Steelers sign Pittsburgh native Bruce Gradkowski to backup Roethlisberger

PITTSBURGH – Bruce Gradkowski is coming home.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the free agent quarterback have agreed to a three-year deal that will likely make Gradkowski the primary backup behind starter Ben Roethlisberger. Gradkowski's agent Rick Smith confirmed the deal through his twitter account Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Gradkowski is 6-14 in his career as a starter with Oakland, Cleveland and Tampa Bay. He spent the 2011-12 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, appearing in five games.

The arrival of Gradkowski, a Pittsburgh native, means the Steelers will almost certainly not attempt to re-sign longtime backup quarterback Byron Leftwich.

Pittsburgh also released oft-injured offensive lineman Willie Colon. The 29-year-old played in just 13 of a possible 48 games the last three years due to a variety of injuries.