By Sean Geddes
Today, the Steelers waived kicker Jeff Reed, and signed Shaun Suisham. Reed is currently 13th all time in field goal percentage and tenth among active kickers, but his misses this year, some in big time situations, combined with his off field antics and recent verbal lashing of fans, all put together signaled the end of the Reed era in Pittsburgh.
I have been a Reed fan, on the field, for many years. His accuracy in a stadium known for tricky swirling winds has been something to marvel at. Opposing kickers, before Sunday night’s game, were making kicks at Heinz at a 77% rate, Reed’s numbers have spoken for themselves.
I was of the opinion that this was Reed’s last year in Pittsburgh anyway, if for nothing else due to his salary aspirations. I did not foresee the Steelers paying any kicker top flight money for the position, especially after that bar was raised in the offseason by the Raiders and Sebastian Janikowski.
Jeff was brought in during the 2002 season, to replace an injured and ineffective Todd Peterson. He was reportedly called in for the tryout while he was milking cows trying to make end’s meat after failing to secure a job during a tryout with New Orleans. Off of the field, Reed has been active in the Pittsburgh area, raising money for multiple charities, as well as being a regular at Pittsburgh Penguins hockey games.
Since his time in Pittsburgh began, Reed has made 81.9% of his field goals. As I already wrote, this is good for tenth most accurate active kicker and 13th most accurate in the history of the league. He has never missed a single post season kick in his career.
In his place the Steelers have signed Shaun Suisham, who I have affectionately called Squeeze-ham since his days in Washington. Over the course of his 5 year career, Shaun has made 79.1% of his kicks attempted. He is 21 of 21 from inside of 30 yards, 21 of 26 from 30-39 yards, 23 of 33 from 40-49 yards and 2 of 6 from 50+ yards out. He has never attempted a kick at Heinz Field as a professional.
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/
Go back to Steelers Fan Spot
Football Fan Spot 