We recently caught up with Charlie Batch, the backup quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who shared his thoughts about NFL rule changes, current players and the importance of community. Batch was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft and later signed with the Steelers. Batch has earned two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII.
PPI: What are some of the players that you watch that play your position on other teams?
CB: It’s always fun to watch Tom Brady do what he’s doing. Right now, it’s exciting with Alex Smith going out there trying to create a name for himself right now. And you have Eli Manning who’s doing what he’s doing. And Joe Flacco’s improvement means he also belongs in that group. And you’ve got a lot of hungry people out there who are really just thinking they want to get a trophy.
PPI: How are recent rule changes impacting the game?
CB: You see a lot more points and obviously that’s what the fans want. Right now, you’ve got to continue to make the game safer.
PPI: You are really involved in the community. What are some of the events you have coming up?
CB: Right now we are an education foundation. We use sports to draw kids in. We have a big hall of fame event coming up. We take 100 kids up to the hall of fame that happens in May. We’re year round and the biggest program is a basketball league that we run for 360 kids that participate for 7 weeks. We’re in our tenth year going into the 11th. It’s exciting all around. When you see the smile on the kids face, that’s what its all about.
Jenny Swain contributed to this story.
