Steelers cut Tommy Maddox

Today the Steelers released QB Tommy Maddox, despite the fact that Maddox had three years remaining on his contract. While his release comes as no surprise (Maddox had a falling out with head coach Bill Cowher after a disastrous performance against Jacksonville this past season), the team's backup quarterback cupboard is now uncomfortably bare, save for starter Ben Roethlisberger. Unless one considers Rod Rutherford anything more than a fourth-stringer (I don't), the Steelers will need to add two more quarterbacks to the roster prior to training camp. One of those QB's could be Charlie Batch, who may be re-signed in free agency. But if Batch goes elsewhere the team will need to look hard for an experienced backup, as Big Ben appears to be a far cry from the second coming of Brett Favre (durability-wise). As I alluded to in an earlier post, the Steelers' third quarterback job is likely to be held by a rookie, probably a second-day draft choice.

In other news, the Steelers also released S Russell Stuvaints and CB Willie Williams. Meanwhile, the team offered a one-year $1.55 million tender to restricted free-agent/starting CB Ike Taylor and restructured the contract of backup RB Duce Staley.