Dennis Dixon, Pittsburgh Steelers / Image: Zuma Press

And it doesn’t matter if he throws three touchdown passes and runs for two more with a perfect QB rating against the Baltimore Ravens tonight—he’s not wrestling the job away from Big Ben. But this is a golden opportunity for Dennis to showcase his skills for another team or to stake his claim for the backup role in Pittsburgh. Because one team’s trash (so to speak) could be another team’s treasure. And if Dennis can come close to the kind of performances that made him a Heisman trophy candidate at Oregon a couple years ago, he might find himself as a worthy prospect for promotion.

Source: Steelers.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Dennis Dixon Gets His Opportunity

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free agent quarterback Byron Leftwich today. When backup QB Charlie Batch went down with a broken collarbone (he’s out 4-6 weeks) in Friday night’s game against Philadelphia, the Steelers went right to work on obtaining a veteran signal caller to backup Ben Roethlisberger. Enter free agents Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said:

“We made an agreement with Byron Leftwich to sign and be a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We have some familiarity there, because Ken Anderson, our quarterbacks coach, worked with him down in Jacksonville. He’s a young guy, had a great workout here this afternoon, is very lean, looks to be in great shape. He’s a smart guy, a been-there, done-that guy. He’s been a franchise quarterback for a playoff-caliber team. We’re fortunate to be able to add a guy like him to the mix, and we look forward to putting him in the group as quickly as we can. Hopefully we can have him up to snuff so he can participate as soon as Thursday night in Toronto (vs. the Buffalo Bills).”

Both Byron and Daunte were in Latrobe, PA to work out at Steelers camp, but only Byron signed. Apparently, Daunte is still looking for a starting spot and didn’t want to join the team in a reserve role. That baffles me because with that attitude, he’ll most likely be sitting out this season. If he would just get himself onto a team and start learning a system, he stands a much better chance of getting into a starting role than he does sitting at home. I mean, did he really travel to Pittsburgh thinking he was going to unseat Big Ben as the starting quarterback of the Steelers? I stand as good a chance.

As for Byron, he brings some quality experience to the Steelers should Ben be injured. He’ll also provide great tutelage for rookie QB Dennis Dixon. But what do the Steelers do in 4-6 weeks when Charlie Batch is ready?

Sources: Steelers.com, ESPN.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Byron Leftwich

Image details: 2008 NFL Draft served by picapp.com

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

After all the scouting, measuring, interviewing and analyzing of player prospects over the past few months, the 2008 NFL Draft in the books. And while it’s impossible to currently say which teams had success and which teams did not (that could take several years), here are my winners and losers based on decision-making and potential.

WINNERS

1.) Kansas City Chiefs – With 13 picks, the Chiefs had no choice but to succeed in this Draft and they did just that. Glenn Dorsey (LSU) was arguably the best DT in this Draft. Branden Albert (Virginia) was possibly the best interior O-lineman in this Draft. Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) is a top-notch, physical, shutdown corner who would’ve been rated even higher if he had run a faster 40-time. Jamal Charles (Texas) has that breakaway speed at RB. And WR Kevin Robinson was the best return man in the country last year with Utah State. Those were just some of the highlights.

2.) Dallas Cowboys – After the Cowboys started their Draft day with two first-rounders (Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins) I turned to fellow Draft blogger Lloyd Vance and said, “The Cowboys are loaded.” He nodded his approval. Dallas would later add TE Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M) and RB Tashard Choice (Georgia Tech). And remember, they officially signed Pacman Jones the day before the Draft. As far as I’m concerned, that counts, too.

3.) Pittsburgh Steelers – Like the Cowboys, the Steelers made some real noise with their first two picks — RB Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois) and WR Limas Sweed (Texas). Rashard couldn’t be a better fit. He runs in the Steeler style (tough, physical, between-the-tackles) and will complement speedster Willie Parker nicely. Limas will take Steeler fans back to the days of Plaxico Burress. Like Plax, Limas is a big target (6′4″ 212) with long arms and will round out a talented receiving corps that includes Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. I also really like DE Bruce Davis (UCLA) and QB Dennis Dixon (Oregon). What will the Steelers do with D2? The possibilities are endless but this could turn out to be another Steeler throwback situation. Remember Kordell Stewart as “Slash?”

4.) Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens wanted QB Matt Ryan, but when they couldn’t swing a deal there, they went to their second option — Joe Flacco (Delaware). Joe will be the quarterback of their future unless Troy Smith has something to say about it. RB Ray Rice (Rutgers) will be an excellent complement to Willis McGahee. LB Tavares Gooden (Miami) could play-out to be a real steal deal in the third-round. And S Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame) is a hard-nosed player who will contribute immediately on special teams.

5.) Carolina Panthers – I think it was a stretch to take RB Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) when both Felix Jones and Rashard Mendenhall were still available, but he was widely considered one of the top running backs in this class. Jonathan is a big back with good speed and should team with DeAngelo Williams for an effective one-two punch. Then, look at their next four quality picks: OT Jeff Otah (Pitt), CB Charles Godfrey (Iowa), LB Dan Conner (Penn State) and TE Gary Barnidge (Louisville). An excellent Draft for the Panthers.

LOSERS

1.) Cleveland Browns – Maybe it’s not fair to beat up on a team who didn’t have any day one picks and who only had five selections overall (beginning in the fourth-round), but the Browns didn’t do anything with those five picks as far as I’m concerned. As good as last year’s Draft was for Cleveland, this one was just as poor. TE Martin Rucker (Missouri) might be their only saving grace.

2.) Jacksonville Jaguars – It all starts with the first pick for me. The Jags gave up three choices to Baltimore for the right to take DE Derrick Harvey (Florida) — swapping first-round picks and sending the Ravens two third-rounders and a fourth-rounder. That’s insane. Jax only ended up with five picks. They’ve got some developmental possibilities (who doesn’t?) and another DE Quentin Groves (Auburn) is ok, but …

3.) New England Patriots – It’s really hard to argue with their track record, but I didn’t really like what the Patriots did. Trading out of the number seven spot, they reached for Jerod Mayo with the 10th overall. I would’ve said, “Hold the Mayo!” that early. To their credit, CB Terrence Wheatley (Colorado) is small but could be a good find in the second round.

4.) Cincinnati Bengals – It doesn’t surprise me that the Bengals are on this list. Sometimes I really wonder what this team is thinking. They should’ve traded disgruntled WR Chad Johnson for an obscene number of Draft picks and cleaned up like the Chiefs did. At any rate, I like LB Keith Rivers (USC) but they didn’t get the DT they needed and selecting WR Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina) ahead of DeSean Jackson really had me baffled.

5.) Green Bay Packers – I don’t understand why the Packers spent two Draft picks on quarterbacks — Brian Brohm (Louisville) and Matt Flynn (LSU). I can see taking a QB to provide some competition for the starting spot left vacant by Brett Favre and/or as a viable backup to Aaron Rodgers, but drafting a second QB seemed like a complete waste to me. Also, wide receiver wasn’t a need and the Pack took WR Jordy Nelson (Kansas State) with their first overall pick. Interesting.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Draft 2008: Winners and Losers