OMEN
04-21-2010, 12:29 AM
The Steelers reacquired quarterback Byron Leftwich on Tuesday by trading a seventh-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- a sign that Pittsburgh expects starter Ben Roethlisberger to be suspended for the start of the 2010 season.Leftwich backed up Roethlisberger in the 2008 season, when the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Leftwich knows offensive coordinator Bruce Arians' system and could be ready to play Sept. 12 when the Steelers open next season against the Atlanta Falcons, one of the quarterback's former teams.
The Steelers play three teams that didn't make the playoffs last season -- the Falcons, Bucs and Tennessee Titans -- plus the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens in their first four games, a period that could span any Roethlisberger suspension.
The Steelers already have longtime backup Charlie Batch and third-year quarterback Dennis Dixon under contract. Batch has been injured each of the past two seasons. Dixon has started in only one NFL game.
The Steelers expect to learn Wednesday if Roethlisberger will be suspended for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that he will make a decision on Roethlisberger's status "as soon as I possibly can."
Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old female college student in a Georgia nightclub last month, but he will not face criminal charges.
The Associated Press
The Steelers play three teams that didn't make the playoffs last season -- the Falcons, Bucs and Tennessee Titans -- plus the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens in their first four games, a period that could span any Roethlisberger suspension.
The Steelers already have longtime backup Charlie Batch and third-year quarterback Dennis Dixon under contract. Batch has been injured each of the past two seasons. Dixon has started in only one NFL game.
The Steelers expect to learn Wednesday if Roethlisberger will be suspended for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that he will make a decision on Roethlisberger's status "as soon as I possibly can."
Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old female college student in a Georgia nightclub last month, but he will not face criminal charges.
The Associated Press