Canadian Suisham joins Steelers
PITTSBURGH - One of the most successful kickers in the NFL has been booted from the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Canadian Shaun Suisham signed to replace him.
Suisham signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on Tuesday after working out earlier in the day for coach Mike Tomlin and director of football operations Kevin Colbert at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field.
He replaces veteran Jeff Reed, who has been the Steelers kicker since 2002 and ranks 12th among the most accurate kickers in NFL history. However, Reed was only able to connect on 15 of 22 field goal attempts this season, which is one fewer miss than he had in 2008 and 2009 combined.
Reed missed a 26-yard attempt in Monday's 39-26 loss to the New England Patriots.
“At this point, we thought it appropriate to make a change,” Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It's not a decision that comes easy. The kicking position merits special consideration because there isn't a backup.”
Suisham, a 28-year-old native of Wallaceburg, Ont., was originally drafted by the Steelers in 2005 out of Bowling Green University. He played with the Dallas Cowboys (2005-06 and 2009) and Washington Redskins (2006, 2009), making 79.1 per cent (87 of 110) of his field goals and 101 of 103 extra points.