Steelers claim QB/WR Devin Gardner on waivers from Pats*

[hawaiiansteeler]

Steelers claim QB/WR Devin Gardner on waivers

http://www.pittsburghsportingnews.com/wp-content/themes/sportedge-parent/thumb.php?src=http://www.pittsburghsportingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/devin-gardner-98.jpg&h=370&w=620&zc=1&q=100

The Pittsburgh Steelers have claimed Devin Gardner on waivers from the New England Patriots.

Gardner, 23, was listed as a wide receiver by the Patriots, but had spent most of his collegiate career as a quarterback at the University of Michigan. As a senior in 2014, he started 12 games, passing for 1896 yards and 10 touchdowns while leading the Wolverines to a 5-7 record.

He was noted as dual-threat quarterback for Michigan, often making plays with his legs as well as his arms. In 2013, his 3443 yards of total offense was the second-most in school history.

The Patriots planned to transition Garnder, who is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, to a wide receiver, following in the footsteps of Julian Edelman, who made the same transition in New England. Gardner, a Detroit, Michigan native, hasn’t played wide receiver since 2012.

The Patriots released Gardner in a series of roster moves early on Tuesday. The Steelers waived WR L’Damain Washington to make room for Gardner on their roster.

to read rest of article:

http://www.pittsburghsportingnews.com/steelers-claim-qbwr-devin-gardner-on-waivers/22618

[SteelerFanInStl]

I'm surprised that Washington hasn't been able to catch on with a team. He was pretty good at Mizzou.

I'm not sure that I like that move. Gardner is nothing more than a project.

[Steeldude]

Well hopefully the Steelers use him as a WR only.

[tube517]

Ben not only gets a big contract but has some big ass targets now. At least for training camp

[ETL]

Can he play CB?

[SteelerFanInStl]

Can he play CB?

I'd take a 6' 4" CB that can play. :) Ah, yes, the good old days of Mel Blount.

[hawaiiansteeler]

I'd take a 6' 4" CB that can play. :) Ah, yes, the good old days of Mel Blount.

http://l.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/9SyAo3ZaHQouzuxiWpBEeg--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9MzE2O3E9OTU7dz01NzU-/http://i.imgur.com/avEroTF.gif

[SteelerFanInStl]

http://l.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/9SyAo3ZaHQouzuxiWpBEeg--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9MzE2O3E9OTU7dz01NzU-/http://i.imgur.com/avEroTF.gif

I can only imagine how much he'd get fined for that play in today's NFL. :willy:

[salamander]

I can only imagine how much he'd get fined for that play in today's NFL. :willy:

James Harrison has been fined $250,000 for that comment. :chuckle:

[86WARD]

He's also been fined for Blount's tackle in that GIF.

[GBMelBlount]

A 4.65 40 is a little slow for a CB or a receiver.

Maybe he makes up for it by being quick and athletic...

[TD's & Beer]

Ben likes his tall WRs


The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Gardner signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent after the draft, but New England parted ways with him Monday.
In announcing the claim of Gardner, the Steelers listed him as a wide receiver, which suggests that’s the position he’ll play in Pittsburgh

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/19/steelers-awarded-devin-gardner-on-waivers/

[Iron Steeler]

I wonder if this has anything to do with the extra point being extinct soon . These dual threat QBs are gonna get a lot of playing time ...

[86WARD]

I'm all for another "chance" to get Landry Jones off the roster...maybe Gardner can work out as a WR/ST player and also play the role of emergency QB?

[SteelerFanInStl]

James Harrison has been fined $250,000 for that comment. :chuckle:

LOL, no doubt.

[salamander]

I'm all for another "chance" to get Landry Jones off the roster...maybe Gardner can work out as a WR/ST player and also play the role of emergency QB?

Not a bad idea... go with 2 QB's and dump Landry Jones.

[Chidi29]

I know they're being coached as receivers but Murphy or Gardner would be nice scout team QBs. Athletic guys who can mimic those types of QBs the Steelers face. In theory, that could make Jones expendable and open up a spot on the 53.

[katmandu]

I know they're being coached as receivers but Murphy or Gardner would be nice scout team QBs. Athletic guys who can mimic those types of QBs the Steelers face. In theory, that could make Jones expendable and open up a spot on the 53.Would also serve as a fuse to be lit under Laundry's ass to motivate him even more to improve.

[86WARD]

I know they're being coached as receivers but Murphy or Gardner would be nice scout team QBs. Athletic guys who can mimic those types of QBs the Steelers face. In theory, that could make Jones expendable and open up a spot on the 53.

