The Steelers announced a few personnel moves this morning, the most noteworthy being the release of WR Limas Sweed, the team’s 2nd round draft pick in 2008.
Most fans, myself included, had high hopes for Sweed after watching him star at Texas and seeing the rare combination of size and speed he possessed. But his NFL career took harrowing turn after harrowing turn.
He struggled to catch the ball throughout his Steeler career, most notably a big drop at the end of the first half of the 2008 AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens. Sweed also struggled mentally, maybe a by-product of his on-the-field struggles.
Still, he was said to have a new outlook and to be in great shape entering the 2010 offseason. He even changed his number to 80. But Sweed tore his left Achilles tendon during OTAs in May and missed the entire 2010 year.
2011 was, as Ed Bouchette put it, “Last Chance Hotel” for Limas Sweed in Pittsburgh. He was banged up a bit throughout camp, but the real reason he has been released from the Steelers has more to do with what the other receivers have done than what Sweed has done or not done.
The emergence of Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders the last two years coupled with Tyler Grisham’s solid camp and the signing of Jerricho Cotchery have made Sweed very expendable.
Limas Sweed’s career in Pittsburgh was frustrating to watch. Hopefully another team signs him and he’s able to figure things out because he’s still young and it’s never fun to watch a once-promising player’s career completely implode.
Best of luck to him in the future.
