Based on Colbert’s Comments 2013 Will be Ben Roethlisberger’s First Year Without Charlie Batch on the Sidelines

Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert after drafting Oklahoma quarterback in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft today said that they are comfortable with the four quarterbacks currently on the roster. That means Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich are not expected to be back in 2013. That also means for the first time in his NFL career Ben Roethlisberger will not have Batch on the sideline. When Roethlisberger was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft he was supposed to sit behind Tommy Maddox for a year and then become the starter. However, an injury to Maddox pushed Roethlisberger into the starting role and Charlie Batch was his back-up with Maddox out injured. That one-two on the quarterback depth chart has been a mainstay over the past nine years, but it looks like it will end heading into the 2013 season. Charlie Batch is unlikely to take another job in the NFL and that means that it may be time for the fifteen year veteran quarterback to hang em up. The Steelers signed Bruce Gradkowski to be Roethlisberger’s back-up for next season and many expected Batch back as the Steelers third quarterback next season, but after drafting Jones there is no more room for another quarterback on the roster. The Steelers also signed John Parker-Wilson this off-season, but unless he blows the coaching staff away he will be nothing, but a camp arm heading into the 2013 season. After spending a fourth round pick on Jones there is almost no chance that he doesn’t make the Steelers 53-man roster and that means for the first time in his career Roethlisberger will be the mentor at the quarterback position. Colbert and Tomlin said it’s not up to Ben to mentor Landry Jones, but he will be [...]