Remember when the Steelers drafted Texas WR Limas Sweed back in 2008? He came with high regard, taken in the 2nd round (22nd pick), and was supposed to be a big play guy that with his size, 6-4, 220 pounds, could provide the Steelers with a wide out that could get behind the secondary.
Instead, his Steelers career came to an end on Wednesday, as the wide receiver was waived, just three seasons into what could have been a great NFL career. It was a career that could be summed up in just one word – drops.
Sweed will always be remembered for two monster drops in his career, one of which directly lost the team a game back in week three of the 2009 season. The first drop came in the 2008 AFC Title game vs the Ravens, but the team overcame it to win 23-14 and advance to Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII.
The one that I will always remember even better took place in Cincy in week three of the 09 season, as with the Steelers winning and looking for a knockout blow, Sweed dropped a pass in the end zone that would have put the game out of reach. Instead, Jeff Reed ended up missing a 52-yard field goal to end the drive, and eventually Cincy rallied for a 23-20 win.
The Steelers held out hope for Sweed, but eventually their patience wore thin when he was placed on the IR with an undisclosed injury. Then last year he tore his left Achilles tendon in mini-camp.
He’ll likely go unclaimed, and end up on the Steelers reserve list, but don’t expect him to ever make a big Steeler comeback. A draft pick wasted, Sweed had a career 7 catches for the Steelers in three seasons. Ouch.
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Steel Q
August 17, 2011 at 11:53 pm
we should’ve cut gay ass too.
The Tony
August 18, 2011 at 7:41 am
We really needed to address our secondary in the offseason. Last season it was blatantly obvious that if the pass rush didn’t reach the quarterback, then one of our backs was going to get burned. The moment that Prince Amukamara (albeit now he is injured) fell in the draft the Steelers needed to make a move and bring him to the Steel City. Even now in the preseason the Steelers should still attempt to trade for a solidified cornerback. Why not make a push to try and get Asante Samuel? Granted his contract might damper this idea, however it’s still worth a try because this is going to be a long season in our secondary
mark
August 18, 2011 at 9:04 am
Does anyone remember the drop he had against the Chargers in the Divisional round of 2008-09? Leftwich was mopping up and delivered a frozen rope to a wide open Sweed down the sideline. Hit him right in the numbers, in stride! Yup, he dropped it. The following week, he dropped another TD against the Ravens, and of course the drop that realistically kept the Steelers from the post season happened the following year against the Bengals. I always remember that drop in the Charger playoff game because it would have been his 1st career TD and maybe things would have changed for him? The following weeks drop was more significant, but the drop against the Chargers can now be looked at as “an omen”!
Who remembers that drop against the Chargers?
SBSteelers
August 19, 2011 at 1:46 am
Who? Sweed should have tried to become a safety. At least dropping a pass is more acceptable on the D side than at the receiving end. And he had drops down to an art form.