Bruce Gradkowski returns to Steelers

[RuthlessBurgher]

By Mike Florio
May 1, 2016, 9:12 PM EDT
Bruce Gradkowski returns to Steelers

At a time when some quarterbacks are grandstanding because they haven’t been handed a starting job with an open-ended guarantee that they’ll keep it, another guy keeps plugging away, embracing on a year-to-year basis the chance to compete for a job.

PFT has confirmed that veteran quarterback Bruce Gradkowski will sign a one-year contract on Monday with the Steelers.

The 33-year-old Pittsburgh native entered the league in 2006 as a sixth-round draft choice of the Buccaneers. He has played for the Bucs (starting 11 games as a rookie), the Browns, the Raiders, the Bengals ant the Steelers.

A finger injury suffered last August landed Gradkowski on injured reserve, opening the door for the signing of Mike Vick. Gradkowski will compete with fourth-year veteran Landry Jones for the No. 2 spot behind Ben Roethlisberger.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Good move.

[phillyesq]

Very solid. If healthy, I'd be fine going into the season with Gradkowski and Jones behind Ben. I would have preferred Hoyer, but he signed with the Bears.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Very solid. If healthy, I'd be fine going into the season with Gradkowski and Jones behind Ben. I would have preferred Hoyer, but he signed with the Bears.

Hoyer already passed through here once very briefly. I like Gradkowski when he's healthy. He's also willing to stay in Pittsburgh for a reduced rate than he might get elsewhere because he's a local guy (a la Charlie Batch). I like that he stayed involved all last year talking to Ben on the sidelines as if he were another coach out there.

[Moonie]

Anything that increases the chances that Landry Jones never touches the ball is a PLUS (+) for the Steelers.

[phillyesq]

Hoyer already passed through here once very briefly. I like Gradkowski when he's healthy. He's also willing to stay in Pittsburgh for a reduced rate than he might get elsewhere because he's a local guy (a la Charlie Batch). I like that he stayed involved all last year talking to Ben on the sidelines as if he were another coach out there.

I remember hearing often after his brief stop here that the Steelers regretted letting him go. I'm sure part of it is money. If Gradkowski is healthy, I'm fine with him as well - I just wonder about the health after last year.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

not exactly a ringing endorsement for landry

while you cant really call that pick a failure, it certainly hasn't worked out as some wanted you to believe and remains one of the more boneheaded picks of the last few drafts, imo

[The Man of Steel]

Hoyer already passed through here once very briefly. I like Gradkowski when he's healthy. He's also willing to stay in Pittsburgh for a reduced rate than he might get elsewhere because he's a local guy (a la Charlie Batch). I like that he stayed involved all last year talking to Ben on the sidelines as if he were another coach out there.

The Gradkowski-Batch comparison is a good one. Although Grad gets injured a lot I would still be ok with him finishing out his career with the Steelers just like Batch.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I just realized that this will be Gradkowski's 4th season with the Steelers, and he still has not thrown a pass while wearing black and gold during a game that actually counts in the standings. His first year in Pittsburgh was 2013, and he never got into a regular season game. His second year in Pittsburgh was 2014, and he has taken a knee twice. Then he spend the 2015 season with us on I.R. That's it. He's thrown for over 4000 yards with other teams, but only those -2 rushing yards for us.

[feltdizz]

not exactly a ringing endorsement for landry

while you cant really call that pick a failure, it certainly hasn't worked out as some wanted you to believe and remains one of the more boneheaded picks of the last few drafts, imo

not boneheaded at all IMO. We have seen the good bad and ugly but also have seen him come thru in 1 or 2 games in relief.