CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Steelers have released long time kicker Jeff Reed and have signed free agent Shaun Suisham as a replacement.
Suisham in the past four seasons has made 81 of 110 field goals for an 80.1 success rate. However, Suisham has bounced around between teams in the same time and has yet to find a home.
Reed has long been public that he was not happy with his current contract, which pays him 2.8 million this season, and has been upset with the way fans and media has been treating him this season.
Meanwhile the two-time NFL champion kicker has struggled on the field missing 7 kicks in the last 22 attempts. Reed has as many misses this season as he had in 2008 and 2009 combined and has largely been criticized for missing two key field goals against the Cincinnati Bangles and New Orland Saints that has cost the Steelers one game and nearly another.
Reeds long history with the Steelers, which goes back to 2002, has also been marred by recent off the field incidents at Pittsburgh nightclubs, however the Steelers did not cite this a reason for cutting him.
Reed’s career kicking percentage is currently 81.9 percent, but his percent this season, 68.2, is a career low.
Reed is now free to sign with any team and can still collect the money left on his contract
