After weeks of speculation, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally signed troubled free agent Cam Sutton. On the field, this makes all the sense in the world. The team desperately needed a slot corner for their defense. Signing Cam Sutton was the missing link on what should be a formidable defense in 2024. Off the field the baggage that comes with this player does not leave the Steelers in a good light. The NFL is not an organization made up of saints. There are lots of bad individuals on every roster in the league, How many, and how serious the offenses of these players is a reflection of the organization however.
Cam Sutton was charged with felony domestic violence back in March. In an affidavit filed shortly after the incident, he was accused of biting, kicking, and choking his then girlfriend unconscious at his Detroit home back in March. Sutton fled the scene, and spent weeks as a fugitive before turning himself in. The felony charges have since been lessened to a misdemeanor as long as his diversionary program is completed. Regardless of the legal outcome, this is an awful look for both Sutton and the team. https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2024/04/03/detroit-lions-cameron-sutton-found-arrest/
It’s easy to see why the Steelers were interested in this player. He was drafted by the team in 2017, and spent the next six seasons in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin and company know what kind of person they are getting better than anyone in the league. It doesn’t hurt that Sutton plays a position that the defense desperately needs in slot corner, and at a high level as well. The team gets to fill a position of need with a veteran very familiar with the defense, and at a minimum one year contract. It’s a no-brainer, as long as you hold your nose tightly.
At the end of the day, signing Cam Sutton is a test on what you are willing to sacrifice to put a winning product on the field. The league, and the team give lip service to being concerned about domestic violence, What they do in the real world is another story altogether. Sutton will receive a slap on the wrist from the league. A short suspension is probably coming for 2024.
We as Steelers fans would like to think this franchise is held to a higher standard than other teams. We poke fun at teams like the Browns and Bengals for rostering bad individuals. The truth of the matter is this team is no better. They have a history of sticking with players like James Harrison, and Ben Roethlisberger. This hits a bit different though. This isn’t a player already on the roster that they are sticking by. The Pittsburgh Steelers actively sought out this player to add to the roster. This was a conscious decision to bring in Cam Sutton knowing full well what he had done. Like it or not, this franchise is no different than any other when it comes to paying any price to win.