Charlie Batch breaks a collar bone.

[Jmat]

I guess it happened on a helmet to helmet hit in the second qtr off a broken play.

[BigSteelThrill]

WTF was he thinking dropping his throwing shoulder into a LBer in the first preseason game, at his age and with his history? :mad:

[Crime Fighter]

One play away for the next guy, and guess what? Dennis Dixon is the next guy, so we are probably going to have to sign a vet for insurance. :(

[Spike]

Dennis Dixon for president....he looks good to me.


What's Chad doing?

[Vis Major]

Pennington would look good in the b&g.......

[Crime Fighter]

Pennington would look good in the b&g.......

How much? :o

[DaSwitz]

Isn't Culpepper still w/out a home too?

[Steel Dino]

That hurts.

Dixons not a number 2 guy at this point....

[Vindrow]

Pennington would look good in the b&g.......


Nope, he ;just signed a 2 year deal with the Phins.

[MT~Forged]

Neither was Big Ben.

[Steelhurt]

I think besides Culpepper you still have Byron Leftwich out there. Dixon is nowhere near being ready to be a #2 QB in the NFL.

[Dgenx321]

I'd take Culpepper.....

[Steelers.exe]

It'll take 3 months to heal. Gotta get someone. Pennington will be too expensive, Culpepper turned down $1 mill/year deal already. Who's left? Can't stand Byron Leftwich and that fing windmill windup.

[Supersteeler]

A vet will be signed in the next 24 hours.

[LetMePlay]

1) Culpepper
2) Pennington
3) Leftwich

[Dgenx321]

Wheres Frenchie???

[Vindrow]

Pennington just signed a 2 year deal with the Phins so he is off the board.

[Steel Dino]

Pennington just signed a 2 year deal with the Phins so he is off the board.

He wasn't really an option anyway...

How long does it take a collarbone to heal?

[Steelers.exe]

He wasn't really an option anyway...

How long does it take a collarbone to heal?

3-4 months

[STLRFAN78]

fuck, and with our o-line Ben is 1 play away from the same. then we are left with a rookie?

and the hardest schedule in the nfl.

we are fucked.

[Steel Dino]

3-4 months


Holy shit!!

No way man.....

[Jmat]

The Dolphins signed Pennington.

[Spike]

Wheres Frenchie???

Brian St. Pierre?

The Cards got him him........Steelers West....donchaknow

[STLRFAN78]

Tommy? Tommy are you there?

[Steelers.exe]

Korky never filed his papers.

[Steel Dino]

Tampa Bay has a boat load of QB's on their roster.....

Brain Griese or Chris Simms?

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Kelly Holcomb knows Arians system

[Hallmarky]

Jeff George is available.

[FlaStGrad]

Dixon is nowhere near being ready to be a #2 QB in the NFL.

Dixon isn't even ready to be a #2 QB in the AFL.

[K from Cal]

Is there a Jerod Zebransky in the house?

[Chicoman]

Jeff George is available.

LOL That's too funny! I'd rather have Korky back on the roster.:D

[Supersteeler]

Try 4-8 weeks.

Steelers' Batch breaks collarbone in preseason opener vs. Eagles

By James Walker
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: August 8, 2008, 9:35 PM ET


PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers had their first major injury of the 2008 season Friday night as backup quarterback Charlie Batch suffered a fractured right collarbone during their preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Batch was hurt while scrambling with just under six minutes to go in the second quarter. Typically, this type of injury can take somewhere between 4-8 weeks to recover.

This could be a significant blow to Pittsburgh's depth. Ben Roethlisberger is set as the starter, but the team is one play away from having to go with rookie quarterback Dennis Dixon, a fifth-round pick from Oregon.

Batch has been a reliable backup in the NFL for 11 years, including the past four years in Pittsburgh. Now the Steelers likely will be in the market for another veteran signal caller to backup Roethlisberger.

[DaSwitz]

Ben gets hurt way too much not to have an experienced #2 guy...

I'm not a big Holcomb fan, but he did "retire" this year and does know Arians system. I think that might be a good call Tape.

