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Batch set, ready for challenge
Jerry DiPaola is the Tribune-Review high school sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail.
Charlie Batch sat back and watched those proceedings from the security of the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, and he believes there's a chance he can make history repeat itself.
There's no contest to determine who worked harder in the offseason -- both quarterbacks appear to be appropriately diligent -- but Batch plans to get significant playing time during the regular season.
His goal: To change coach Bill Cowher's mind about maintaining Maddox's status as the starter.
"At some point, I do plan on playing," Batch said.
Batch, a student of the game, realizes that backup quarterbacks are among the most important members of the team.
"There aren't a lot of quarterbacks who start the year and finish the year without missing a game," he said. "It's rare."
How rare?
NFL research shows that 19 of 32 teams had to ask their second-string quarterback to start at least one game last season. Only four starting quarterbacks -- David Carr of the Houston Texans, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders -- threw every pass for their team.
"You have to be ready," Batch said.
Batch said he is more excited and better prepared this season to run the offense than he was a year ago, when he didn't sign with the Steelers until after minicamp. This year, he has been with the team throughout spring drills, feels much more comfortable under center and knows the offense about as well as Maddox.
"It has made everything a lot easier and eliminated a lot of the thinking," he said.
The Steelers have another unique situation at quarterback this season with two players with NFL starting success. Last year, it was three, but Stewart was released in February and eventually signed with the Chicago Bears.
But just like Stewart must look over his shoulder at Bears No. 1 draft pick Rex Grossman, Maddox can be replaced by Batch -- either through injury or ineffectiveness.
In fact, Batch has a greater, longer history of starting success in the NFL. Although he hasn't thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2001, he has 9,016 passing yards and 49 touchdowns to Maddox's 3,938 and 27.
Cowher proved that he is not reluctant to change quarterbacks early in the season when he benched Stewart, the 2001 team MVP, after only three games in 2002. With exceedingly high expectations for his team, Cowher was not content to let the season slip away because of sub-par play at quarterback. He may be just as impatient this season.
"That may have been the case," Batch said. "But you try not to think about that situation by saying a guy is not going to play well. (But) any scenario is possible. You never know."
Cowher's decision will have nothing to do with each player's contract. Although it is strange that Batch makes more money than Maddox, it's a minimal difference ($275,000) and it's not unprecedented in NFL history.
Batch started with the Detroit Lions in 1998 and 1999, while backups Scott Mitchell, Frank Reich and Gus Frerotte were cashing bigger paychecks. Batch said he was OK with that.
Batch was playing under the terms of his rookie contract -- he was a second-round draft pick -- and didn't feel he had earned the right to re-work his deal.
"I was stuck in a situation there was no sense complaining about," he said. "I was on a rookie deal. I wasn't in a situation to ask for more money. I didn't push the issue."
Batch, who gets along well with Maddox, said they never speak to each other about their contracts -- not even in casual, light-hearted conversation.
"You mess around about anything else, but you don't talk about money," Batch said. "You don't worry about what is going on with somebody else's money. We're all getting paid by the same guy, so you never talk about money."
