528603

The Steelers filled two injury-created needs Sunday by reaching agreements with quarterback Byron Leftwich and punter Mitch Berger.

Leftwich
Leftwich, 28, signed a one-year, $605,000 deal to join the Steelers. Because he signed for a minimum exception contract, the deal will only count $445,000 on the Steelers salary cap. Leftwich was chosen over Daunte Culpepper, who also visited the Steelers Sunday.

The need for a backup quarterback was created when backup Charlie Batch suffered a broken right collarbone Friday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Batch is expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks.

I knew the answer, just trying to be involved.