Pittsburgh Steelers sign kicker Shaun Suisham after cutting Jeff Reed
Not long after working out with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time, kicker Shaun Suisham has agreed to a one-year deal and will step in and replace Jeff Reed as the team's kicker.
Suisham had previously been in the Steelers' training camp back in 2005 but was cut before joining the Dallas Cowboys and eventually settling in as the kicker for the Washington Redskins for just over three seasons. Suisham had most recently been trying
out with the Detroit Lions who had been looking to replace the injured Jason Hanson, but the Lions opted to go with Dave Rayner instead.
"It's unlike other positions where you can simply bench someone and go to their backup,'' coach Mike Tomlin told reporters when asked to comment on the situation. "There's only one kicker on a football team, so you don't make a decision lightly when you have
to make a move. We're very respectful of the cumulative body of work by Jeff here, but at this time we felt it was appropriate to make a change.''
Reed, whose off-field incidents had been tolerated in Pittsburgh because of his kicking accuracy, most recently came under fire after missing a 26-yard chip shot in the Steelers' most recent loss to the New England Patriots. The Steelers have not stated that
any of Reed's off-field incidents factored in their decision to release him.
Ironically, it was Suisham's 23-yard missed field goal against the New Orleans Saints which led to his own release by the Washington Redskins last season.
"He's no stranger to the elements and things that are critical components of kicking for us,'' Tomlin said of Suisham.
After being released by the Redskins, Suisham was picked up by the Cowboys as a replacement for Nick Folk. He missed two field goals in the divisional play-off game against the Minnesota Vikings and the Cowboys opted not to re-sign him. He has subsequently
been cut by the Cleveland Browns and the St. Louis Rams after short stints with each team.
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