Leftwich & Other News

by BluegrassSteeler on Aug 10, 2008 6:07 PM EDT Comment 21 comments

Hey BTCS Folk,

The NFL Network just reported that the Steelers signed Leftwich as our backup QB. For some confirmation check out: http://www.theinsideronpittsburghsports.com/

This, I think, is the lesser of two evils, however necessary.

A few other items of interest:

1) As we've talked about here, Steelers Safety Ryan Mundy was injured - by a cheap shot - during the preseason game with the Eagles. While at first it appeared to be a minor shin injury, it looks like it may be a fracture to his lower leg. This, of course, sucks. He was beginning to show something in that game.

2) The Steelers have brought in another punter/kicker in Mitch Berger.

3) Big Snack is off the PUP list, but it is unclear if he'll play Thursday against the Bills. Still, he's lost as much as 25 pounds since the start of camp and will probably lose some more before the end of it. This is a good sign for our defensive line.

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thanks for the update

I’m glad they got Leftwich instead of Culpepper, its on the Trib site as well

I would be careful of taking the insider on pitsburgh sports too seriously though

by schnifin on Aug 10, 2008 6:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, absolutely – I’ve been burned by them a few times (as well as by the sporting news). The Leftwich thing is legit I think, if only because they did a short news segment about it on the NFL network. And Lolley indicated that Casey would probably be off the PUP this week as well, so it seems likely.

However, I am taking their word for it on Mitch Berger.

by BluegrassSteeler on Aug 10, 2008 6:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

berger

its legit

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08223/903339-100.stm

by schnifin on Aug 10, 2008 6:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm gonna wait for the ride to stop....

and see who the heck is still on.

Leftwich…I dunno. I suppose he’ll make a good backup, as long as he doesn’t have to scramble….oh, wait….he probably will. Darn. Still, like some folks said, maybe he’s got a few ideas we can use against the Jags…like don’t have Ben try to run on 3rd down with the game at stake. Still wonder what they’ll do with the roster spot. I still don’t see the logic in keeping four QBs only to then release Lefty when Charlie comes back. That just doesn’t make sense. Does it?

Punting competition and not QB competition apparently.

by SCSteeler on Aug 10, 2008 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that is exactly the problem

Leftwich is friggin slooooow. If he has to scramble (and if last season is any indication he will, a lot) we would be screwed. I read that Tomlin said that Leftwich wouldn’t necessarily be cut when Charlie gets back. I think that would be a huge mistake. Dixon has the ability to be good. And Leftwich is not good. He is not mobile at all and injury prone, two things that don’t mix well with our offensive line. I hope he never has to see the field in a regular season game for us.

by steelerark on Aug 11, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait

who gets cut now that they added Lefty and Berger? Is it Potts? Hope it isn’t Ernster yet. Or did they have room? questions questions questions??? Also I heard the Mundy injury is also more serious. Will they bring back Lorello?

by steelcitykid on Aug 10, 2008 7:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i'm guessing

potts is gone, and maybe someone goes on IR (Batch or Mundy?)

by schnifin on Aug 10, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They cut

Gerran Walker and Trucks. I guess they kept Potts. he deserves a fair chance not just handoffs.

by steelcitykid on Aug 10, 2008 9:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

more details

thaks to John Clayton

Leftwich signed for $605,000 counting 445k against the cap
Berger signed for $830k and again counts 445k against the cap

According to Clayton one of the reasons they picked Leftwich over Culpepper is they felt he was more comfortable with the backup role.

Interesting little read

by schnifin on Aug 10, 2008 10:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leftwich's number

Does anyone know what number Leftwich is going to wear on his jersey?

by Deaner on Aug 10, 2008 11:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

his number

might be 5. Just a guess. 7 is taken by Ben. Doesn’t really matter though. He wore 5 in ATL

by steelcitykid on Aug 11, 2008 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lefty

Does anyone think that Leftwich will actually be on the roster on opening day? Lolley kind of hints that this could just be a ‘rent-a-player’ for a month until Batch gets healthy. If Batch is even close to being ready to go on Sept 7th, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lefty if cut. Surely they wouldn’t carry four QB’s on the roster. If they cut Dixon and tried to slide him through to the p-squad, someone would claim him. I’d really be surprised if they cut Batch, so what do they do?

Batch has almost a month exactly to get healthy, if he’s close do you think they’ll cut Lefty?

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Aug 11, 2008 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Deaner

He wears #4 anybody whos cares

by steelcitykid on Aug 11, 2008 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

the only reason why I care is, I am also a big Marshall University football fan

by Deaner on Aug 11, 2008 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

I screwed up the earlier comment. I wrote #5. He wore 4 in ATL. Ernster wears 5 now.
But yes he wears #4.

by steelcitykid on Aug 12, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

da truth

mentioned they could put Batch on the PUP list to start the season which means he would miss the first six weeks which seems like a good time frame at which point they could make a decision

by schnifin on Aug 11, 2008 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Vested vet pay

Lefty will apparently get a guaranteed year’s pay as he is a vested veteran player. So why would they cut him if he’s on the team come September 7th.

Does putting Charlie on PUP “save” a roster spot? I’m unfamiliar with the rules on that one.

by SCSteeler on Aug 11, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

PUP

It would save a roster spot as long as he’s on the PUP list b/c he wouldn’t officially be on the roster, but what’s the point of carrying four QBs? I could understand if still 3 or 4 weeks away at the start of the season but if he’s even close, I can’t see them shutting him down for 6 six more weeks. I could be wrong but some teams don’t even carry 3 so I can’t imagine that the Steelers would carry four.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Aug 11, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the clarification.

It makes sense with the roster spot saved. Otherwise I was thinking they might have to cut another spot to keep him going. I know that Charlie is going for surgery and a steel plate in his shoulder, but even at full speed recovery he’s probably not going to be back and ready for the openning week. That, plus the fact that we really need those early games to set us up for the rest of the year, and I can see why they’re probably going to carry Lefty this year – at least as far as Charlie’s return from the PUP list (if that’s what actually happens).

by SCSteeler on Aug 11, 2008 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Batch

If Charlie is put on the PUP he will be out the first six weeks. Then once he begins practicing (after week six) they can:
1) if he is ready to play they activate him
2) if not ready he goes to the IR.
SCSteeler if they put him on the PUP he will not count against the active roster. So it does “save” a spot.
So it will be a great idea to put him on the PUP once the season starts. Also I wonder what they will do with Sepulveda?
cgolden I think putting him on PUP gives them time to evaluate how hurt he is. I wouldn’t guarentee Dixon a roster spot yet. And if Lefty doesn’t work out they could cut him when Batch is healthy. But the Steelers didn’t make a move yet so we wil see.
Hope this helps.

by steelcitykid on Aug 11, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes

it buys them time so they can put off cutting any QBs until week 6. That gives them time to see how Batch recovers as well as time to evaluate Lefty and Dixon. At that point they can either cut one of the 3, try to stash Dixon on the PS, or put Batch on IR. Also if another QB gets hurt between now and then they have that safety net of the extra QB.

by schnifin on Aug 11, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs