Leftwich Signs For League Minimum with Steelers

[dgr81]

i would consider him an upgrade over bartel and johnson

LEFTWICH INKS ONE-YEAR MINIMUM DEAL

Posted by Mike Florio on August 11, 2008, 4:19 p.m.

How desperate was quarterback Byron Leftwich to find work? Sufficiently desperate to accept a one-year deal for the league minimum.

Per the Post-Gazette, Leftwich received a $40,000 signing bonus and will be paid a base salary of $605,000 in 2008.

Leftwich reportedly was the team’s first choice, with Daunte Culpepper providing leverage to get Leftwich to accept the Steelers’ offer. Leftwich also wanted some assurances as to what his status will be once Charlie Batch is cleared to play.

Financially, it won’t matter whether Leftwich stays or goes. Every NFL player with four or more years of services is entitled, once in his career, to take the balance of his unpaid salary as “termination pay,” if he is cut after Week One of the regular season.

Under the CBA, only $425,000 of Leftwich’s base salary will count against the salary cap. The balance of the amount is treated as a player benefit. In fact, the Steelers will actually pay to Leftwich only the $425,000 plus the $40,000 bonus. The rest of the money comes from a league-wide benefit pool.

The device was implemented several years ago as a way to encourage teams to hire older players. Currently, the $425,000 payment and cap charge for a one-year deal given to a player with four or more credited seasons is $95,000 cheaper than the minimum salary for a player with three credited seasons. A player with two seasons has a minimum salary of $445,000, a player with one season costs at least $370,000, and a player with no credited seasons has a minimum salary of $295,000.

Given his nine years of service, Culpepper could have been paid a base salary of $730,000, and it would have only cost the Steelers $425,000 in real dollars and cap space.

 

[Vintage]

Thank God!

Glad he signed with the Steelers.

 

[Kilyin]

 

[AdamJT13]

The Lolmick lives!

 

[dbair1967]

i would consider him an upgrade over bartel and johnson

I wouldnt...he sux

David

 

[TNCowboy]

I wouldnt...he sux

David

He doesn't suck. He's hardly a star, but he's not bottom of the barrel either.

 

[dbair1967]

He doesn't suck. He's hardly a star, but he's not bottom of the barrel either.

he pretty much is, thats why nobody with a QB problem even gave him the time of day to be their starter

thats why Jacksonville got rid of him

thats why the lowly Falcons got rid of him and used a top 3 pick on a QB

thats why teams with terrible QB situations like the Bears, Vikings, Ravens etc etc didnt give him a chance

its called wake up and smell the coffee..he blows, period.

David

 

[cowboyrock]

He's better than Brad Johnson. Johnson can not play anymore.PERIOD!

 

[DanTanna]

Are they paying him by the pound?

 

[dbair1967]

Are they paying him by the pound?

might have exceeded the salary cap had they done that

David

 

[dbair1967]

He's better than Brad Johnson. Johnson can not play anymore.PERIOD!

ok, keep playing make believe

David

 

[TNCowboy]

he pretty much is, thats why nobody with a QB problem even gave him the time of day to be their starter

thats why Jacksonville got rid of him

thats why the lowly Falcons got rid of him and used a top 3 pick on a QB

thats why teams with terrible QB situations like the Bears, Vikings, Ravens etc etc didnt give him a chance

its called wake up and smell the coffee..he blows, period.

David

How many teams would be after Brad Johnson if we released him? Probably none.

The Steelers thought enough of Leftwich to give him a chance. He's been at least an average QB ever since he came into the league which is, sadly, far better than BJ is now.

 

[Wrangler87]

He's fat, slow, injury proned, and he telegraphs his throws by winding up like a 1960's baseball pitcher before he throws.

 

[BAT]

He's fat, slow, injury proned, and he telegraphs his throws by winding up like a 1960's baseball pitcher before he throws.

If Romo can adjust his throwing motion, so can Leftwich. Physically, Leftwich is a better #2 QB than Brad, the issue is "is he better mentally?". Garrett's offense is not simple.


But if the Cowboys want to keep 3 QBs, then Leftwich is MUCH MUCH better than Bartel. No question. Especially at the price he signed w/the Steelers.

 

[Future]

Leftwich has his flaws, but I've always admired his ability to stay in the pocket and play tough.

Always been a fan of his. Don't think he would be the best choice for a #2 here, but I wouldn't have minded seeing him with a star on his helmet.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I find it interesting that this turned into a Johnson bashing thread.

When the Cowboys had a chance to draft Leftwich, they passed. When they had a chance to sign him in free agency, they passed and kept Johnson.

Tells me all I need to know.

 

[BAT]

I find it interesting that this turned into a Johnson bashing thread.

When the Cowboys had a chance to draft Leftwich, they passed. When they had a chance to sign him in free agency, they passed and kept Johnson.

Tells me all I need to know.

Not bashing BJ, just not planting marigolds in his butt and calling it art.


If I'm bashing anyone, it's Bartel.

 

[Danny White]

He's fat, slow, injury proned, and he telegraphs his throws by winding up like Jason Campbell before he throws.

Fixed it for ya!

 

[dbair1967]

How many teams would be after Brad Johnson if we released him? Probably none.

The Steelers thought enough of Leftwich to give him a chance. He's been at least an average QB ever since he came into the league which is, sadly, far better than BJ is now.

you can homer for that fat tub of lard all you want, but he still sux and has been a huge bust

Johnson isnt great, but he has a quicker release even at his age than Fatwich ever will, is just as accurate and doesnt make alot of mistakes...if he ends up playing QB for us it wont be with the backups and waiver wire guys at the other 10 positions, it'll be with a team full of probowlers...he will be ok

and if we had to win one big game w/o Romo I'd trust Brad Johnson a whole hell of alot more than Fatwich

David