Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Cam Sutton is facing a challenging situation following his entanglement with the law. Sutton has been charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic battery, leading to his release from the Detroit Lions, merely a year after signing a lucrative three-year, $33 million deal with the team.
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Former Steelers CB Cam Sutton during player introductions.
Dejan Kovacevic discussed Sutton's predicament on his DK’s Daily Shot of Steelers show on Tuesday, exploring the possibility of the Steelers re-signing Sutton.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in all of this. Except for one thing and I know this to be true. There is a bond between the Steelers and this player [Cam Sutton] and vice versa. I am told, and you’ll recall that I was the one who broke this story early last fall, the real reason Cam signed with the Lions was because he wanted to be closer to his daughters who were living in Detroit.”
Kovacevic noted that Sutton and the mother of his children were experiencing significant discord. Additionally, during Sutton's meeting with the Steelers to discuss his departure and the circumstances surrounding it, he was visibly emotional, shedding tears.
“This whole month, including fleeing the police and whatever else has been hard-hitting news to these players who know him and love him. Would they accept him back? Yes, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. They would accept him back.”
Sutton is currently a free agent, making himself available to any team willing to take on his baggage. At 29 years old, his price tag is likely to be significantly reduced. Kovacevic expresses strong conviction that Sutton's former teammates who know and appreciate him would welcome his return. He also provides insight into how the coaching staff might respond, emphasizing that his assessment is solely based on Sutton's football abilities, disregarding his ongoing off-field legal troubles.
“Would Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff bring him back? I think from a purely football standpoint, the answer to that would be yes. Purely football because from what I understand, the Steelers themselves made quite the offer, a competitive offer with Detroit to try and keep him. They had made it a priority to keep him.”
Kovacevic emphasized the importance for the Steelers to thoroughly investigate before considering the re-signing of Sutton. They must delve into what information the Lions and the NFL might have uncovered and conduct their own comprehensive research. Venturing down this path would be precarious and likely subject to significant criticism. The Steelers must exercise extreme caution if they decide to pursue this course of action.
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Former Steelers CB Cam Sutton runs with the football against the Bengals.
Furthermore, Kovacevic noted that despite speaking with numerous players, he has never heard any negative remarks about Sutton. While acknowledging the need to tread carefully in character assessments, he underscored that even off the record, he has not encountered any disparaging opinions about Sutton.
Steelers' Secondary Needs Desperate Help
The Steelers' secondary has been in need of reinforcement for several seasons, a need that was glaringly evident during the 2023 season when injuries depleted their ranks, exposing their lack of depth. In an effort to address this, they made significant moves, including trading star wide receiver Diontae Johnson for defensive back Donte Jackson, a player they had been eyeing for some time.
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Steelers DB Donte Jackson during his time with the Panthers.
Despite the emergence of promising rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr., the addition of a talent like Sutton, even at 29 years old, would provide a significant boost to the Steelers' defense. However, Sutton's off-field issues cast a shadow of uncertainty over any potential return to the team. The Steelers would undoubtedly face intense scrutiny should they entertain the idea of bringing him back into the fold.
While Sutton's career may not be over, earning the trust of any team moving forward will be an uphill battle. While it might seem logical for the Steelers to consider such a move given their secondary struggles, it would likely be met with resistance from fans and pundits alike.
As news regarding Sutton's status and potential ties to the Steelers continues to unfold, Steeler Nation will be eagerly awaiting updates, knowing that any decision regarding his future with the team will be closely watched and scrutinized.
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