This kid straight up balled his way to the exit. Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The Steelers signed Troy Smith back in January on a Futures contract.  And if you are surprised at his early departure… well so am I quite frankly.  But then again, the QB position has never really been a problem for the Steelers.

Smith was drafted back in 2007 by the Baltimore Ratbirds.  A bad run of luck for Smith – Lemierrie’s Syndrome that sidelined him for a few weeks, the subsequent emergence of Joe Flacco, and then a  head coach who couldn’t decide which Smith he wanted to lead his offense – signed his fate in the NFL as a rejected backup.  Smith only spent three seasons with the Ravens and became part of a failed experiment of a two quarterback system that had him sharing snaps with Flacco.  Flacco out shined Smith and took over as the starter.  Smith was given a 5th round tender during his restricted free agency and was picked up nobody during that period.  Two days after his release from Baltimore, he was picked up by the 49′ers.  In San Fran, the crazier than shit Mike Singletary, couldn’t decide which Smith he wanted to start as his QB.  The Bay Area wanted Alex Smith’s head on a pike for some time, which gave Troy an opportunity.  He did well in those starts, but was eventually replaced by Alex only a few games later.  Smith was released by the Niners at the end of the season.  The irony in this half of the story – not one, but two Harbaugh’s released Troy Smith.  Jimmy boy became head coach of the Niners after that dreadful Singletary led 2010 season and wanted to move the team in a different direction than having two Smiths.

Once again Smith became a backup to another team, but this time in the UFL.  And once again, Smith was passed up for another QB when the Omaha Nighthawks decided to go with Jeremiah Masoli.  Troy signed a futures contract with the Steelers very early on in the off season.  His shortest stint yet, Smith lasted only through the OTA’s and mini-camps – a mere 5 months and 5 days.

It’s a pretty sad story for a kid who did have the athleticism to play QB in the NFL.  Was it his past of breaking the ‘rules’ in college that always haunted him?  Was it just poor circumstances/wrong place at the wrong time year in and year out?  Did he have an attitude problem that left teams pondering was he actually worth the time and resources?

Whatever the reason, Troy Smith finds himself once again a long list of Heisman Trophy winners of the last 20 years who have gone bust in the NFL.  This latest release from the Steelers must be a true back breaker.  Here you have a team that has a grey hair and a guy who has more hospital bills than a WWE wrestler as their backup QB’s – a real chance of backing up and maybe even starting should Roethlisberger get injured and you can’t even make it through pickup drills?  Eesh.  I’ve never been a fan myself, and so I can’t say I’m sorry to see you go.  Well, so long Troy Smith – maybe one day you’ll actually keep a ‘starting’ job for a while.  Maybe it’s just not in football….

Everyone raise your Heisman’s and give a salute to Troy Smith.

After getting jacked by his own team during the draft, McCoy probably wished Harrison hit him now instead of last season to forget his woes. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

During the offseason, I find it very easy to find ‘trinkets’ about the Steelers and delusions of grandeur because there’s not much in the way of real news going on.  I mean really, there’s only so many times one can reminisce about the Steelers amazing comeback against the Ravens in the AFC Championship back in January of 2011.  See?  Steeler fans don’t celebrate players like T-Sizzle getting injured.  We just think about beating them to get to the Super Bowl.  So what gem did I find today?

Someone actually believes that the Steelers have an ounce of interest in Colt McCoy of the Cleveland Browns.  Can I get an Ace Ventura ‘Reeeeheheheeeeaallly???’  In an article from the website Gather.com, author Erik Lambert, feels that the Steelers are just warming up to the idea of shopping for McCoy.  Well the Steelers are probably about as close to trading for McCoy as I am in starting as a walk on lineman for the Steelers – for emphasis let me tell you that I’m 6’2″ and weigh 170 lbs.  So, according to Lambert, why in the world are (or would) the Steelers ‘lure’ McCoy to join the Black & Gold?  Ben Roethlisberger, his reckless physical play and the potential of injury this season.

Lambert feels the backup QB situation in Pittsburgh is in sad shape.  Batch is old, Troy Smith is angry, and rookie Jerrod Johnson is fat…. I’ll wait…. yes reader, you’re right – what about Byron Leftwich? Aside from missing completely that the Steelers currently have FOUR backup QB’s on their roster, Lambert mischaracterizes the majority.

