After loosing Leftwitch, It is possible He become again Steeler?

by YeOldeMexFan on Aug 26, 2009 7:42 PM EDT Comment 39 comments

Today maybe again the stars are Alligning in Our Steelers favor. After that issue between Big Ben and Max Starks that scare some of Us, it happends that at this point it is a possibility to have back Byron Leftwitch Back with the Steelers, mainly because his actual team "feels He (Leftwitch) just doesn´t fit" with our team so they are asking for a 5º to 6º round pick to have access to his services, so I think that this is at least great and put many of Us in the Leftwitch Wagon at least asking an opportunity to fill one spot on Our roster. Also with the kind of talent that We (of course trought Our FO) have been drafting, it is just a spot in the next draft, that at that level may be not as expensive as it appears to be, but that also deppends of the projected draft that the FO has already at this point. Of course it is up to Our FO to have that last word but it could be a very good addition mainly after those scenarios that appear after BB "injury". Comments. ...

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ok with me

byron was a great addition last yea, and really impressed me in the few chances he had to play

by indianasteelers on Aug 26, 2009 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice

Lord Byron fills in nicely in Pittsburgh. This could be a smart move. He was needed last year and delivered. I don’t think we should take the backup QB situation for granted. It can be carried well by Batch but, IMO, his tank wouldn’t last a whole season. Byron’s would and I wouldn’t feel too bad about him backing up Ben again.

Is it worth a 5th round pick? If BB goes down? Maybe. If Batch gets er done? Na, but if he starts to show age we’ll all be wishing Lefty was slinging it again.

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!!!

by SoCalSteelerFan on Aug 26, 2009 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d wait to see what happens when teams rosters are cut down. If we’re lucky he will be wavered.

by archon095 on Aug 26, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I expect if he hit waivers...

…that we wouldn’t get him. Someone is bound to put in a waiver claim for him. He’s a solid veteran backup with several years starting experience. There’s a fair few teams round the league who’d be keen for that sort of thing at that price. Not sure where we are in the waivers pool though, but I assume we’d have been 32nd after winning the SB?

I would give up a 5th or a 6th for Lefty as we’ve not spent much money (read virtually none) on bringing in free agents, but lost Marvel Smith and Lefty who should both be qualifying free agents. We probably get a 6th or a 7th round compensatory pick for Lefty in the draft next year anyways. He signed a 2 year $7m contract with the Bucs (though half of that money is in the form of a roster bonus in 2010). From what I remember the only FA’s we signed were Shaun McDonald and Keiwan Ratliff, both of whom are on vet minimum with a tiny signing bonus so probably (almost certiainly) won’t qualify for the compensatory draft pick calculations.

It’s impossible at this point to guess what compensatory pick we’d get for Leftwich having left but I think it would be a bit of a coup if we could get him back again for a 5th or 6th. Ultimately the only thing it might cost us is a couple of million against the cap and dropping back a handful of places in the 2010 draft.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Aug 26, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct in your point

… We have a waiver number of 32, after winning the SB. Beyond that, it is in order of knockout from the playoffs, then W/L record. I’m sure there are tiebreaks involved, but they needn’t concern those of us who are fans of winning teams. The Browns and Bengals can duke it out for #4.

Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people. (mattyc_77 on twitter)

by BostonWahoo on Aug 27, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I liked Leftwitch .............................

as a backup and think he would be worth giving up the pick, I don’t know how likely it is though. I haven’t seen either preseason game, how has Charlie looked? He’s odd man out if Byron comes back due to his age.

by grapes on Aug 26, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he's looked ok...

but at this point in his career he doesn’t have the tools Leftwich brings to the job. He doesn’t have that big time arm but you can still see that Batch is a smart guy. I wouldn’t be overly worried if Batch had to play a couple of games but Leftwich might be the guy you can still win with if (god forbid)we lose Big Ben for the season.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Aug 26, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bucs only want a 6th RDr for him!

I say take that trade!

With Dixon Hurt, Byron would be an excellent addition as a backup.

I love Batch, but he’s only good for a couple/three games a year.

by tobiathan on Aug 27, 2009 12:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes Sir, after Dixon Injury again, we are almost forced to take Leftwitch, who by the way already is "in-lined"

with Our System, and I Think that he will be pleased to be back here, even as he always told “as a back-up QB”, because our QB is BB". And He always was a classy guy.

O sales tickets,...and let D rest a little, and D Win Championships.

by YeOldeMexFan on Aug 27, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The question is:

Would he be happy here? He left here because he wanted a chance to start.
I think he would be great here, if he were content to be a backup.

