Pittsburgh Steelers Address Need With Jerricho Cotchery
By Matt Shetler
by Matt Shetler
A day before their 2011 preseason opener, the Pittsburgh Steelers addressed one of their biggest needs by coming to terms with former New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery.
The injury to second year receiver Emmanual Sanders thinned out an already thin unit that was desperately in need of adding some depth to the position. adding a body was one thing but adding a veteran such as Cotchery is a bonus for the black and gold.
The seven-year veteran is coming off of his worst season in some time and was released by the Jets last week, but with the way Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spreads the football around, Cotchery should be in a position to put up some decent numbers.
Cotchery has 358 career receptions, but caught just 41 passes in 14 games in 2010, his lowest reception total since he became a starter in 2006.
The Steelers were in the market for a bigger receiver, but after failing to sign Plaxico Burress they turned their attention to Cotchery. Though he stands only 6-foot-1, Cotchery is now the tallest receiver currently in camp.
Currently with Mike Wallace and Hines Ward pencilled in as the starters and second-year pro Antonio Brown off to a good start in camp, Cotchery will have to catch up quick to earn playing time.
Cotchery won’t play in the Steelers preseason opener against Washington on Friday and will join his new teammates in camp on Sunday.
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