Steelers/NFL
The Steelers search for a new place kicker is not just a ploy, according to multiple team sources. A team source described ownership as being “disgusted” with Reed’s act and are prepared to cut ties with the Steelers long-time kicker.
In the end, cooler heads could prevail but that appears doubtful the Steelers were doing their due diligence on potential replacements.
Kicker Shaun Suisham is currently one of three kickers the Steelers have scheduled for workouts on Tuesday morning and Tuesday afternoon.
Suisham is scheduled to workout for the Steelers at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning and he also has a scheduled visit with the Cincinatti Bengals, but will be visiting the Steelers first, according to a league source.
Suisham was signed by the Steelers in 2005 as an undrafted rookie but was released that year in training camp.
Former Steelers camp invite, Piotr Czech, may also be on the Steelers radar for a tryout but calls to his agent were not returned on Monday evening to confirm any interest from the Steelers.
The one kicker the Steelers brass appear to have a strong interest in is 42 year old kicker Matt Stover.
Stover, 42, is a career 83.7% kicker in 20 NFL seasons.
Most importantly to the Steelers is that Stover has a strong familiarity with Heinz Field, appearing in 10 games with the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field from 2001-2008.
Since the 2005 season, Stover is 8 of 9 on field goals at heinz field over the course of five games.
The Steelers had several discussions with Stover’s agent today, Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned . Stover is also being courted by the Cincinnati Bengals but first eyes a potential opportunity with the Steelers.
What the Steelers will want to see is what Stover has left in him. In 10 regular season games with the Indianapolis Colts last season, Stover was 9 of 11 on the season and 2 of 2 from 40-49 yard range.
In the playoffs, Stover was 6 of 7 on field goals for Indianapolis.
From talking with agents this evening of free agent kickers the Steelers have spoken with, the sense is that the Steelers are bringing candidates in for a legitimate look and not just for show.
If the Steelers decide to cut Reed, they will be a week to late on former Bengals kicker Shayne Graham, who signed with the New England Patriots last week. The Steelers are high on Graham who kicked for New England in the Patriots 39-26 win against Pittsburgh.
