Batch Injured Indefinitely, Leftwich May Sign Posted by MattyGabe at 10:47AM on 8-10-08

URL: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08223/903202-66.stm?cmpid=steele… " Byron Leftwich, until recently among the most promising young starting quarterbacks in the NFL, could join the Steelers today as the replacement for injured backup Charlie Batch. Before Leftwich boarded a jet in Atlanta last evening for the trip to Pittsburgh, he said he would welcome playing behind Ben Roethlisberger. "They have an opportunity to win it all," Leftwich said. "To be part of that, if I can help, that's my mind-set. I'm just trying to get back out there." The Steelers were talking to agent Tom Condon last night about a possible contract. Leftwich said it was his understanding that he would not work out before any possible deal was struck. The Steelers resume practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe today."   An interesting acquisition, but how long is Batch supposed to be out? I've heard four to six weeks, which is too long to go without a backup quarterback for sure, but do we just release him once Batch gets back, or what?      View This Article in a Printer-Friendly Format    Send This Article to a Friend

thegoz85 User Member #: 5 Total Posts: 205       Posted at 10:43AM on 8-12-08 Leftwich has officially left the Dark Side and signed with the Steelers. Maybe now he'll know how it feels to NEVER beat the Jaguars... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=txsteelersleftwich&prov=st&type=lgns

MattyGabe Administrator Member #: 1 Total Posts: 273       Posted at 11:18AM on 8-13-08 I like the signing... Granted it's for this year and this year only. Leftwich has every right and reason to want to use this season simply as a springboard to advertise himself as a starter for some other team next summer (in reality he could have done that this summer but what type of contract could he have fetched?) In the long run is he using the Steelers team as a bargaining chip? Sure. But I'd say we make out fairly well ourselves, paying him less than $1m for a year's worth of a backup quarterback. Being that he's friends with Ben Roethlisberger and moreso Ken Anderson (Steelers QB Coach), it'll be a great fit.

"If sloth were an industry, I'd be General Motors." --Vincent van Gui

MattyGabe Administrator Member #: 1 Total Posts: 273       Posted at 9:02AM on 8-30-08 In case you haven't heard... They have officially decided to keep Leftwich as the No. 2, Dennis Dixon is the No. 3 and Batch will most likely go on the IR for the year, which means he's done. It's a tough situation for the Steelers because once Leftwich starts the season as No. 2, his contract kicks in and it wouldnt be easy for the Steelers to get rid of him. Nor would the Steelers really want to "get rid of him", though I love Batch as a backup, I'm not entirely sure they would be hurting themselves by choosing Byron over Charlie. They would, however, hurt themselves if they relied on Dennis Dixon to backup Ben until Charlie got healthy again. A logical decision for sure, but one that isn't too surprising.

"If sloth were an industry, I'd be General Motors." --Vincent van Gui

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