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Steelers sign tight end Battaglia; close to deal with Cushing
Neither has caught more than 14 passes in a season. Starting tight end Jerame Tuman caught nine passes for 89 yards last season.
Battaglia agreed to a one-year deal worth $655,000 with no signing bonus. He is attempting a return to football after sitting out all of last season. Cushing, an unrestricted free agent who's spent his entire career with the Steelers, is expected to have a deal finalized possibly as soon as today.
By securing the two tight ends, the Steelers added depth to a position that was in need of bodies after Jay Riemersma was released prior to the free-agency period.
Their remaining unrestricted free agents are quarterback Charlie Batch, safety Ainsley Battles and tight end Walter Rasby. The Steelers have signed four of their 12 unrestricted free agents thus far, with five signing elsewhere.
Battaglia, 32, is no stranger to Pittsburgh. The former Rutgers standout was signed in 2002 after Mark Bruener was placed on the reserve/injured list following knee surgery. He played in one game in his only season with the Steelers and did not catch a pass.
In his eight-year career, Battaglia has 71 receptions for 660 yards with two touchdowns in 96 games, including 11 starts. He was drafted in the second round by the Bengals in 1996 and played five-plus seasons in Cincinnati before being released and signing with the Washington Redskins. He also had stops in Tampa Bay and Carolina, where he played in 2003.
Cushing, 29, has been released three different times by the Steelers, but always finds his way back to the roster. His versatility as a special teams player and an emergency fullback makes him appealing to the organization.
Because he can be used at fullback, it enables the Steelers to keep an extra tailback. Cushing backs up Dan Krieder at the fullback spot.
Cushing had one reception for 17 yards last season, pushing his career totals to 13 for 91 yards with a touchdown.
