Posts tagged CharlieBatch at FanHouse

Pro Football Talk may not know it yet, but there's almost no chance that Charlie Batch will be a Steeler at the end of this weekend.

PFT is reporting that the Steelers could consider keeping four quarterbacks, since Batch should be healthy by week four or five. Because they need an experienced backup for early in the season, they'd keep Byron Leftwich. Because he wouldn't miss much time, they'd keep long-time backup Batch and Dennis Dixon would make the team as the developmental quarterback.

That sounds plausible, but it's not going to happen. With Leftwitch looking good in his preseason stints, there's no compelling reason to keep Batch on the active roster. As Ed Bouchette pointed out, the Steelers could waive him with an injury settlement and run the risk that he'll still be available if Roethlisberger or Leftwich was injured later. While you may think that someone would quickly sign Batch, do remember that the Steelers actually waived him before the first game of the 2005 season, then re-signed him before week two (and released Nate Washington to sign Batch), so it is something Pittsburgh has done before.

I applaud Daunte Culpepper's rosy disposition, even if it's a tad misguided. Unfortunately, his plan to not take any ol' job that comes along, but instead hold out for a starting gig will, barring a catastrophic run on NFL quarterback injuries, result in him watching football this fall from the same vantage point as many of us: the comfort of the couch.

The Steelers, after losing backup Charlie Batch to a broken collarbone for the next two months, were looking for a capable arm behind Ben Roethlisberger. According to ESPN's John Clayton, they had settled on two guys, but ultimately settled on the one not named Daunte:

The reason the Steelers picked Leftwich over Culpepper is because Leftwich felt more comfortable with the role the Steelers were offering. Ben Roethlisberger is the starter and Batch is expected to be the backup when he gets healthy again. Culpepper was hoping for a chance to compete for a starting job.

You know, Culpepper's agent should explain to his client that he's really in no position to be making demands about playing time. Oh, wait...

On the other hand, if Culpepper isn't interested enough to return to football as a clipboard toter, I can respect that. I just hope he's willing to accept that he's effectively retired as a result of his stance.

Hat tip: PFT

Pro Football Talk had it half right. The Steelers did sign Byron Leftwich on Sunday, but they left Daunte Culpepper sitting out on the free agent market.

The two veterans had a throw-off to compete for the spot, with the Steelers coaching staff choosing the younger Leftwich over Culpepper.

It wasn't that long ago that Leftwich was giving Pittsburgh all kinds of problems. Talent-wise, he could end up being an upgrade over Charlie Batch (who should be back after six to eight weeks), but Batch is credited for being a player who serves a coaching role as well. And while Batch is injured now, Leftwich also has some injury issues--he's never been healthy for a full season.

But he is one of the better backup quarterbacks you could ever find during the preseason. Normally teams are left trolling for the Vinny Testaverde's and Kelly Holcomb's of the world. In Leftwich, Pittsburgh has a quarterback that you could believe in if Roethlisberger suffered a long-term injury (so is Batch for that matter).

The Steelers also reinstated Casey Hampton from the physically unable to perform list, having decided that the mammoth nose tackle has lost enough weight to put on pads.

If Pro Football Talk's report is accurate, the Steelers couldn't decide between Byron Leftwitch and Daunte Culpepper, so they signed them both. (Update: The PFT story now says that a league source says they will add, but the Sporting News story based on PFT's report--Mike Florio works for both sites--still says that they have signed both).

Talk about your baffling decisions, especially for the two veteran quarterbacks. Both of them entered the offseason hoping to land a starting job. Now they'll be facing off for one spot as a backup. What it means is that one of them will be released when the preseason ends, which is not a great endorsement when they're trying to find that next job. And while no terms are mentioned, neither of them could have gotten much money, since the Steelers don't have a whole lot of cap room.

But it does seem to signify that the Steelers are more concerned about Charlie Batch's injury that it would have appeared at first report on Friday night. If Batch is back in four-to-six weeks as Mike Tomlin said, the Steelers just spent a decent amount of money for a veteran backup for just a couple of games.

I'm guessing this has no bearing on Ben Roethlisberger's impending contract extension, but it is a sign that the third-string quarterback Brian St. Pierre won't be back with the Steelers in 2008. (Time to update the "Steelers to impersonate" list, Brian Jackson.)

The team is expected to sign former Boise St. quarterback Jared Zabransky on Monday. The plan, apparently, is to have Zabransky and a rookie compete for the third-team job. Charlie Batch will hold down the backup job, while Big Ben will again take his life into his own hands by playing behind the Steelers offensive line.

Whatever, Zabransky, who was 33-5 at Boise State, including two undefeated regular seasons, is excited about the opportunity:

"I feel like this is an organization that knows how to win with all the championships they've had through there," Zabransky said of the five-time Super Bowl champions. "I think they're going to give me a legitimate chance to be able to prove myself. I heard through the grapevine that coach (Mike) Tomlin is a no-politics kind of guy, which is exactly what you want in my situation."