[Supersteeler]

I'm partial to Ryan Leaf myself.

[Milkman Dan]

Ben and Byron are pals. Lepwich will be our new guy.

[Supersteeler]

Ben gets hurt way too much not to have an experienced #2 guy...

I'm not a big Holcomb fan, but he did "retire" this year and does know Arians system. I think that might be a good call Tape.

Bruce is probably on the horn with him as we speak.

[Chicoman]

What's Jeff Blake up to these days he should be about 37 or 38 right now. Good veteran QB.

[Steelers.exe]

Don't count on 4-8 weeks. I've never seen anyone make it back that fast from clavicular fx.

[Steel Dino]

Don't count on 4-8 weeks. I've never seen anyone make it back that fast from clavicular fx.


What does "fx" stand for?

[Steelers.exe]

What does "fx" stand for?

fx = fracture

[Steel Dino]

fx = fracture


Are you a doctor or did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night? ;)

[deljzc]

I'm guessing Holcolm. He's the cheaper option. We're pressed against the cap. He knows the system well. Makes sense.

We will probably PUP list Batch and then see what happens after week 6.

If we sign Leftwich, we might have a problem when Batch comes back (or we'd have to IR him for the whole season). I don't think Leftwich wants to be a 8-week player. Holcolm might agree to that for $500,000.

[DaSwitz]

I'm guessing Holcolm. He's the cheaper option. We're pressed against the cap. He knows the system well. Makes sense.

We will probably PUP list Batch and then see what happens after week 6.

I thought you could only go on the PUP before training camp.

If we sign Leftwich, we might have a problem when Batch comes back (or we'd have to IR him for the whole season). I don't think Leftwich wants to be a 8-week player. Holcolm might agree to that for $500,000.

Holcolm is a veteran, so if he's on the team on the first day after the cut to 53, he's guaranteed a years salary--and being a veteran his base salary is higher than $0.5m.

[Steel Dino]

I guess drafting a QB was a good idea?

[SteelrzGirl]

UGh! I was giggling at Charlie dropping his shoulder but not because I wanted or thought he was hurt. I was just lovin Charlie. FUCK.

[Spike]

Holcomb is with the Vikings. Don't you watch the other games?


Nope - it's gonna be Dennis Dixon.....dink and dunk.....if it comes to that.

[SteelrzGirl]

Dink and dunk can work. Ask Trent Dilfer.

[Blitzburghv5]

Time to Call Vinny................

[Parasite]

What about Kent Graham?

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

Kelly Holcomb knows Arians system

Arians has a system?

[TheStoneMan]

is mike vick out of the big house yet?


Dammit we shouldve gotten favre!! thats a no-brainer

[Dgenx321]

Yea its called, call dumbass play after dumbass play!

[LeXX75]

we will get someone...no way we go into the year with Dixon at 2..

[Southern Steeler]

Is Sammy Baugh still alive?

[Steel Dino]

Yea its called, call dumbass play after dumbass play!

I don't know man....I think Arians has a plan...and if our O-lIne co-operates...

We will be very good...

[Jmat]

UGh! I was giggling at Charlie dropping his shoulder but not because I wanted or thought he was hurt. I was just lovin Charlie. FUCK.

It's Mewelde Moore's fault. The asshole went the wrong way on the play and Charlie had to take it and do what he could.

[Steel Conviction]

I knew Sean would fuck this up somehow.

[tapeANaspirin2it]

The NFL just awarded the Steelers Vinny Testaverde. The Steelers didn't want him, but the NFL said it was their turn to have him so they had no choice.

[SteelerFan448]

We'll need someone to get them in for Thursday's game so they can see significant action. At least Charlie has a month before the home opener, so potentially he may miss only 2-4 weeks of the regular season.

[tjack]

I hope the Steelers F.O. doesn't contact Joey Harrington (when he gets cut in 2 wks), Aaron Brooks, Byron Leftwich, or Rob Johnson. I can see them calling Mike McMahon or Daunte Culpepper.

