Byron Leftwich has 2 broken ribs - unlikely to start

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by 3rdandlong

I always thought Batch was the better quarterback. What was Tomlin thinking keeping Leftwich in when he was in obvious pain!

Hopefully there is a good reason other than "the standard being the standard" and giving Leftwich his shot at glory.

So maybe this is the reason. I recall someone (Collinsworth?) said until this past week Leftwich had taken very few snaps with the first team offense in practice. Which means Batch has taken even fewer and that Tomlin figured putting Batch in would be a disaster. Leftwich certainly was not going to take himself out.

Not having Leftwich's ribs checked (certainly at halftime) and Haley calling that many pass plays when Leftwich was clearly hurting made last night the worst coaching performance of the 2012 regular season (hard to call it the worst performance of the year after the Steelers game plan turned Tim Tebow into Joe Montana last January)

[SteelCurtain5643]

Time for the ageless wonder Charlie Batch to step in. I would def try to sign someone like McNabb to backup Batch. I think Charlie will do ok, cant be any worse than what we saw last night.

[FacemeIke]

Palko and Brody Coyle are both available and have played in Haley's offense before. We'll sign Johnson, but Palko and Coyle are both better chances to be signed than Gerrard or McNabb. This isn't MLB or NBA where a player can switch teams and step right in with one day of practice. It'd take at a minimum two weeks for any new QB completely foreign to be ready to step onto the field.

[stb_steeler]

Originally Posted by Fire Arians

Yep. Broken ribs = lefty will not be available for at least a couple weeks, and we aren't going into a game with only 1 quarterback.

maybe they're gonna give mcnabb a call afterall

Is there any evidence that McNabb could be asked or is this just fans speculation?

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by stb_steeler

Is there any evidence that McNabb could be asked or is this just fans speculation?

McNabb was out of shape when he was a starting QB. He probably looks like Casey Hampton now that he is out of the league.

[ZoneBlitzer]

I knew that he fractured his ribs. I've had the same injury. But honestly to fall down and do it to yourself is pathetic. What was he thinking? His career should be done.

[Steeler_Supporter]

Hey new poster here. John Beck is available I think, and would be a good fit in my opinion...if he kept in shape and stayed sharp on his mobility.If he did he's got decent size and arm. For all we know he could be the second coming of Kurt Warner lol. I heard they were looking for someone to back up Batch and thats my pick(if Dixon can't be gotten).

*offers water bottles(water boy lol)

[TRH]

oh, man. We need to sign somebody else like yesterday. I'm thinking we'll make a roster move at the latest by tomorrow.
I'm not clamoring for McNabb, but since someone did mention him, Stephen A Smith was saying at the start of the season that McNabb was actually in fantastic shape at the time when he was looking for a team to pick him up.
Don't be surprised if you see a move for Palko.

[SuperSteelers]

Originally Posted by Fire Arians

Yep. Broken ribs = lefty will not be available for at least a couple weeks, and we aren't going into a game with only 1 quarterback.

maybe they're gonna give mcnabb a call afterall

Going in with Charlie is like going in with half a QB... just a matter of time when he will get injured.

Don't get me wrong, I love Batch, but you can't ask him to do something he is not physically fit to do.

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by SuperSteelers

Going in with Charlie is like going in with half a QB... just a matter of time when he will get injured.

Don't get me wrong, I love Batch, but you can't ask him to do something he is not physically fit to do.

Will probably need Charlie to hold the fort for 2 games until Leftwich hopefully heals up - he might last that long