That Pittsburgh has signed Zabransky signifies nothing, really. The team has gone with two quarterbacks on the game-day roster in the past, and there's no reason to think they won't do it again. Still, if Zabransky shows the Steelers something in training camp, he could also be with the team when the season starts. If nothing else, he could be Batch's heir apparent when his contract expires after '08.

Hat tip: SteelCityInsider.com

Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch has another job, besides just holding the clipboard and wondering if Ben Roethlisberger is going to crash his motorcycle again.

It turns out that Batch also serves as an adviser to Terrelle Pryor, a quarterback from Jeannette, Pennsylvania, who is widely recognized as the top high school football player in the country. Pryor writes in an online diary at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette web site:

I've known Charlie for a couple years. His brother dates my aunt. Charlie is kind of part of my family now. We talk. I asked him if he would want to go on my visits, and he said sure.

He'll just help me because he's been through this recruiting process before. Just from talking to him, I trust him a lot. When I go on these visits, I think he'll know who's telling the truth just by sitting there and listening.

Batch is a smart guy who knows the football business, and I think it's great that Batch is able to help Pryor through the process, since football recruits often have people hanging around who don't have their best interests in mind. But I feel pretty confident in saying that Batch won't be steering Pryor to his own alma mater. Eastern Michigan isn't quite the kind of program that gets players like Pryor.

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't act as if finishing fourth in the AFC bothered them in the least. That could turn out to be a curious decision after their B team failed to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The game leaves them hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars, the same team that smacked them in the mouth at Heinz Field a few weeks ago.

Things went wrong for Pittsburgh right from the get go. Willie Reid, subbing for injured returner Allan Rossum, coughed up the opening kickoff and set up a Musa Smith touchdown run. With Charlie Batch offering the defense little worry, the Ravens keyed on Najeh Davenport and slowed the offense down to a crawl for most of the first half. Batch was intercepted once and his biggest play came courtesy of a pass interference on Corey Ivy. The Ravens led 20-7 at the half and appeared to be in charge of the game.

They appeared to be pulling a Billick, as its come to be known this season, by losing that control late. Batch found Santonio Holmes and Cedrick Wilson for touchdowns to cut the margin to six but when David Pittman picked him off for the second time late in the fourth, a return date with the Jags was in place.

With the AFC North wrapped up and absolutely nothing to play for, it makes sense that the Steelers would rest some of their starters.

Four of them, to be exact. In today's preseason J.V. matchup with the Ravens, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be the third quarterback (behind Charlie Batch and Brian St. Pierre), and the following players won't waste the effort putting on pads: wide receiver Hines Ward, safety Troy Polamalu, and returner Allen Rossum. Tackle Marvel Smith had back surgery earlier in the week, and running back Willie Parker was placed on injured reserve earlier this week with a broken leg.

While a win or loss doesn't affect Pittsburgh's postseason positioning, it will be a good opportunity for many of the young players on the roster. Rookie undrafted free agent running back Gary Russell could see a lot of action; Parker showed he was a big-play back during Week 17 of his rookie season: he went for over 100 yards against the Bills in a meaningless-for-the-Steelers game (although Buffalo was playing for a wild-card spot).

Returner/wide receiver Willie Reid will also get a second chance. Reid was taken in the third round of the 2006 draft to replace Antwaan Randle El. He was injured for most of his rookie season, and he performed so poorly in '07 that the Steelers traded for Rossum just before the start of the season.

One thought, though: if I'm Mike Tomlin, I'm letting Brian St. Pierre start this game. Charlie Batch is too valuable to lose to injury in a game that doesn't matter. God forbid, if Roethlisberger goes down during the playoffs, the Steelers will be in a bad way. But maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

To get you ready for week 17, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Pittsburgh Steelers/Baltimore Ravens preview.

2007 Records:

Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-5 (AFC North Champions, hosting game Wild Card Weekend)
Baltimore Ravens: 4-11 (Last in AFC North)

Last Week:

Steelers 41, Rams 24
Seahawks 27, Ravens 6

When the Steelers have the ball: The Steelers have nothing to play for this week which is a good thing. They are mighty banged up on offense and will take the free week to rest Ben Roethlisberger and get Najeh Davenport fully integrated as the starting tailback. Marvel Smith won't be at left tackle, Hines Ward probably won't play that much and anyone else of import will likely be shackled to the bench before the game is settled. Even without so many of their stars, the Steelers should be able to score points. The Ravens won't have Chris McAlister or Samari Rolle and will probably not push ailing players like Ray Lewis, Kelly Gregg or Terrell Suggs too hard in a meaningless game. That should mean plenty of opportunities for Davenport and Charlie Batch.