Big Lead Sports Bar

11/23/2009

STEELERS TO SIGN TYLER PALKO



Mike Prisuta of the WDVE Morning Show and SteelCityInsider.com is reporting that the Steelers will sign QB Tyler Palko to the practice squad, according to the Twitter page of Jim Wexell.

Palko, a 26-year-old graduate of West Allegheny HS and Pitt, has yet to find a long-term home in the NFL since entering the league in 2007 as an undrafted free agent. He originally joined the New Orleans Saints in '07 and ping-ponged between their active roster and practice squad during his rookie season. He was among the Saints' final cuts in 2008, and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in December of that season. Once again, Palko was waived in the Cardinals' final cut of 2009.

Most recently, Palko was with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, who added him to their active roster on November 2. Because of the CFL procedures involved, the Palko move is expected to be made official on Wednesday, says Prisuta via Wexell.

Ironically, Palko will be a member of the Steeler organization while his former backup, Joe Flacco, will be starting opposite the Steelers on Sunday. Palko was famously chosen over Flacco in 2005 by Dave Wannstedt, causing Flacco to transfer to I-AA Delaware. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The signing is a low-risk, precautionary move by the Steelers, with Ben Roethlisberger expected to play against the Ravens on Sunday. The backup position has the largely untested Dennis Dixon as the only other healthy quarterback on the roster, so apparently the team feels that signing Palko to the practice squad will sufficiently fill their backup needs at this time. And I hope for Roethlisberger's sake that he really is OK to play, because this is certainly an opponent that will not hesitate to give his noggin an extra shot or two. Or 10.

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2 comments:

MJ said...

Might be true, but it also sounds like a ridiculous game of journalistic telephone.

HomeRunFromBehindTheMeatballs said...

If it is true, then the steelers will have the best F'n practice squad around!