Q

Do veteran minimum salaries and proximity to the salary cap dictate that the Steelers could not consider signing Jeff Garcia and had to sign someone younger like Tyler Palko?

Marty Graff, Dresher, Pa.

BOUCHETTE: I do not believe the salary cap came into play. For one, they had only six games remaining so they could have signed a veteran to the minimum at only six week's pay at most, and maybe for only one or two weeks, which would have been negligible. I believe it was strictly a football decision. They believed Ben Roethlisberger was healthy and Dennis Dixon served them best as their backup instead of some veteran cramming two days preparation for Sunday night's game. Palko was signed so they could have three quarterbacks in practice. It's possible things could change this week, though. I asked Mike Tomlin if he might sign a veteran quarterback this week and he said he would not rule that out. I do not believe Garcia, though, is on their list.

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