Several points here:
I heard Vinny Testaverde's name tossed around today - are you kidding me?
Signed today with the Carolina Panthers. Rattay is in Ariz. It's insane, and I have officially flushed Carolina's season down the toilet. Carr and Testy under center? Yikes!
Testy or Tim Rattay only costs you a roster spot, but in exchange it offers you Absolutely Nothing. Meanwhile Charlie had a brief (and at-times brilliant, despite his teammates) run as a starter in Detroit, and has won what, 2 games for the Steelers in '05 as well as the Miami win last year and an admirable turn versus Atlanta,
This may sound crazy, but I actually believe that CharlieB has skewed the thinking about backup QBs. Now, teams think they can pick up a vet like him who can come in and win games. They're forgetting that these guys are much older, they've taken a bigger beating, and they haven't been in the system the way that CB has for the last, what, 6 years? That's why we hardly miss a beat when he comes in. Plus, all these guys know him and trust him. They see Interceptaverde coming and they wonder how he managed to get out of the wheelchair.
It does surprise me that Brad Johnson, Griese, Kelly Holcomb, and Jeff Garcia types bounce around the league as freely as they do. You'd think all teams would have a better Plan B at their most critical position.
Actually, all of those guys are pretty good backups, I think. If we weren't set, I'd be okay with bringing one of them in, except maybe Griese. I think the mistake is that some team won't latch on and keep them around. Garcia, IMO, has always been starter-quality, and I believe he's proving that. Stints with the Lions and Clowns do not count against his resume, b/c he was smart enough to get out after one year.
The reason I wouldn't trade Batch is the mentoring he's giving Ben.
I'd say that Charlie is setting himself up pretty well to get into the coaching profession, perhaps even with the Steelers or some other local team?
Plus, I don't think Charlie has any desire to play anywhere else. He could have left as a free agent a couple of times in pursuit of a starters job.
Keep him. He's good for everything and everybody associated with Pittsburgh, not just the Steelers.
And if he decides not to coach, he's set up to stay in this organization or latch on with some other group here in his hometown, where he clearly wants to stay. He's a semi-icon in this city already b/c of his obvious loyalty to Western PA and the Steelers. He'd be a fool at this point to accept a deal with anyone else.
Plus, part of me has to believe that Charlie is smart enough to realize: He's injury-prone. Always has been, even here as a backup. Why go to some loser team, get broken in half, and end your career when you can make a cool million a year to play a few games, be a part-time coach, win a ring, and spend Christmas Eve at mom's house?
