Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch was a guest Thursday on 93.7 The Fan to talk about his playing future and the upcoming Super Bowl. During the interview Batch was first reminded of the Steelers turnover last offseason that included the exits of Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, Jame Farrior and Chris Hoke before being asked if he still wants to play next season in Pittsburgh, and more importantly, if he thinks that he will be back.
“I definitely want to play another year,” Batch said. “The body feels fresh in order to do that and this time of year you have a sense one way or another to know. When you talk about changes, you have to expect changes, because the names that you mentioned, we went 12-4 and that happened. And here you are sitting here 8-8 and you\’re just like, what the heck? So you know at some point they\’re going to do that, but right now, I don’t know what’s going to happen. You have to figure at some point changes will be made, because they were made previous times before and the expectation levels are very high in Pittsburgh, and not making the playoffs won’t be tolerated by the Rooneys much longer.”
Batch was next asked how his exit meetings went with the Steelers following the season and if he got any sense that he was still wanted.
“They didn\’t say they didn\’t want me back,” said Batch. “So I kind of feel good a little bit walking out of that door, but you just don\’t know how they\’re kind of go about the process. You have Byron. You have myself. Is there going to be a young guy in the mix? You just don\’t know, but I\’m sure at some point that will happen. For me, I just have to continue to be ready, and hopefully if they want me back, Id be more than happy to come back.”
Batch, like Byron Leftwich, is once again an unrestricted free agent and unlikely to get any attention on the free agent market at the age of 38. Despite beginning the 2012 season as the third string quarterback, Batch overtook Leftwich on the depth chart following him beating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13. The Steelers most definitely will add a younger arm this offseason via the draft or free agency, but there is an outside shot that he could return for one final season.
Ultimately the decision most likely won\’t be made on Batch until way after the draft and free agency take place. Last year he was re-signed 10 days before the draft took place, but it would be very surprising if he is re-signed that early this offseason.
