Bruce Gradkowski Re-Signs with Steelers: Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced May 2, per Teresa Varley of the team's official website, they re-signed quarterback Bruce Gradkowski to a one-year contract to compete with Landry Jones for the backup role behind Ben Roethlisberger.

On Thursday, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reported the contract is worth $965,000, with $80,000 guaranteed.

Gradkowski shared his thoughts on the signing, per Varley:

"

It's great to be back. I have been here the last three years, I see what we have going on. We are so close. We have the talent. It's exciting. You feel it in the air. This is where I wanted to be. I didn't want to be anywhere else. I just want to win a Super Bowl. I am excited to be back. There are a lot of good guys in the locker room, a great team. You want to stay around that. Anything I can do to help, I will do.

"

Gradkowski missed the entire 2015 campaign after suffering a finger injury, which prompted Pittsburgh to sign Michael Vick. Gradkowski talked about the struggles he faced while sitting out and how he tried to stay involved with the team, per Varley:

"

It was definitely tough. Any time you have an injury you feel helpless. I thank Coach (Mike) Tomlin, Randy (Fichtner) and Todd (Haley) for letting me stay around and be a part of it. I felt like I was able to help during the year. I was like a mini-coach. You want to help the guys, especially the young guys.

"

Jones, who eventually filled in for Vick when the latter suffered a hamstring injury, threw two touchdown passes during a victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

However, Jones did not build on that performance. He played in seven regular-season games last year and appeared in the team's postseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals after Roethlisberger suffered a shoulder injury, but he was a mere 2-of-5 with an interception against the Bengals before a limited Roethlisberger returned to lead the Steelers downfield on their final drive.

Jones, who threw only three touchdown passes and four interceptions during the regular season, didn't do enough to secure the backup spot for 2016, and Rotoworld suggested Gradkowski "should be able to easily beat out" Jones in training camp.

Gradkowski, a former sixth-round draft pick, has played for the Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Bengals in his career.

He hasn't thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 2012 and has more interceptions than touchdowns in his career, but he is a 33-year-old veteran who has been in the league since 2006. He was also serviceable for the Raiders in 2009, with six touchdown throws and only three interceptions:

Season	Team	Games	Passing Attempts	Passing Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
2006	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	13	177-of-328 (54 percent)	1,661	9	9
2007	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4	13-of-24 (54.2 percent)	130	0	1
2008	Cleveland Browns	2	7-of-21 (33.3 percent)	26	0	3
2009	Oakland Raiders	7	82-of-150 (54.7 percent)	1,007	6	3
2010	Oakland Raiders	6	83-of-157 (52.9 percent)	1,059	5	7
2011	Cincinnati Bengals	2	8-of-18 (44.4 percent)	109	1	1
2012	Cincinnati Bengals	2	5-of-11 (45.5 percent)	65	0	0
2014	Pittsburgh Steelers	1	0-of-0	0	0	0

Nathaniel Bodnar of SB Nation's Behind the Steel Curtain previously advocated for Pittsburgh to bring Gradkowski back as a form of insurance in case Roethlisberger suffers another injury in 2016:

"

Gradkowski, when he is healthy, has shown a comfortable vibe while under center. He has been with Pittsburgh since 2013 and is very familiar with Todd Haley's offensive scheme. Landry Jones is going into his final year of his rookie contract and while he has provided somewhat solid performances, his future is slim after the 2016 NFL season.

"

Before going down in the playoffs, Roethlisberger missed four games in the regular season last year. Ideally for the Steelers, they won’t have to worry about who the backup is if Big Ben can stay healthy, but they at least know they have a veteran who spent the entire 2015 campaign on the sidelines familiarizing himself with the offense.