Steelers Want Leftwich in Pittsburgh

Byron Leftwich was supposed to be one of free agency's most sought after players. Instead, the former Jaguars first-round pick is still without a team, and didn't make his first visit of the spring till he talked to the Redskins last week.

Yesterday, Leftwich met with the Bucs -- a club in desperate need of a quarterback -- but left Tampa without signing a contract. And today, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette writes that the Steelers, where Leftwich ably backed up Ben Roethlisberger during last year's Super Bowl run, are moving quickly to re-sign him.

The Steelers issued a contract offer this week to ... Leftwich. ... The two-year offer from the Steelers is close to minimum wage for Leftwich, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The minimum for him would be $620,000 in 2009 and $755,000 in '10.

Apparently, Pittsburgh also wants to re-sign longtime backup Charlie Batch, who missed last season with a broken clavicle. This means that the team either thinks '08 fifth-rounder Dennis Dixon is expendable (he was the third-team QB as a rookie), or that his role will expand in '09. I'm leaning toward the latter, but that's purely speculative.

As for why Leftwich is still without a team seven weeks into free agency, NFL Films' Greg Cosell has the short answer: he plays too slowly.

Everything he does -- from his drop away from the center, to his plant and set in the pocket, to his delivery throwing the ball -- simply takes too long. It's too deliberate, too lengthy. ...

As a result, you must consistently secure the pocket with as many blockers as you can, limiting what you can do with receivers and routes. That puts a heavy burden on an offensive play-caller.

And that explains a lot, including why Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio cut Leftwich just before the 2007 season and gave the job to David Garrard (for now, anyway).

But even if Leftwich's days as an NFL starter are behind him, he proved invaluable to the Steelers last season. He had impressive showings against the Redskins and the Browns (both Pittsburgh victories), and is proof that a good backup is almost as important as a great starter. Now it's just a matter of where Leftwich lands for '09.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-11-2009 @ 12:49AM

donamic1 said...

Leftwhich is the best back up quarter back in the NFL & the Steelers better sign him up fast.

4-11-2009 @ 12:52AM

Leftwhich is the best back up q back in the NFL & the Steelers better sign him up fast, pay him & you will not regret it. Could be the answer to a seventh super bowl.

4-11-2009 @ 12:56AM

Actually, Leftwhich is a little bigger than big Ben. I don't care what Jack Del Rio thinks of Leftwhich, he is a great back up q back for Pgh., don't let him go.

4-11-2009 @ 10:00AM

mattj2474 said...

Leftwich is a good back up his days of starting are over. I guess it is what is really important to him. Does he really want to start somewhere on a team that isn't even close to playoff contention or does he want to go or stay on a team as a back up that has a shot at the postseason? I thought and I could be wrong about this is that the Steelers only offered him a vet minimum. I don't know how much that is, but I would say that generally Ben is a pretty healthy player and doesn't come out all that often, so to carry the clipboard in Pittsburgh or in some other city where they have a shot is probably worth it.

4-11-2009 @ 12:59PM

broncosfan24 said...

steelers dont really need a backup thts good what is the point of tht as long as u have a QB thts not broken u should be good cuz its not just the offense tht wins a game but it is also a defense! email me if u agree nroche24@gmail.com

4-11-2009 @ 3:27PM

pauln286 said...

Leftwich and/or Batch, Both have proven their value as rock solid back up QB's. The two questions I have are 1. Has Batch fully recovered from his injury? 2. Do the Steelers need two back up Qb's of this calliber? If the price is right and there is room on the rouster then grab them both. There will be quarterback injuries with the Steelers and also around the league. Leftwich could easily be valuable trade bait as the seasom progresses.

As always though the Steelers will get solid value in the free trade market and prefer to sign their own. They will not over pay or reach.

I am looking forward to seeing Dennis Dixon play. That was a very interesting draft choice and he could be another franchise player.

4-11-2009 @ 5:40PM

mdkin01 said...

Steelers need him because with that line the backup will surely play a lot this year, so they need a good backup. I was never sold on Batch. Leftwich is better than Batch. I doubt Dixon is ready. He hasnt played any.