But yeah the Tampa Bay Bucs do seem to have 4 QB's just waiting to play. Reminds me of a FF owner who's trying to hold on to all of the decent Free agent QB's looking for a trade.

[BigSteelThrill]

I hope the Steelers F.O. doesn't contact Joey Harrington (when he gets cut in 2 wks), Aaron Brooks, Byron Leftwich, or Rob Johnson. I can see them calling Mike McMahon or Daunte Culpepper.

But yeah the Tampa Bay Bucs do seem to have 4 QB's just waiting to play. Reminds me of a FF owner who's trying to hold on to all of the decent Free agent QB's looking for a trade.

Ill take McCown from the Phins.

They just got ChadP. Have Henne and Beck from last two drafts.

That poor bastard Josh has only ever gotten to throw the ball for Arizona,Detroit,Oakland and now Miami. :D

[CornerBlitz]

I like McCowan but Miami will make us pay dearly knowing we need a veteran QB now.

I would like to bring in Tim Rattay, he is a free agent and we had pretty good success with another former Louisiana Tech QB IIRC.

[Sabin]

I would like to bring in Tim Rattay, he is a free agent and we had pretty good success with another former Louisiana Tech QB IIRC.


Tom just might nut himself if we do that.

[BermudaSteel]

Neither was Big Ben.
Excellent point. Teams won't know how to defend the unexpected...but he does need to tidy up...
Holcomb is with the Vikings. Don't you watch the other games?


Nope - it's gonna be Dennis Dixon.....dink and dunk.....if it comes to that.

Er, Marsha Brady dink and doinked his way to the *'s first SB.

[Steelerman58]

Found a list of available FA QBs. First name on the list was Billy Volek. He'd fit the bill & might not cost too much.

[SteelerScott]

I suspect we'll wait at least thru 1 rd of cuts before we decide on our vet-backup;... but I gotta feeling it's gonna be Brian St. PU :(

[kurtistb]

Looks like we are bringing in Byron Leftwich for a look today and before anyone asks if he can play tackle yes his fat ass probably could.

Byron Leftwich, a former starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons, is scheduled to arrive in Pittsburgh for a workout today and possibly sign with the Steelers. Atlanta released Leftwich, 28, in February.

http://postgazette.com/pg/08222/903126-66.stm

[BermudaSteel]

Looks like we are bringing in Byron Leftwich for a look today and before anyone asks if he can play tackle yes his fat ass probably could.



http://postgazette.com/pg/08222/903126-66.stm

Cheap whore. I don't like this; BUT, in retro, if he's on the roster when we BEAT the JAGS. Sweet redemption...


For him.

[Steelerman58]

Steven Hawking has more agility than Byron Leftwich.

[Spike]

I wonder how much of the Jags playbook he still has in his head...if he can walk, take him.

[Superman]

I wonder how much of the Jags playbook he still has in his head...if he can walk, take him.

I don't think he ever knew their playbook. Batch is not even off the x-ray table and Gary Coleman is being inked.

[MattArndt]

Steven Hawking has more agility than Byron Leftwich.

and a quicker release.

[Doggfather69]

I suspect we'll wait at least thru 1 rd of cuts before we decide on our vet-backup;... but I gotta feeling it's gonna be Brian St. PU :(


He is the #3 guy in AZ right now. I saw him play on Thursday.

[JEFFRO]

Are you a doctor or did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night? ;)
Well as a matter of fact I did.

It's Mewelde Moore's fault. The asshole went the wrong way on the play and Charlie had to take it and do what he could.

I saw that he missed the hand off, like he didn't know he was supposed to take it. Either way no use pointing fingers and blame-storming. Let's deal with this and move forward!

I don't think he ever knew their playbook. Batch is not even off the x-ray table and Gary Coleman is being inked.
JEFFRO is not liking the Gary Coleman deal. Hell, can he pass a physical? Dude has got to be 50 or more pounds overweight.

[JohnnyO]

I broke my right collarbone two different times when I was a kid. Just like Charlie didn't look like he hit the ground all that hard, if you hit it the right way it doesn't take a lot to break it.

