Any teams looking for a quality backup running back, especially one with starting experience, can thank the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh cut Najeh Davenport, who started for the Steelers at the end of last season in the wake of Willie Parker’s injury. Davenport looked like a keeper during the Week 15 game at St. Louis last season when he rushed for 123 yards and caught a 32-yard pass on a fake punt. But he was held to 25 yards on 16 carries in a 31-29 wild-card playoff loss to Jacksonville after gaining 27 yards on 12 attempts in a season-ending loss at Baltimore.
Davenport set career highs in 2007 in carries (107), rushing yards (499) and rushing touchdowns (five). He also caught 18 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Parker is healthy and the Steelers drafted Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall in the first round this year to go with free agent signee Mewelde Moore. Mendenhall will be the No. 2 back, and Moore can fill the third-down and returner role that Davenport likely would have been reduced to this season. That left the former Miami Hurricane and his $1 million cap number hit expendable, although the team did try to trade him.
The Steelers also did not want to part with Gary Russell, a second-year free agent whom the coaches think can develop into a top-notch NFL running back.
In two seasons with the Steelers, Davenport rushed for 763 yards and seven touchdowns on 175 carries and caught 33 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns.
In April, Davenport was acquitted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Cleveland Municipal Court. He was accused of slapping and punching the mother of his 5-year-old son at her Cleveland home in October. Hard to say whether that played any role in the team’s decision.
It’s possible the Steelers may have some interest in free agent running back Kevin Jones. The former Detroit Lion had knee surgery in January, and his prognosis was 10 months of rehabilitation, although he held a private workout last week for four teams, including Pittsburgh.
