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Leftwich may stay with Steelers

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Quarterback Byron Leftwich, who should be starting somewhere else in the NFL, took his first snaps on the practice field as the new No. 2 quarterback with the Steelers yesterday, and it's possible he could stay there the whole season. While the playoff opportunities for teams such as the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens go begging for a decent starting quarterback, Leftwich scalded the hands of new receivers with his well-known fastball in two practices at Saint Vincent College. He has had two noticeable flaws, one he says has been corrected. He had persistent ankle injuries that date to his days at Marshall University when his teammates would pick him up and carry him to the huddle after he completed a pass. He said surgery last year finally fixed that. The other is a noticeable windup in his throwing motion that prevents him from getting the ball away more quickly. Coaches have tried to change that, with little luck.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Byron Leftwich, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Byron Leftwich, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
August 12, 2008  06:40 AM ET

Good, drop your QB pick from Oregon so the Bears can pick him up.

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August 12, 2008  07:21 AM ET

The Falcons didn't want him, nuff said!

August 12, 2008  08:39 AM ET

I don't think they will be getting rid of Dennis Dixon

August 12, 2008  08:41 AM ET

The Falcons didn't want him, nuff said!
Cowboystar | 08/12/08, 07:21 AM

and the falcons are awesome!

August 12, 2008  09:16 AM ET

he'll stay until batch is healthy.

August 12, 2008  09:51 AM ET

Who wrote this story? Byron's mom

August 12, 2008  11:02 AM ET

Who wrote this story? Byron's mom

the_crafty_righthander | 08/12/08, 09:51 AM

Ya know..

August 12, 2008  11:45 AM ET

I really thought they'd choose Culpepper.
Oh well, at least they still choose Jif.

August 12, 2008  12:34 PM ET

Lousy choice of backup...Leftwich totally sucks.
The Steelers had better hope Ben stays healthy, at least until Batch returns

August 12, 2008  01:01 PM ET

What backup currently in the league would you prefer to Leftwich? Please name one. Otherwise, stop the moaning. Culpepper would never accept a backup role and can no longer move (not that Leftwich is Vick). Injuries have always been Left's downfall as they curtailed his status as a starter and no team can keep a non-starter at a starter's salary. Left when healthy was decidedly better than all of the former and present Falcons. Lest we forget, early in his career he had moments when he lit up the league. As a backup it is only "moments" that you are looking for.

August 12, 2008  02:05 PM ET

Good for him!!! Lets talk Bear's Football! Go Bears! Bear Down!

August 12, 2008  02:28 PM ET

Leftwich just wants a Super Bowl ring and knows his best shot is riding the pine for the Steelers. It isn't like the rest of the AFC North teams are going to even challenge the Steelers this year and the Patsies are still universally loathed as cheaters and losers of the last SB to be able to win much this season.

August 12, 2008  02:34 PM ET

big is correct. We are talking backup QB here. Not starter, but I kinda feel he will give Ben a challenge anyway.

Given the players the Steelers have on offense, the Backup QB shouldn't have to do much but turn around and hand the ball to WP or RM, and hit the occasional 3rd and 1 pass for a first down.

The Steelers will be fine with Ben, Leftwich and Dixon.

August 12, 2008  04:28 PM ET

Average QB at best and definitely better suited as a backup.

August 12, 2008  06:23 PM ET

He can play....when he not hurt. His ankle is bad. That's the truth. He will hurt it again...and again. It's been injured about 4 times, so go ahead and give him a chance....I am sure that he deserves it. Sometimes things do not work out for a multitude of reasons and things change. That is what happened in J'ville. Unfortunately that is life and we all get stronger from the things that we encounter on our journeys.

August 12, 2008  06:24 PM ET

That was from last nights episode of Dr. Phil

August 12, 2008  10:29 PM ET

When are we getting the new Bond movie?

August 13, 2008  10:04 AM ET

Don't really care.

 
August 13, 2008  02:44 PM ET

They stopped being TRUE Bond movies when Sean Connery left. Pretenders......

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