Though Charlie is a proven vet and has been one of the most dependable back ups you can have somehow he can’t hold the team for even a few weeks should Ben need to recover from an injury.  At age 37, Batch started for only the 7th time since 2002 as a Steeler and wiped the floor with the Rams.  His play was so crisp and his scrambling superb, one would have thought Big Ben had lost his #7 jersey in the locker room and put on Batch’s #16 instead.  Though Batch is entering his 15th season, he is healthy and has taken few hits while in his backup role.  Should Ben have to sit, I don’t think there is one soul of Steeler Nation who believes Charlie can bring the Steelers to victory.

I have to admit that I am skeptical of Byron Leftwich as a backup.  He can play as solid as Batch and has a canon (even though his release is as slow as Ochocinco solving 2+2=4).  However, the guy can’t stay healthier for more than a few weeks of the season over the past few years.  Maybe that’s why Lambert forgot about him.  And no matter how many times the media drudges up the ‘controversy’ as to who is #2 – Batch or Leftwich – it will always be Batch.

Troy Smith is one shade away from a garbage pickup.  He played six games for the 49′ers in 2010 and threw up some very uninspirational  numbers.  He played for the Omaha Nighthawks for the UFL in 2011, and again nothing impressive.  Former Texas A&M Aggie, Jerrod Johnson, is not really a rookie as Lambert puts it.  He’s a rookie to the NFL, though he was signed then released by the Eagles in 2011 as an undrafted free agent.  But he is not a rookie to football outside of college.  He did play for the UFL (I’m seeing a creepy trend) during 2011 after being released from Philly.  As with Smith, there’s not much to expect from this guy.  He’s only signed a futures contract and will more than likely remain as part of the practice team, or will get cut before camp is over.

So that’s 2 out of 4 QB’s who could realistically back up Ben Roethlisberger if (and more likely WHEN) he gets injured enough to not play.  Kinda necessary to put it in those terms, right?  Last time I checked, most teams… as in all teams… only keep three QB’s on their roster.  If my math serves me right that makes Ben #1, Batch #2, and Leftwich #3.  There’s no room for the others, so they aren’t worth talking about when sizing the ‘competition’ and notion of the Steelers somehow trading away Super Bowl talent for a backup QB like McCoy. That’s like trading your huge oreo brownie for a piece of string with ketchup on it at lunch time.  It just ain’t happening.

There’s no use for McCoy on the Steelers, and there’s no way the Steelers have the cash to cover his current contract with the Browns.  Why go through all that trouble of losing a decent player for a washed up one who is costing you millions more than he’s worth???  Oh that’s right, they won’t.  I’ll eat James Harrison’s jock strap if the Steelers are dumb enough to trade within their own division for a BACKUP PLAYER.  McCoy will more than likely see himself go to another team outside of the division and even conference like the Rams – I can agree with you on that Lamby.

Ugh.  I think I need to stop talking about the absurdity of this before my wife tells me for the third time that my ‘face will stay that way’ if I ‘keep making that stupid look.’

Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Old Faithful – aka Charlie Batch – reportedly signed a one year deal with the Steelers.  Batch joins the Steelers for the 10th straight season.  For those of you who are surprised with this move, the only backup QB of the Steelers to see action during the regular season obviously did not impress upon you.

Batch was an obvious choice to bring back, and will be until his legs or arms fall off.  If there ever was a ‘master’ backup QB, he would certainly win honors for that title.  Batch consistently steps into the back up role year in and year out and steps onto that field with poise.  1st quarter or 4th quarter. 10 points down or 14 point lead.  It doesn’t matter.  Batch can crouch behind center and manage an offense effectively.  And really, isn’t that all any team can ask for in a back up?  A game manager.  To try and ask for more is… well…. asking for a starting QB, not a backup QB.  And, no team will pay the money to have a starter sit on the bench all season.

Dixon and Leftwich are high risk athletes because they can’t stay healthy for more than a month.  The Steelers should save a ton in health insurance with those two gone.  All joking aside, the Steelers will probably look for a #3 QB late in the draft now that they have decided to keep Batch.  We likely won’t see the other two and maybe, just maybe Troy Smith might prove some worth when camp rolls around.

This is just another good signing by the Steelers in a usually quiet offseason.  They will trust the draft with getting linemen to protect Ben and potentially nab a high value QB late in the rounds.  Another start to the work week for Colbert and Co., and another sound decision by this franchise.  Let me just lean back in my mid-back desk chair and enjoy this one – I like Batch, and if he were to hit the field this upcoming season for whatever reasons, I’m confident the offense is in good hands.  Welcome back, Charlie.