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Aug 27, 2009 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If no one else jumps on this trade, he won’t be a starter this year. It’s probably too late to catch on with another team and start anyway.

by Phantaskippy on Aug 27, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, you pick up Leftwich on waiver wires if he makes it. Otherwise you pick up someone else, just like you picked up Lefty last year.

There is no way in hell the steelers trade a sixth for a backup QB.

Willie Colon doesn’t get flagged because he has long arms; he gets flagged because he sucks. - cliff harris is still a punk!

by steelguy99 on Aug 27, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps they would consider a trade for the NFL’s best tackle.

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Aug 27, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I expect a 3-way trade so we can get Sean Mahan in the mix.

Willie Colon doesn’t get flagged because he has long arms; he gets flagged because he sucks. - cliff harris is still a punk!

by steelguy99 on Aug 27, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

that’s great!!!

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Aug 27, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

any way we could also pick up LeCharles Bentley?

by acrollet on Aug 27, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

we’ll be getting a 6th round pick as compensation for him having signed for the Bucs in the first place. Maybe a 7th, maybe a 5th. Impossible to tell at this point. But a 6th rounder for Leftwich would be pretty much a wash. As I outlined above, if he were on waivers and some other team wanted him, they’d get him not us because we won the Superbowl and will be somewhere around last in the waiver rankings right now.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Aug 27, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would say no only because he should be a starter somewhere. he proved last year that on a good team he can be a good qb; if hes not working out in tb, then that must say something about their team. if he wants to come back, of course id love it.

by sparco on Aug 27, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Byron Leftwitch’s contract details….

The deal is for $7.5 million according to John Clayton. Leftwich will be scheduled to make $2 million in 2009. He will also have a $3.5 million roster bonus in 2010 that has to be paid at the start of the NFL free-agency period. If the Buccaneers pay it, Leftwich could make $5.5 million in 2010.

Which means we would have to find another 2 million dollars for this year against a tight cap and his Cap number for next season would make him impossible to stay with the Steelers unless he re-negotiated.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Aug 27, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gah.

There’s that “dose of reality” again. pfft. Do we have enough to sign T.J. Duckett and run the Wildcat still?

by Phantaskippy on Aug 27, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only if we pass on LeCharles Bentley.....

…the fact is Lefty loved it in Pittsburgh last year. He was sideline gold and clubhouse gold.

He moved the ball against Philly (in garbage time, tho) when Ben couldn’t, and won the Redskins game in the second half. His rating was in or close to triple digits.

He left only because he wanted a big payday, and there was no way the Steelers had the money to pay him – at a backup – what he could make on the free market. No doubt, a part of Lefty’s current contract includes a signing bonus, so he got paid a big chunk already.

Do we know how much – beyond the signing bonus – the Bucs are obligated to pay this season? If he were traded to the Steelers, do we know how flexible the financial terms would be?

Lefty might be happy to accept a one year contract with the Steelers for this year, so he can go out on the free market again next year.

Bottom line: I honestly feel the Steelers could win the Super Bowl with Lefty in there. And while I really like Batch and Dixon, I don’t feel they could lead the Steelers on a successful run through the playoffs. If he’s available, they should make a strong effort to obtain his services.

by Homer J. on Aug 27, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steelers were winning 10-6

When Chuck came in against the Skins. He did not win that game, he maintained the lead. Did he play very well, yes. But to give him credit for winning that game is not entirely accurate.

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Aug 27, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oops, I meant Byron

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Aug 28, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leftwich "proved" nothing last year

He played well, but, he only played a grand total of 4 quarters (2 of them against the Browns for Christmas sake) and against teams not having the advantage of game planning for him, which is not even close to enough time to prove oneself.

Also, I did not know he was already on the outs with TB. Can anyone drop in a link to the story? Thanks.

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Aug 27, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's worth a 5th or 6th round pick for sure

just not to the Steelers.
If he becomes a FA and one of the Steelers QB’s gets hurt, he’d be in Pittsburgh before they got to the locker room, with a signed contract in hand.
He’s better than some of the starters around, and most of the backups also, but all of those teams passed on him before. I think now that some “games” have been played his value is higher since teams know what they have, where last time, they thought they had something that may not be there.

by SNW on Aug 27, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Listen…as I said before a back-up quarterback is not worth upwards of 7.5 million dollars and a sixth round pick for two seasons of work….(Not when you have a $100 million dollar starter).

You can’t just trade for somebody and then say you don’t like the contract that the other team worked out….

If we want to trade for him we would have to not only give up a 5th or 6th round pick, but also take on the contract he signed with the Bucs….he doesn’t have to re-negotiate his contract and we would have no leverage in negotations considering we would have a 5th or 6th round draft pick already invested in him.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Aug 27, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Leftwich, but that contract and the pick, certainly sours the pot.

