If the Steelers had any doubts about keeping Charlie Batch on their team before Thursday night, the quarterback from Homestead dispelled them. Batch will stay as the No. 3 quarterback and the Steelers will release Brian St. Pierre today.
Also, Mike Schneck, the team's long snapper the past six seasons, will be cut today in favor of rookie Greg Warren. Linebacker Alonzo Jackson was told that he will be released today, and it appears that rookie fourth-round draft pick Fred Gibson will be waived.
Jackson was a second-round draft pick in 2003. Gibson's release should open the door for undrafted rookie wide receiver Nate Washington to make the club. Washington led the Steelers in the preseason with 108 yards and tied Sean Morey for the team lead with eight receptions.
The Steelers announced only six cuts yesterday and, while St. Pierre and Schneck were not among them, they were told that if the team cannot trade them today, they will be released. Each team must reduce its roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. today.
St. Pierre told club officials he would refuse to go on the practice squad, which is where he spent portions of last season. Whether that had an effect on their decision is unknown.
"They knew my feeling about the practice squad, that wasn't going to happen one way or the other," St. Pierre said. "I'm looking for a fresh start somewhere, get on with my career. It wasn't going anywhere here."
St. Pierre entered a unique situation in training camp where the starting quarterback was the NFL rookie of the year in 2004 and behind him were Batch and Tommy Maddox, two proven former NFL starters.
"I just want to get an opportunity," said St. Pierre, who did not play Thursday against the Carolina Panthers in the final preseason game. "I was in a situation not many people could be in. I didn't get much of a chance in games to show much."
St. Pierre was a fifth-round draft choice from Boston College in 2003. Schneck, who also served as the team's NFL Players Association representative, made the club as an undrafted rookie in 1999 from Wisconsin.
Club officials have tried to find a replacement for Schneck the past few years because his minimum salary level keeps rising and they could find someone cheaper. Schneck's expertise as a long-snapper always won out -- until now.
"He won't be out of work long," proclaimed agent Paul Sheehy, who said Schneck was told about the decision before Thursday night's game.
Schneck was scheduled to earn the minimum $540,000 salary as a pro with six years of experience. He will still count $42,500 against the Steelers' salary cap because of a $85,000 signing bonus he received last year. Warren will make the rookie minimum of $230,000.
Warren handled all the long-snapping chores Thursday night in Carolina and Schneck did not play. Warren is a 6-foot-3, 252-pound player who performed his specialty at North Carolina the past four years, making the team as a walk-on and earning a scholarship his final two seasons. He was kicker Jeff Reed's snapper in 2001 with the Tar Heels.
Batch, who spent last season on injured reserve with a knee injury and has thrown eight passes in his three years with the Steelers, played nearly three quarters Thursday night in Carolina. He led the offense on two touchdown drives -- two more than the first team produced all summer -- which included a 45-yard touchdown pass to Sean Morey with 1:35 to beat Carolina, 21-17.
Batch was 16 of 29 for 182 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a 71.3 passer rating in Carolina, his most extensive play with the Steelers in any game. He led the team with a 74.0 passer rating in the exhibition games. He and St. Pierre were the only quarterbacks to throw a touchdown pass.
The Steelers officially announced the release of six players, all rookies or first-year players with little or no NFL experience: punter Mike Barr, offensive tackle Ulish Booker, wide receiver Chris Collins, running back John Kuhn, cornerback Janssen Patton and linebacker Ronald Stanley.
They must make 12 more moves by 6 p.m.
NOTES -- Coach Bill Cowher declared wide receiver Lee Mays' hamstring injury "significant." ... Rookie Noah Herron led the Steelers with 149 yards rushing but had only a 2.9-yard average.
First Published: September 3, 2005, 4:00 a.m.
