Pittsburgh Steelers Sign WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
By Kim Myers
Oct 20, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (81) during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
If you thought the Steelers were done with free agency you were wrong. Between Tuesday and Wednesday the Steelers have added two more players to their roster, this time with the signing of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Darrius Heyward-Bey was drafted as the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders out of the University of Maryland. Being drafted by the Raiders at that point meant he obviously had a fast 40-yard dash time, of 4.30 seconds. He never really lived up to expectations with the Raiders with his best season coming in 2011 where he recorded 975 receiving yards on 64 receptions with 4 touchdowns. He also averaged 15.2 yards per catch that year. Heyward-Bey was cut after the 2012 season and last year signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts, starting 11 games for them and recording 29 receptions for 309 yards.
The Steelers lost two of their three starting wide receivers when Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery signed elsewhere as free agents. In response they’ve signed Lance Moore and now Darrius Heyward-Bey. I don’t think that these signings will in anyway rule out the drafting of any wide receivers next month either.
Heyward-Bey meets the need of a tall wide receiver that many of Steeler Nation have been hoping for as he’s 6’2” and 219lbs. Still though, I don’t doubt the Steelers will still be after tall wide receivers in the draft, you can’t go wrong with adding more receivers.
What’s funny to me is how the Steelers can keep signing players and I was sure they were at the salary cap, if not just slightly under it. The financial terms of Heyward-Bey’s contract were not announced yet.
What are your thoughts, Steeler Nation? Do you like this free agent signing of Darrius Heyward-Bey?
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