Steelers offered him a 2 year contract but he wanted to go somewhere he could compete for the starting job
Bucs Agree To Terms With Leftwich Posted April 12, 2009 by Roy Cummings Updated Apr 12, 2009 at 10:57 AM By ROY CUMMINGS rcummings@tampatrib.com
TAMPA – The Bucs appear to have found their “fourth’’ quarterback in former Jaguars starter Byron Leftwich.
Leftwich, who visited the Bucs last week, has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Bucs, sources have told The Tribune.
Leftwich spent all of last year serving as a backup to Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. The Steelers reportedly offered Leftwich a two-year deal but he turned that down in the hopes of finding a better opportunity elsewhere.
He appears to have found it with the Bucs, who are looking for someone to push depth chart leader Luke McCown for the starter’s job.
Leftwich was looking for a team that would allow him to compete for a starter’s position and with the untested McCown at the top of the depth chart he appears to see Tampa as his best option.
The Bucs also have Brian Griese and Josh Johnson on board as quarterbacks and have a meeting scheduled for this week with potential draftee Josh Freeman, a prospect out of Kansas State.
another thought: This definitely increases the chances that we pass on Josh Freeman. Most mocks have us taking him, so I wonder who else is on Tampa's radar? Moreno? A linebacker? Defensive end?
Good move for Leftwich and the Bucs. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Leftwich manages to win the job out of camp. It would've been nice for the Steelers to keep him, but the Bucs offer a definite chance to start, while Pittsburgh has a pretty good starter I think. Roethlis-something. Good pick, Cowah.
Pittsburgh will re-sign Charlie Batch or get another FA to be the backup. Dennis Dixon probably isn't ready for that responsibility yet.
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steelerfan513 wrote:Good move for Leftwich and the Bucs. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Leftwich manages to win the job out of camp. It would've been nice for the Steelers to keep him, but the Bucs offer a definite chance to start, while Pittsburgh has a pretty good starter I think. Roethlis-something. Good pick, Cowah.
Pittsburgh will re-sign Charlie Batch or get another FA to be the backup. Dennis Dixon probably isn't ready for that responsibility yet.
I'm in complete agreement. I think he will be the fav going into camp.
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Leftwich, Bucs agree to deal By ROY CUMMINGS rcummings@tampatrib.com Published: April 13, 2009
TAMPA - The Bucs have settled on that "fourth" quarterback they've been promising to bring in.
The team is expected to announce today the signing of free agent Byron Leftwich, whose weekend decision to accept a two-year contract was based on a guarantee he'll be given a chance to compete for the starter's job.
Many believe that job will ultimately go to sixth-year pro Luke McCown, but the Bucs have made no secret of their desire to add an experienced veteran to at least push McCown for that job.
News of the agreement between the Bucs and the 2008 backup to Steelers starter Ben Roethlisberger was met mostly with disdain by Bucs fans, but most scouts still see the 29-year-old Leftwich as a player with big-play capability.
His tremendous arm strength and accuracy should prove to be a good fit for new coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski's aggressive offense, and his size - 6-foot-5, 250 pounds - has always made it difficult for defenses to take him down.
Leftwich, a 2003 first-round draft pick, is considered a good leader and a tough competitor who willingly plays through pain and injury, but his slow delivery and penchant for forcing passes that shouldn't be thrown have always been areas of concern.
I like this move. I don't think it's time to draft Freeman. I think we could get a solid DE there, that would start this year and help Adams on the other side. As far as Leftwich starting, I don't mind. I think he is good. He was in the same draft class as Carson Palmer and they were ranked closely. Palmer had help with Chad What's his Name and TJ wHo's-your-mama, while Leftwich was stuck with Matt "powder" Jones and other disappointing draft picks. With the addition of Winslow and Bryant coming into his own, hopefully Clayton will get out of the sophomore slump he's been in for the last few years and Leftwich will finally have some targets.
Last edited by bucs83 on Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
If you're able to give him time to throw...he's got a cannon for an arm. That slow release time is what gives him trouble but he's a smart QB with a strong arm and he could still be a solid starter for the right team. I could see him doing some good things for the Bucs.
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