Steelers Position Battle No. 3: Charlie Batch Vs. Dennis Dixon

The backup quarterback, as the cliché says, is the most loved player on an NFL team. While Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, and a few other Steelers might want to dispute that cliché, there are two players on the roster hoping to live it. Veteran Charlie Batch has lived that for the last seven seasons, and while last year was spent on injured reserve—he has proven that his cerebral strengths make him a valuable puzzle piece to a Super Bowl squad. As ESPN’s Seth Wickersham discusses in a column from April 6, " The real value of backup quarterbacks lie not only in their ability to step into the game at the drop of a hat and play consistent football, but also in their role as part player, part coach on the sidelines. " Batch has been the definition of what a second-string quarterback should be. Consistent, smart, and willing to do whatever he can to help the team. While no one doubts Charlie’s importance to the team as sideline asset, the fans are ... (link)