The Pittsburgh Steelers bolstered the offensive line and linebackers corps this offseason, but there’s still a lot to be desired at wide receiver and slot cornerback. Perhaps veteran Anthony Averett, who signed with the Steelers after a tryout at rookie minicamp, could be the answer. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has his doubts, however.
“I don’t think that player is on the roster right now. It could be Cam Sutton. It could be Patrick Peterson. It could be Chandon Sullivan. Or maybe someone who is cut just before the season. They’ll have options,” Fittipaldo wrote in a recent Q&A.
Sutton would be the most ideal signing, given his age and familiarity with the defensive scheme. However, there are serious off the field concerns with him that need to be straightened out before anything occurs.
The 29-year-old cornerback was released by the Detroit Lions amid a lengthy police manhunt after he was charged with domestic assault. The Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff’s department announced on March 20 that they were searching for Sutton. The Lions released him the next day. Sutton turned himself in on March 31.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manger Omar Khan met with Sutton last month. Khan said it was mostly to check up on him, but it seems like a reunion could be on the table.
“You know, we’ll see,” Khan said on WDVE Morning Show. “We did meet with Cam, I think it was a couple weeks ago. It was more than just about the situation here, we just wanna see how he was doing. We spent six years with Cam, and they were a good six years with Cam. It was a good experience, and obviously, he had an opportunity to go to Detroit – had to make a business decision, but we’ll see. I will say this, I do like the depth we have at the position. You know, there’s some young guys in there that are gonna compete and have a lot of traits to be really good nickel corners, and I really like that group. … We’ll see what the future holds.”
Fittipaldo thinks a Sutton reunion is up in the air due to the legal issues, but wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.
“Hard to say because I don’t have all the details the NFL and Steelers might have about his legal situation, but I’ll say 58%,” he wrote.
Sutton will likely face NFL discipline regardless of the result of the legal process. NFL policies do not require someone to be legally found guilty in order for the league’s discipline process to kick in, and the NFL will investigate Sutton concurrently with the courts. If Sutton is found guilty of domestic battery, he likely faces at least a six-game suspension, without pay.
on the roster right now. It could be Cam Sutton. It could be Patrick Peterson. It could be Chandon Sullivan. Or maybe someone who is cut just before the season. They’ll have options,” Fittipaldo wrote in a recent Q&A.
Sutton would be the most ideal signing, given his age and familiarity with the defensive scheme. However, there are serious off the field concerns with him that need to be straightened out before anything occurs.
