Steelers Sign QB Byron Leftwich, Veteran Punter

Ex-Jacksonville, Atlanta Quarterback Fills Void Left By Charlie Batch

POSTED: 6:26 pm EDT August 10, 2008

UPDATED: 12:29 pm EDT August 11, 2008

LATROBE, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Byron Leftwich on Sunday to a one-year contract, and he will be the backup quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger.

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On Friday, backup quarterback Charlie Batch left the Steelers' first game of the preseason with a broken right collarbone in the second quarter. The Steelers beat the Philadelphia Eagles in that game, 16-10.

Leftwich, 28, was the Jacksonville Jaguars' first-round draft pick out of Marshall University in 2003. His position coach in Jacksonville was Ken Anderson, who now holds the same job with the Steelers.

"He's a young guy. He had a great workout this afternoon," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "He's got a strong arm. He's very lean, looks to be in great shape."

Ankle injuries and a disagreement with head coach Jack Del Rio led to Leftwich's departure from Jacksonville before the 2007 season. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons, but still suffered ankle problems and was released in February.

The Steelers also brought former Miami, Oakland and Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper to training camp at St. Vincent College for a workout Sunday. There was no word on him being signed when the news broke about Leftwich.

SportingNews.com reported both Leftwich and Culpepper were getting deals, but the Steelers have only announced Leftwich's signing.

Before the Steelers signed Leftwich, the only healthy quarterbacks in camp behind Roethlisberger were fifth-round draft pick Dennis Dixon and undrafted rookie Mike Potts.

In addition to Leftwich, the Steelers signed free agent punter Mitch Berger, a 13-year veteran who appeared in five games with the Arizona Cardinals last season. Berger agreed to a one-year deal.

The 36-year-old Berger is needed in camp because punter Daniel Sepulveda is out for the year with an ACL injury.

Another free agent, Paul Ernster, is also in camp to compete for Sepulveda's job.

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