Steelers sign TE Marco Battaglia

[BB2W]

Steelers Add Veteran Tight End

http://secure2.steelers.com/article/52180/

The Steelers added depth at tight end today when they signed veteran Marco Battaglia to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Battaglia played with the Steelers in 2002 after starting tight end Mark Bruener was placed on reserve/injured list in December of that season following knee surgery. Battaglia played in one game with the Steelers in 2002 but did not catch a pass. In eight NFL seasons, Battaglia has played in 96 games with 11 starts. He has 71 career receptions for 660 yards and two touchdowns.

Battaglia was originally selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (39th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft from Rutgers University. He spent the majority of his first six seasons with the Bengals before being released on Dec. 10, 2001. He was claimed by the Washington Redskins the next day, where he finished the 2001 season.

Battaglia signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 19, 2002, as an unrestricted free agent but was released early that season. He signed with the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 2, 2003, where he remained until the end of the season. Battaglia did not play in 2004.

I guess this means Matt Cushing is gone.......

[SteelersFever]

I don't like this signing at all. :thmbdown:

[HinesWard4Life8682]

same, waiste of money and time

[clevestinks]

We are hard up for a TE, Now I know we should draft one

[BlitzburghRockCity]

He's either here to add an extra body in training camp, or they really think he has potential. He hasnt done much in his career, so unless they know something we dont about him, I wouldnt think he'll make it past the end of training camp. Krancheck and tuman are the 2 main guys for now atleast.

[ironcitychef]

Well since it was a one year deal, I think that shows how much "potential" we feel he has left. But its not strange for us to have 4 TEs around camp, so we could still draft one. I think this is just a signing to relax us so we don't reach in the draft. If miller or jones can fall then fine, but we don't want to move up in a draft with no sure bets yet.

[BlitzburghRockCity]

TE is just not a priority in the Steelers system, it never will be. Bruener was a great pic and lasted a long time and was the best blocking TE in the league..bar none!! But we never used his hands to our advantage, its just not the way the Steelers run an offense. I for one, would fall out of my chair if we took a TE in round one.

[Steelerfan49]

We are hard up for a TE, Now I know we should draft one

Or if you consider the way we use a tight end we could just draft another guard, call him a tight end give him a tight end numberand be done with it. WE under use the tight end position so much that it probably wouldn't affect the passing game any way.

[clevestinks]

I just feel to use Ben at full potentail give him as many options as possible.

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Just to play devil's advocate for a second.. :D .... u can also think of the TE as a weapon because in the running game.. that big tall body coming at a linebacker or stuffing a DE is a pretty effective weapon. as in the passing game to keep that DE from bull rushing the OT and getting thru for a sack :)

[clevestinks]

Agreed but it would be nice to see a fast,big , good handed TE, that would have to go one om one with a LB

[Steelerfan49]

Just to play devil's advocate for a second.. :D .... u can also think of the TE as a weapon because in the running game.. that big tall body coming at a linebacker or stuffing a DE is a pretty effective weapon. as in the passing game to keep that DE from bull rushing the OT and getting thru for a sack :)

While this is true other teams find tight end that can block as well as catch a ball and do something more than fall forward for A yard.