Steelers/NFL
STEELERS SIGN BURRESSPlaxico Burress is officially a Pittsburgh Steeler for the second time, agreeing to a one year deal and he will be wearing No. 80 again, according to the team. Burress is expected to dress Sunday vs the Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers who brought Burress to town last night with the intention of signing him today, came away impressed with the shape Burress is in, and while things can always change, the belief is that the team does not view him as a stop-gap option (1-2 weeks with team) and the intention is for Burress to be with the team for the rest of the season. The coaching staff feels he can help the Steelers, especially in the redzone where the team lacks size at the wide receiver position. The Steelers top-3 receivers (Antonio Brown (5-10), Emmanuel Sanders (5-11) and Mike Wallace (6-0) are all 6-foot-0 or smaller. The Steelers on Sunday will be without Jerricho Cotchery (multiple rib fractures) and likely Antonio Brown (ankle).
Burress (6-5, 232) spent the first five years of his career (2000-04) with the Steelers after Pittsburgh drafted him with the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. He spent the 2011 season with the New York Jets after being out of football in 2009-10. Last season, Burress started 13-of-16 games for New York and registered 45 receptions for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Prior to joining the Jets, Burress played for the New York Giants from 2005-08. Overall, Burress has 550 receptions for 8,457 yards and 63 touchdowns. Burress started all 12 postseason games during his career and registered 46 receptions for 688 yards and six touchdowns. Burress will wear No. 80.
The Steelers also signed QB Brian Hoyer to a one year deal. Hoyer will be Charlie Batch’s backup vs the Browns. Hoyer was Tom Brady’s primary backup in 2011.
To make room for Burress, the Steelers released linebacker Marshall McFadden and running back Baron Batch. The release of Batch is somewhat of a surprise move.
