Landry Jones will continue to be Ben Roethlisberger‘s backup. The Steelers announced that they have signed the backup quarterback to a two-year deal.
The 2013 fourth-round pick didn’t take the field during his first two years in the league, but he saw action in 15 games (four starts) over the past two campaigns. Jones has completed 60.3-percent of his career passes for 1,071 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions.
“He has a very good understanding of our offense,” coach Mike Tomlin said last season (via the Steelers website). “He is a good communicator. It’s part of the functions of being a backup quarterback, the talking of schematics and the seeing of what is on the field and the communicating of such. He has grown in a lot of ways in that area in the last several years.”
Earlier this offseason, general manager Kevin Colbert acknowledged that the team would like to keep Jones in Pittsburgh, but he added that the team could also look to bring in some competition behind Big Ben. There could be some pressure surrounding the team’s search for a future starter, as there were rumors surrounding a potential Roethlisberger retirement earlier this offseason.
Ugh
My feelings exactly.
And what is your alternative?
The draft, RGIII, Manziel…the reanimated skeleton of Kenny Stabler.
Good decision… Landry knows the system and is a capable back up
I agree wholeheartedly.
Knows the system maybe, capable backup? I guess he can hand the ball to Bell pretty good.
Why?
Charlie Batch knows the system, too. Who cares if the guy can’t play?
Ben misses 3-4 games every year. Not having a real backup is absurd.
Is he still active? There’s no way he is… right?
Josh…And where do you suppose we find this “real” backup? Half the teams in the NFL have glorified backups starting. And, it is a really weak draft. This is a solid move.
Sell a guy like Nick Foles on the idea of playing those 3-4 games Ben misses for a year or two and becoming the next Mike Glennon while drafting a “roll the dice and see what happens” QB.
There are guys out there who have talent but need to learn from Ben to find themselves. People will laugh, but I probably would try out Osweiler if the Browns cut him over Landry. If Ben left, going from him to Landry would be like going from Bradshaw to Cliff Stoudt