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Aug 27, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way do the Steelers eat that contract...

…some of it has already been paid as a signing bonus. Probably a decent chunk.

The rest, either TB would have to eat some of it in exchange for a draft pick, and/or the Steelers would have to renegotiate with Leftwich prior to any deal. If both teams are trying to work out a deal, they can bring in the player and his agent and restructure his contract and work out those terms.

Either that or try to grab him if/when he is released. Once he’s released, the new team that signs him is not bound by the TB contract.

Even if Lefty has already pocketed two million in a signing bonus, DYMS is right: no way do you pay 5.5 million for a back-up quarterback if your number one guy is healthy. But I wasn’t talking about paying that kind of money.

by Homer J. on Aug 27, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

actually...

I think if you pick someone up off waivers you do have to pick up their contract as if you’d traded for them.

From my understanding there was no signing bonus on Byron’s deal with Tampa but I think the first year’s salary may have been guaranteed. I’m not sure how that works out in cap terms.

But you’re right in that a lot of teams that trade for players already have a renegotiation worked out with the player before the trade happens so it doesn’t kill their cap.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Aug 27, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This morning the St. Petersburg Times is reporting "that Leftwich is the preferred starter in Tampa and that the team would be much more willing to give up McCown and Johnson."

So We are again in search of another QB at Lefty level, sorry. But even without having any chance to get Leftwich here, that is a small fee if it gives you a better chance to reign again next year. Or as usual with Coach Tomlin, He will develop something to “fill that hole” as raising other QB´s to that level, IMO. But in that circumstance I do like better to have Grudden or Martz over that scenario at the OC place. Sorry again.

O sales tickets,...and let D rest a little, and D Win Championships.

by YeOldeMexFan on Aug 27, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tyler Thigpen?

I’m really not in favor of trading for a back up QB at all, but it’s a good idea to mull about I guess. If Leftwich isn’t available, Tyler Thigpen is. The Chiefs want a third rounder for him… yeah right. When they come to their senses, and take what they can get, it will most likely be a 5 or 6, maybe a 6 and another late pick next year. Anyways, any thoughts on Thigpen?

by NYSteelersFan4 on Aug 28, 2009 8:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oops I wanted this to be a reply

I think you sniffed out a pretty good find… Take a look at this

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/08/27/a-case-for-tyler-thigpen/

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Aug 28, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very interesting...

I haven’t finished it yet, this damn job keeps geting in the way of my fanhood, but I will say I thought Thigpen looked pretty good when I saw him play, admittedly not more than a game and a half probably. But any QB with an accurate arm and the ability to run when he needs to should garner some interest around the league. I don’t think he has done, or even shown, enough to warrant a 3rd round pick, but I can’t say it’s impossible either.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Aug 28, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting you say that

I think you sniffed out a pretty good find… Take a look at this

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/08/27/a-case-for-tyler-thigpen/

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Aug 28, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree I think Tyler Thigpen looked very good on a really crappy team late last season. He is fun to watch and I hope he gets another shot to catch on somewheres else.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Aug 28, 2009 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

funny you said this cuz...

dale lolley just said the bucs have all their qbs on the trade block including leftwich & except freedman. he thinks the steelers would be interested in trading a low draft pick for leftwich

http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/2009/08/thursday-notes.html

by t1mmy10 on Aug 28, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Even though

The Steelers have said they are not making any moves at QB? I firmly believe everyone is entitled to my their own opinion but for the life of me, I don’t think I will ever understand all the love for Byron. If the Steelers end up with Leftwich, I’ll eat my hat.

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Aug 28, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone actually watch him last night?

All of his deficincies were on display. Immobility, the world’s slowest wind up (any time you talk about a wind up and it’s not a pitcher you’re in trouble), failure to show any touch (not even a little), and he missed about 3 wide open receivers… wide open. He missed Kellen Winslow at least twice, once wide open down the middle of the field with no pocket pressure. He forces balls into spots he can’t hit and misses the open man.

The guy played well for us last year, and for that we owe him some respect. But I would not want him starting for my team for any prolonged period of time. He’s got a strong arm, and knows when to check it down (which is what made him look so good last year. Ben rarely checks down and dumps off to a HB in the flat). At some point the strong arm isn’t enough, you have to show better accuracy to hack it long term in the NFL.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Aug 28, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Finally!

Some sanity. 100% agree. I think another thing that made him perform well is that he, admitedly, dropped back and fired as fast as he could since he knew he wasn’t going to have much time back there. Since he is as mobile as my front lawn, he would have gotten killed back there otherwise.

BTW – I like to force my balls into spots I can’t hit, too – haunted me all my life.

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Aug 28, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs