Jake Delhomme

Head Coach Eric Mangini said he is “leaning toward” starting rookie third-round pick Colt McCoy against the Steelers.

Mangini is going through the pretense that Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, who emerged from the Atlanta game with nasty ankle problems, might be available and will be assessed late in the week.

However, Brett Ratliff was much more direct, saying the reason he signed with Cleveland instead of New England was that he will be the No. 2 quarterback behind McCoy this week.

Ratliff made a good impression with the Patriots’ practice squad, prompting Bill Belichick to offer him a spot on the 53-man roster.

In Cleveland, he would be behind McCoy. In New England, he would be behind Tom Brady.