During Thursday’s PFT Live, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was discussing the quarterback situation in Pittsburgh. And the name “Dennis Dixon” came up.
And I wondered, as some of you may have, “Whatever happened to Dennis Dixon?”
A Heisman candidate at Oregon before tearing an ACL (and then amazingly trying to play with the ligament torn), Dixon slid to the fifth round in 2008. He started the first two games of the 2010 season during Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension before suffering another knee injury and missing the rest of the year. Dixon’s starts in 2010 resulted in wins over the Falcons and Titans.
Last year, Dixon returned to the Steelers on a one-year restricted free agency tender, but didn’t play.
Since becoming an unrestricted free agent in March, Dixon has had three workouts, drawing interest from the likes of the Broncos and Ravens. The fact, however, that neither the Steelers nor the Colts and former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians showed interest apparently has hurt Dixon’s chances elsewhere.
As a result, a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that Dixon is contemplating an offer to join the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the UFL. His decision hinges in part on whether the UFL will finalize a plan to allow players to leave for the NFL at any time, without any type of fee.
With Dixon not on an NFL roster at a time when NFL teams may have up to 90 players and with anywhere from 32 to 64 quarterbacks hitting the market soon, it makes sense for Dixon to go where the opportunity is. If he plays well in the UFL, there may be a fresh opportunity in the NFL.