It seems like every year, at least one longtime Steeler backup gets a nice Christmas present. For years it was wide receiver Lee Mays who would get signed off the street late in the season just because he knew the Steeler playbook. At $20,000 or so a game, it made for a much nice Christmas around the Mays house every year.In some years it was tight end Matt Cushing, who yo-yo'ed on and off of the Steelers roster a couple of times a year.
And now it's Verron Haynes turn. The former Steeler third-down back has been out of the NFL ever since the Steelers cut him during the preseason. No other team thought it was worthwhile to sign the former Georgia star, but his knowledge of the playbook and Bruce Arians and Kevin Colbert's knowledge of him is enough to get him another NFL paycheck, even if it's likely to be just for a couple of weeks. Haynes join the roster when the Steelers officially ended Willie Parker's season by placing him on injured reserve.
Hopefully Haynes has kept himself in shape, but this doesn't even necessarily mean he'll dress out. No. 3 tailback Gary Russell has been inactive most weeks, and since he's been around all year and has some upside, it would seem to make sense to make him the new backup tailback while Haynes becomes the third tailback to turn to in case of an absolute emergency.
