clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Steelers release Zoltan Mesko, sign Mat McBriar

McBriar brings a high level of success throughout his career to Pittsburgh.

By Neal Coolong
Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE
While the NFL trade deadline came and went Tuesday without an announced move by the Steelers, they did make one move in light of recent events.

The Steelers announced the release of punter Zoltan Mesko Tuesday, along with the signing of P Mat McBriar.

The release of Mesko comes after a poor seven-game stretch with the Steelers, culminated in a Week 7 loss to Oakland. While Mesko had a great punt toward the end of the game, he failed to handle a snap cleanly in the first quarter that led to a block and a net average of just 35 yards on seven punts. He had a 24-yard net average in Week 7 against Baltimore.

For the season, Mesko had a net of 36.7, 29th in the NFL, and only six of his 34 punts drew fair catches. Only two punters with 34 or more punts have drawn fewer than six fair catches - Oakland's Marquette King (four), Detroit's Sam Martin (four) and Buffalo's Shawn Powell (five).

“The punting has been very similar to how it’s been the previous weeks and really how I kind of characterize it, he’s had his moments, positively and negatively,” Tomlin said today at his press conference. “He’s been inconsistent and that’s not good enough. He needs to perform better."

McBriar, a Pro Bowl punter for the Cowboys in 2006 and 2010, and was named to the All Pro second team in both of those seasons as well.

More from Behind the Steel Curtain:

More From Behind the Steel Curtain