Batch proves he isn’t washed up

Batch proves he isn’t washed up

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Charlie Batch was convinced he could still do the job. He just didn’t know if he would have one.

A forgotten man on his own team, the 35-year-old quarterback was virtually ignored by the Steelers after Ben Roethlisberger became tangled in his off-field problems last spring. They traded for Byron Leftwich to take over Batch’s former job as backup, then relegated Batch to No. 4 on the depth chart behind the inexperienced Dennis Dixon, who had started only one NFL game.

Rather than complain about being shuffled off to a clipboard-carrying role, Batch didn’t request a trade. He didn’t demand an explanation about why his loyalty to the hometown team was being disregarded. He didn’t ask why the Steelers couldn’t find snaps for him even during training camp practices.

Good thing for the Steelers that Batch refused to go away, because a team that seemingly had too many quarterbacks found itself down to one healthy one last week. And that was the man they had all but refused to play.

Batch, starting only because of knee injuries to Leftwich and Dixon, ignored his own franchise’s lack of faith in him by playing with the polished poise of an athlete who isn’t overwhelmed by the situation or the opponent. Shaking off an interception on his first attempt, Batch completed 12 of 17 passes for 186 yards and his first three touchdowns since 2007 in leading the Steelers (3-0) to a 38-13 victory at Tampa Bay.

“I dealt with the situation I was dealt, so there was really nothing I could control, really no reason to complain,” Batch said. “It was a matter of seeing how things played out.”

Until Sunday, he had thrown only two passes since the final game in 2007, yet he performed as if he had been starting all season with touchdown throws of 46 and 41 yards to Mike Wallace and 9 yards to Hines Ward.