THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers often point to Charlie Batch as being the NFL’s best backup quarterback.
But if Ben Roethlisberger goes down this season, it will be Byron Leftwich — not Batch, the former Detroit Lions starter — who replaces him as Pittsburgh’s quarterback.
Batch, who broke his collarbone during the Steelers’ first exhibition game on Aug. 8 and later needed surgery, was placed on the injured reserve list Saturday and must sit out the season. He will be paid his US$1.355-million salary in the final season of the Pittsburgh native’s contract.
The Steelers could have reached an injury settlement with Batch and allowed him to become a free agent, then re-signed him six weeks from now — or as long as it takes him to get over the injury. But such a move would have allowed Batch to sign with another team this season.
Leftwich, the former Jacksonville and Atlanta quarterback, signed with the Steelers two days after Batch was hurt. Batch talked last week about being ready two or three weeks into the season, but that now appears to have been an overly optimistic forecast.
Leftwich apparently convinced coach Mike Tomlin during extensive playing time in the final two pre-season games that he has learned the offence well enough to be trusted if Roethlisberger is hurt.
"We got an extended look at Byron Leftwich and I think that he did a nice job," Tomlin said.
Keeping the 33-year-old Batch — 3-0 as a starter during the Steelers’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2005 — would have left Pittsburgh with four quarterbacks, clogging the roster with players at a position where only Roethlisberger figures to play.
Dennis Dixon, the fifth-round pick from Oregon, was impressive enough during the pre-season that he may contend for the backup’s job next season.
Leftwich may be with the Steelers for only one season — if he plays well enough as a backup, he may go elsewhere to compete for a starting job.
There were no major surprises as the Steelers cut down to the regular-season limit of 53 before the Sept. 7 opener at home against Houston.
They reached injury settlements with linebacker Arnold Harrison, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament in the final pre-season game Thursday against Carolina, and with their two sixth-round picks, linebacker Mike Humpal (neck) and safety Ryan Mundy (ankle).
Paul Ernster, the former Broncos punter signed the day after starting punter Daniel Sepulveda injured his right knee on the first full day of training camp, also was cut — making Mitch Berger the opening day punter.
Wide receiver Willie Reid, a third-round pick from Florida State in 2006, and defensive end Ryan McBean, a fourth-rounder last season, also were cut, as was Eddie Drummond, a former Pro Bowl punt returner and another training camp pickup.
Reid was drafted partly because of his punt-returning skills, but never settled into that job and did not show enough ability to consistently get open downfield to justify a roster spot as a receiver.
Also released were linebacker Patrick Bailey, fullback Billy Latsko, guards Doug Legursky and Matt Lentz, cornerbacks Roy Lewis and Travis Williams, safety Grant Mason, offensive tackle Jeremy Parquet, defensive tackle Scott Paxson, defensive end Jordan Reffett, wide receiver Micah Rucker, tight ends Dezmond Sherrod and Lee Vickers and running back Justin Vincent.
The Steelers can sign up to eight players for their practice squad on Sunday.
Among those making it through the final pre-season cut were safety Tyrone Carter, who didn’t play against Carolina; linebacker Bruce Davis, a third-round pick from UCLA who didn’t stand out during training camp, and offensive tackle Tony Hills, a fourth-round pick from Texas who also had a rough camp.
