Davenport Gone After Team Can’t Trade Him

The Steelers spent the past few days according to reports trying to shop around running back Najeh Davenport, but after finding no takers the team has decided to release the running back and move on.  Davenport was not a big part of the Steelers plans in 2008 after the team spent a first-round draft pick on RB Rashard Mendenhall.  Many felt that Davenport was on borrowed time after that pick.

Davenport became the feature back in the Steelers offense last season when Willie Parker went down with a fractured leg during their week 16 win at St.Louis.  He carried the load for the teams playoff loss vs the Jaguars during wild card weekend, and during last season set career highs with 107 carries for 499 yards (4.7 per carry) and five scores.

The team has enough confidence that Parker is going to be close to 100 percent once opening day rolls around, and that Mendenhall is going to be able to carry the load as his backup.  Davenport will find work somewhere in the league in 2008, with teams like the Lions, Cardinals, Eagles and Bears still searching for backs to fill voids on their teams.