Some things were never meant to pass, and Limas Sweed’s success as a Pittsburgh Steeler is one of them.
Three years ago things appeared to be different.
Entering the 2008 NFL draft needing both offensive and defensive lineman, the Steelers found Sweed, whom many had graded as a first round pick, on still on the board late in the second round.
Everyone’s a winner on draft day.
Unfortunately reality set in after that.
- First there was the drop in the playoffs against San Diego
- Then their was the drop in the AFC Championship against Baltimore
- Then another drop in a divisional contest against Cincinnati in’09
- Then a trip to IR at the end of ’09 due to mental health issues
And then to add injustice to injury, Sweed injured his Achillies tendon in OTA’s in June of 2010, costing him his third season.
This summer the Steelers gave him one more shot, but Sweed could not take advantage – the coaches not even seeing fit to play him against the Redskins in preseason.
Few can blame the Steelers for giving him one more chance; who can forget how unbelievably fast he looked in getting open deep against Baltimore?
Sweed will most assuredly get a shot at the NFL with another team – as well he should, he’s too talented for someone else not to take a chance.
But he’s had his chances in Pittsburgh but unfortuantely could not take advantage.
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