Update: Bruce Gradkowski Signs 3-Year Deal

[86WARD]

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports via Twitter on Tuesday that Cincinnati Bengals free agent quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is scheduled to visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday.
The Steelers appear to be ready to move on from either Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch, both unrestricted free agents, this off-season. Batch reiterated recently that he hopes to return in 2013, but his signing is far from imminent right now.
Gradkowski, 30, has spent the last two seasons in Cincinnati as the backup to Andy Dalton. He was 13-of-29 passing for 174 yards in those two seasons in limited action.
Over the course of his career, Gradkowski has a 52.9% completion ratio and a 5.7 yards per attempt number.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2013/03/report-steelers-bringing-in-bengals-free-agent-qb-bruce-gradkowski-for-visit/

[Psycho Ward 86]

looks like a good back up to have. and maybe an attempt to peek at the bengals playbook lol?

[86WARD]

>>>>>>>> Batch and/or Leftwich.

[Dwinsgames]

Gradkowski is not a very good QB , but what he lacks in ability he makes up for in Grit and a non stop motor .. he just refuses to give up ..

kids got moxie ...

I would take him over Leftwich ten times out of ten on moxie alone

[polamalubeast]

>>>>>>>> Batch and/or Leftwich.

Better that Leftwich....Yes.....Better that Batch......No..

[steelreserve]

Saw him play several games with the Raiders when they finally gave up on JaMarcus Russell ... he was competent enough to finally win them some games. Wasn't great, but he did come right in and make a go of it, instead of being completely lost like our backups have always been. For a backup, and not a hugely expensive one, I'd love to have him.

[stillers4me]

He burned OUR asses.....

[Dwinsgames]

He burned OUR asses.....


He is yet another homegrown kid that grew up a Steeler fan , he had to bring it that day

[86WARD]

Better that Leftwich....Yes.....Better that Batch......No..

lol...stop. Physically Gradkowski is a way better QB.

[Dwinsgames]

lol...stop. Physically Gradkowski is a way better QB.


statistically he is not ... yea I know not everyone is a stats guy but it is a record of what you have accomplished with your time on the field

[86WARD]

Mike Wallace is statistically better than Antonio Brown.

[polamalubeast]

Mike Wallace is statistically better than Antonio Brown.

and a bigger contract!

[Dwinsgames]

Mike Wallace is statistically better than Antonio Brown.


with more opportunity to create those stats ( more targets )

[Psycho Ward 86]

with more opportunity to create those stats ( more targets )

yeah but i mean its not about stats, its a record of what you have accomplished with your time on the field :)

[GBMelBlount]

>>>>>>>> Batch and/or Leftwich.

64% QB rating?

<<<<<<<<<<Batch, Leftwich, Tebow

lol.

[Dwinsgames]

yeah but i mean its not about stats, its a record of what you have accomplished with your time on the field :)


lol ok I will play along . he also had more time on the field he has been in the league longer http://draftsteel.com/ff/images/smilies/duel.gif

[tube517]

Steeler killer :chuckle:

[XxKnightxX]

He is yet another homegrown kid that grew up a Steeler fan , he had to bring it that day

Ill never forget his last day at Toledo and his family on TV begging the Steelers to draft him just as a backup. I'm sure he's been waiting for years to do this.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

[NJarhead]

He burned OUR asses.....

He played very well, but it was Louis Murphy who actually burned our asses with 4 catches for 128 yards and two TD's.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009120607/2009/REG13/raiders@steelers#menu=highlights&tab=recap


What an aggravating game that one was. Not unlike our last meeting with them out in San Quentin....., I mean Oakland.

[86WARD]

You also have to look at the teams Gradkowski played for...Bucs, Raiders, Bengals. The elite of the bottom of the barrel!

[NJarhead]

You also have to look at the teams Gradkowski played for...Bucs, Raiders, Bengals. The elite of the bottom of the barrel!

He joined the Bucs as they began to decline. Plus his first coach was Gruden. That couldn't have been easy for a young QB.

[pepsyman1]

lol ok I will play along . he also had more time on the field he has been in the league longer http://draftsteel.com/ff/images/smilies/duel.gif

Lol...time on the field with the leagues' most dysfunctional teams over the last decade. That won't help anyone's stats. Lol

I'd take him in a heartbeat

[PalmerSteel]

would definately be an upgrade IMO. nice to have that athleticeness in your backup QB, and starter experience to boot....

[86WARD]

Heard that they are signing him for three years.

[NJarhead]

Heard that they are signing him for three years.

Radio? TV?

Regardless, I like the signing.

[Dwinsgames]

Lol...time on the field with the leagues' most dysfunctional teams over the last decade. That won't help anyone's stats. Lol

I'd take him in a heartbeat


LOL you need to backtrack that quote to it's beginning ( it has nothing to do with Bruce )

[one side only]

Solid, affordable signing. That being said, if he ever takes the field out of necessity, the season's over, so much ado about nothing, really.