[JEFFRO]

My son Tyler, 10, just woke up. First thing he asked me was who won the game?

I told him we won then told him about Charlie.

I also told him we were bringing in Byron Sandwich for a look.

His response was: :eek:OH MY GOD!:eek:

Then he said even Joey Harrington would be better than Leftwich.

I just laughed, even my 10 year old thinks Sandwich is a bad move.

[markymarc]

This really sucks for Charlie. Hopefully he will be able to recover quickly for an old timer. I wish him well in his rehab. I would have liked to seen Culpepper come in for a look. I just hope they look at more than Leftwich. The only good thing about this injury is that Dixon will get a lot more playing time. I thought he did pretty good for his first NFL action.

[TDX27]

Why all the Byron hate? He did OK in Jax. He led them to a lot of W's. I'd take him as a back up.

[twentybelow0]

Found a list of available FA QBs. First name on the list was Billy Volek. He'd fit the bill & might not cost too much.Sounds good to me.

[markymarc]

Why all the Byron hate? He did OK in Jax. He led them to a lot of W's. I'd take him as a back up.

I guess you don't have to show mobility and a quick release holding the clipboard for Ben. I would not hate the signing. Hey maybe this time off could somewhat rejuvenate Leftwich.

[Supersteeler]

As long as they get a veteran that has some NFL experience I'm good. You aren't going to find a guy to take you to the promise land that is on the street. We just need someone who can hold down the fort for a couple weeks just in case and who won't give games away.

[thesteelcity]

Culpepper or Leftwich? Does it matter much? Even if we had to rely on Batch, many would cry that our season is screwed anyway, right? BL is a vet that would come reasonable under our tight cap. Get well, Charlie!

[Super Dave]

Byron Leftwich would have 157 sacks behind our line.....

[TDX27]

I'd take Culpepper also as a back up.

[CHam59]

Looks like Leftwich is a possibility:


...backup quarterback Charlie Batch, who departed in the second quarter with a broken right collarbone. Batch likely will miss 4-6 weeks, coach Mike Tomlin said, and the Steelers will try to sign a veteran backup.

Byron Leftwich, a former starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons, is scheduled to arrive in Pittsburgh for a workout today and possibly sign with the Steelers. Atlanta released Leftwich, 28, in February.

Full story: http://post-gazette.com/pg/08222/903126-66.stm

[markymarc]

I'd take Culpepper also as a back up.

At this point, I would not mind Leftwich or Culpepper. Although with our cap situation it probably makes more sense to sign Leftwich. I don't think he would demand as much money as Culpepper.

[SteelrzGirl]

I cant see Leftwich. Does that seem weird to anyone else? I think I cant get over Jax having our digits.

[SteelerScott]

A.B.B.
Anybody But Byron

Hell, here in ATL, I got the impression that the fanbase prefered Joey-freaking-Harrington over Leftwich!

[FAB802]

Atlanta fans thought Vick was a quarterback. They don't have Willie, Mendenhall, Ward, Holmes, or any of our other weapons either. He'd be strictly a backup not a long term solution, there isn't much out there that would be any better.

[markymarc]

I have this strange feeling that Leftwich could be signed within the next day or two. How bad could leftwich be for the next 6-10 weeks.

[Stryker]

I have this strange feeling that Leftwich could be signed within the next day or two. How bad could leftwich be for the next 6-10 weeks.

I like Leftwich. He was a good QB for a terrible team in JAX. He was the only reason that team won when he was a starter. He almost outdueled Big Ben in 2004 in that very exciting contest. So he got run out of town and didn't stick in ATL. Name a starting receiver for ATL? I only can think of Crumpler off the top of my head and he's a TE!

With our talent at the skill positions, it won't matter who is throwing, because they will look good in our system.

So what type of fracture for Batch: Simple, Compound, Greenstick?

