Although we reported yesterday that the Steelers would sign both Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper, and although both quarterbacks visited the Steelers today, so far only Leftwich has signed.

So why was Culpepper’s name missing from the announcement that the Steelers had signed Leftwich?

Apparently Culpepper wants to be more than just a backup: John Clayton of ESPN reports that Culpepper was hoping for a chance to compete for a starting job.

Frankly, it should be obvious to Culpepper that Ben Roethlisberger is the starter in Pittsburgh, and that the reason the Steelers called him is that they wanted a fill-in for the injured backup Charlie Batch, not because they wanted a quarterback who could challenge Roethlisberger for the top job. If Culpepper really believed he was going to get a chance to start ahead of Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, he is about as ignorant of the way the NFL works as it’s possible for a nine-year NFL veteran to be. But he apparently did, in fact, think he would be given a chance to compete for a starting spot when he boarded the plane on his way to Latrobe.

Jim Wexell of SteelCityInsider.com reports that the Steelers were impressed with both Culpepper and Leftwich when they worked out at Latrobe Memorial Stadium today, but that Leftwich agreed to sign even though the Steelers gave him no assurances of a roster spot.  That’s clearly the right move:  NFL players who are out of work in August aren’t in a position to demand much of anything.

If Culpepper is able to come to that understanding, he may still sign. If not, he’s going to be out of work for a while.