Kind of what my thought was.

[tube517]

He will change his name to Devin Gardner-El

[Craic]

I don't know. I mean, we play the Pats* in the first game. Anyone think this might be a little more about "tell me what you know" than "what can you do for us?" Especially knowing that last time Brady was out, the Pats* picked up another QB who shined, only to plummet once he was on another team.

Huh, I wonder why that happened . . .

[hawaiiansteeler]

Anyone think this might be a little more about "tell me what you know" than "what can you do for us?"

the Steelers brought Gardner in for a pre-draft visit, I think they are intrigued by his potential and what he can do for us...

[steelreserve]

I don't know. I mean, we play the Pats* in the first game. Anyone think this might be a little more about "tell me what you know" than "what can you do for us?" Especially knowing that last time Brady was out, the Pats* picked up another QB who shined, only to plummet once he was on another team.

Huh, I wonder why that happened . . .


I don't think he learned much by being there a couple of weeks when they weren't even practicing. But as I said in the other thread, watch out for the reverse of that. If he goes through part/most of training camp with us and gets cut, I guarantee you he's on the Patriots' Week 1 roster, teaching them our playbook and calling out our signals and audibles.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Could Devin Gardner become the Steelers' new Kordell "Slash" Stewart?

By Bryan DeArdo on May 21, 2015

https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ztkyLCmTXzzT-caELll8deQK7wE=/660x262:3537x2180/500x333/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46368160/usa-today-8359533.0.jpg

At Michigan, Devin Gardner ran, caught, and passed for a slew of touchdowns. Can the Steelers utilize his ability at the next level?

An "X-Factor" can made a good team a great team, and that's something the Steelers could use in 2015.

Newly signed rookie free agent Devin Gardner, who played both wide receiver and quarterback at Michigan, could be the X-Factor the Steelers are looking for.

Two decades ago, a rookie by the name of Kordell Stewart helped ignite a Super Bowl run. Using his versatility as a running back, receiver and quarterback, the Steelers turned Stewart loose and helped catapult Pittsburgh's offense into one of the most dynamic and explosive units in the NFL at that time. Maybe, Gardner can do the same for the Steelers this fall.

Gardner, recently released by the Patriots and quickly signed by Pittsburgh, has many tangibles and intangibles that remind you of the original "Slash". He started 27 games at Michigan, throwing for 6,336 yards and 44 touchdowns. The 6'4'', 216-pound Gardner was also a dangerous runner, amassing 916 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground during his college career. While splitting time at quarterback with Denard Robinson in 2012, Gardner started four games at receiver, catching 16 passes for 266 yards with four touchdowns.

Gardner also proved himself to be a big-game performer during his time with the Wolverines. A year after throwing for 451 yards and four touchdowns against the rival Buckeyes as a junior, Gardner completed 22 of 32 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns this past season against the eventual national champions. In front of a prime time audience against Notre Dame in 2013, Gardner passed for 294 yards, rushed for 82 more and accounted for five touchdowns in Michigan's 41-30 win.

to read rest of article:

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2015/5/21/8633149/could-devin-gardner-become-the-steelers-new-kordell-slash-stewart

[touchdownward]

I like this signing, he reminds of the college Hines Ward........note, I said the college Hines Ward. Ward played several roles at UGA, WR, QB, KR, RB and I believe he even punted a few times. :yup:
Sounds like the kid is an athlete and if coached properly could help us out in different ways.

[86WARD]

2-Point Conversion specialist?

[hawaiiansteeler]

Steelers have two QB-turned-WR projects in Devin Gardner, Tyler Murphy

Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Senior NFL Writer

A natural association when the Steelers snagged Devin Gardner off waivers was Kordell Stewart and Antwaan Randle El, though Steelers.com's Bob Labriola squashed any "Slash" comparisons with Gardner, who's a camp body until proven otherwise.

But it's worth noting that the Steelers have signed two quarterbacks-turned-receivers in Gardner and Boston College's Tyler Murphy, who might have the better chance to make the team.

Murphy wasn't an elite passer at Boston College, but he was electric in the running game, using his 6-foot-2, 213-pound frame to rush for 1,184 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2014. The Florida Gators transfer reportedly runs the 40-yard-dash in the 4.58 to 4.62 range, which is faster than Gardner's 4.65 range.

to read rest of article:

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/13899/three-challenges-for-steelers-ben-roethlisberger-after-signing-99-m-deal