[markymarc]

I like Leftwich. He was a good QB for a terrible team in JAX. He was the only reason that team won when he was a starter. He almost outdueled Big Ben in 2004 in that very exciting contest. So he got run out of town and didn't stick in ATL. Name a starting receiver for ATL? I only can think of Crumpler off the top of my head and he's a TE!

With our talent at the skill positions, it won't matter who is throwing, because they will look good in our system.

So what type of fracture for Batch: Simple, Compound, Greenstick?

Good points. Also, I have a feeling that Leftwich could be with us for the entire 2008 season. Could be wrong, but I just don't see Batch coming back that quickly.

[SteelerFan448]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08224/903429-66.stm

Leftwich the pick on the QB option
Could see some action Thursday night against Bills
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After opening their preseason with a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Steelers returned to training camp in Latrobe with a new quarterback, a new punter and a new nose tackle. Well, at least, a nose tackle who hasn't been on the practice field the past two weeks.

The day began with two new quarterbacks in camp -- veterans Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper, each of whom passed physicals in the morning in Pittsburgh and came to Saint Vincent College afterward to work out individually for the coaching staff.

After much deliberation, the day ended with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin receiving a call on his cell phone on the practice field, telling him that Leftwich, 28, had agreed to a one-year, $645,000 contract that included a $40,000 signing bonus.

"He's been a franchise quarterback for a playoff caliber team," Tomlin said. "We're fortunate to add a guy like him."

Leftwich, a five-year starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars who spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons, will be on the practice field today. Tomlin said he even hopes he can learn enough of the offense to play in Thursday night's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills in Toronto.

"We have some familiarity there," Tomlin said, noting that quarterback coach Ken Anderson was Leftwich's position coach for three seasons with the Jaguars. "He had a great workout. He has a strong arm, he's very lean and he's a smart guy, a been-there, done-that guy. Hopefully we'll have him up to snuff and have him participate as soon as Thursday night."

The move to sign Leftwich, the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, was necessitated when Charlie Batch, 33, broke his right collarbone on a busted play against the Eagles. Batch will have surgery today to repair the damage and insert a plate in his clavicle. He is expected to be out six weeks.

If Batch did not have surgery, the recovery period would have been 10 to 12 weeks and he likely would have been placed on the injured reserve list.

"That would have been the option," Batch said. "And I didn't want to do that, not at all."

Because he is a quarterback who relies on a throwing motion, Batch said a plate will be inserted to ensure his collarbone would remain the same length and would not "shorten" from scar-tissue buildup that occurs during a non-surgical recovery period. He noted that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson did not have surgery when he broke his collarbone in college because he does not rely on his clavicle for a throwing motion.
"This is the best way to go about it and the fastest way," Batch said.

To make room on the roster for Leftwich and punter Mitch Berger, who was signed to compete with Paul Ernster, the Steelers released wide receiver Gerran Walker and linebacker Anthony Trucks, two first-year free agents.

They did not have to clear room for the return of nose tackle Casey Hampton -- only on the sidelines. He was taken off the physically unable to perform list and practiced for the first time since he reported to training camp 40 pounds overweight.

The Steelers decided to bring in Leftwich and Culpepper for workouts so the coaches had options on which quarterback they wanted to sign.

The choice was always Leftwich, but the process dragged through most of the day because he and his agent, Tom Condon, wanted some type of assurance of what will happen when Batch returns. The Steelers were prepared to sign Culpepper, a former Pro Bowl quarterback and the seventh overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Minnesota Vikings, if they couldn't come to an agreement with Leftwich.

As a vested veteran, Leftwich would have to be paid for the entire season if he is on the 53-man roster for the Sept. 7 season opener against the Houston Texans.

"We're just going to go out and let their play talk," Tomlin said. "We'll evaluate based on what we see. Hopefully he goes out and plays well, and then those are good problems to have."

[markymarc]

I still think Batch will end up on IR and Leftwich will be the backup come 2008.

[tjack]

Well I'm not rushing out to get a number 4# Steelers jersey but we'll have to ride or die with him as the back up QB.

[markymarc]

I actually felt bad for Dixon getting stuck with St. Pierre's old #2.