[86WARD]

Radio? TV?

Regardless, I like the signing.

Radio...

[86WARD]

Schefter just tweeted it as a done deal

[SteelerFanInStl]

Yes, it's on PFT as a 3 year deal. Not bad. He's a decent backup.

Now I'd like to see a young guy for #3.

[cold-hard-steel]

Not the direction i would have hoped we would go , but who am i to judge .One of these days , not that far down the road , we are gonna have to start grooming us a future QB .Nobody wants to think about it , but it is a looming reality .

[fansince'76]

Apparently, he just got a 3-year deal: Bruce Gradkowski, Steelers reportedly agree to terms (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000150329/article/report-steelers-bruce-gradkowski-agree-to-terms)

[st33lersguy]

As long as they didn't spend too much money

[steelreserve]

Well, I'm glad they finally got off their asses and did something about that.

See? It wasn't so hard.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Not the direction i would have hoped we would go , but who am i to judge .One of these days , not that far down the road , we are gonna have to start grooming us a future QB .Nobody wants to think about it , but it is a looming reality .

what direction were you hoping for? This is a good good move

[pepsyman1]

I think this is a really good move. Most QBs in the league don't make it through to play all 16 games, you just want to have a guy who's ready to step in and give you a reasonable chance of winning and not have to tear apart the entire offensive game plan for him to function. I think Bruce fits the bill, not great but competent, he can get hot hand, and he's pretty gritty...Steelers fans could rally behind him if he's called upon

[steelpride12]

Great move IMO. We're not looking for a guy to win a SB championship, but someone who knows the game well enough and who can step in if needed and get the job done. Great pick up for the Steelers!

[cold-hard-steel]

what direction were you hoping for? This is a good good move

I was hoping they might see some interest in a shiney,brand spankin new kid that they can begin the process of takin over someday . Never said it was a bad move , but i was thinking something entirely different . Like i said , who am i to judge ?

[Count Steeler]

Now they can draft a young one in the later rounds, if a project is available.

[Craic]

Now they can draft a young one in the later rounds, if a project is available.
Sounds like a good idea, but they won't do it. Watch, we'll now sign Batch again. Sigh.

[steel striker]

I think this is a good move and, let's face he might have been the best option of the vet qb's that was left. He is gamer like mentioned in above posts.

[salamander]

I'm definitely liking this move.

[SteelerEmpire]

Another "Ski" huh ? It might work.

[cold-hard-steel]

Well guess it's a done deal now .No way in the world you'll ever please everybody anyway . Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men ? ummm hummmm uummmm !

[86WARD]

Now they can draft a young one in the later rounds, if a project is available.

LIKE

[Seven]

Good. Gradkowski is a great fit. Definitely a guy I can see taking care of business in relief. About as good a backup as you are going to find, anyway.

[Dwinsgames]

wish we had at the very least kicked the tires on Drew Stanton before B.A. snagged him up but oh well

[Seven]

wish we had at the very least kicked the tires on Drew Stanton before B.A. snagged him up but oh well

I agree. I think Stanton is going to start in Arizona no question.

[SteelMayhem72]

If I remember correctly he carved us up and beat us in 2009 with the raiders...anybody else remember??? I think its an excellent pickup!!

- - - Updated - - -

Bruce Arians will do well in AZ I believe...Its funny how the steelers have that connection with AZ.

[steelerdude15]

He's not exactly that young at the age of thirty, but I think he'll be a step up compared to Batch and Leftwich. He doesn't seem to be brittle either, unlike the other two.

[86WARD]

Who does Arians sign? Leftwich or Batch?

[Psycho Ward 86]

Who does Arians sign? Leftwich or Batch?

both

[SteelerFanInStl]

I agree. I think Stanton is going to start in Arizona no question.

It certainly looks like that's the plan. Supposedly they're ready to release Kolb.

[stillers4me]

You can't help but be happy for a guy that's this happy to be playing a backup role for his hometown team.

Bruce Gradkowski‏@bgradkowski5
First official visit down to the south side! Saw @albyox (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/albyox) working hard! #SteelerNation (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/search?q=%23SteelerNation&src=hash) pic.twitter.com/NsWXVxo4oD (http://t.co/NsWXVxo4oD)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFSJpyzCYAAC4vD.jpg:large

[Bluecoat96]

I wonder how much info he can give the Defense when the Steelers play the Bengals.

[GBMelBlount]

I wonder if his contract was one million dollars?

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060429014756/austinpowers/images/2/27/DrEvil.jpg

[stillers4me]

I can hear it now.....his first TD and all of Heinz Field screaming "Brrrruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccceeeeeeeee!"