U mad, bro?: Fans take swings at JuJu Smith-Schuster, Devin Bush, Barry Trotz, Penguins goalies and ... this column

Steelers. Penguins. Players. Coaches. Sportswriters.

None of us are spared from angry readers in the latest blood-thirsty edition of “U mad, bro?”

Wait. Did someone even take a shot at … David Byrne? Wow! We are “burning down the house” this week.

Kevin starts by taking a swat at Islanders coach Barry Trotz.

Barry Trotz has no neck

— Kev Hammer (@KevinHammer1) May 16, 2021

That may be true, Kevin. But right now, the Penguins have no power play. And I’m much more concerned about that.

Dan was fired up after the Penguins defeat in Game 1 of the East Division playoffs to the New York Islanders. And he snapped off this tweet, suggesting the Penguins losses in their last three playoff series (well, four, counting this one already, I guess) are a direct result of moving goalie Marc-Andre Fleury out to Las Vegas after the 2017 Stanley Cup.

I suppose it didn’t help that Fleury was putting on a one-man show for Vegas moments after Tristan Jarry bombed in the series opener.

Goalie outplayed in all 4 series. Could the Pens letting Flower go to Vegas be one of the worst moves in franchise history? The move Could have derailed the twilight of the 87/71 era. He’s made at least 5 spectacular GLOVE saves in this game. Nice if Pens goalie could make 1

— Dan P. (@dpsteelers58) May 16, 2021

History is indeed going to look back on the decision to let Fleury go out west in favor of keeping Matt Murray and Jarry as a mistake.

But history also has to keep it in context.

Given the Penguins’ salary cap concerns, the nuance of the expansion draft and the respective ages of Murray and Fleury, there wouldn’t have been a general manager alive that would’ve kept Fleury at 33 years old and let Murray go at 23 after Murray had just won two Stanley Cups.

There’s no bigger fan of Fleury than me. But every now and then, there is a difference between a bad move and a bad decision. This ended up being a bad move for the Penguins. But the decision-making behind it was sound.

Also, Jarry just made 37 saves and won Game 2 by a score of 2-1. I’m not ready to ship him off to Ottawa with Murray just yet.

Raymond sent an email about JuJu Smith-Schuster’s recent comments criticizing the new 17-game NFL schedule and his prediction that the Steelers will be lining him up outside more often in 2021.

“JuJu granting interviews where he opines about the 17-game schedule and that he will be playing outside more is so immature. Has it been stated that he will be playing on the outside or is that wishful thinking? It’s all about self-promotion? Obviously, he didn’t get that other teams don’t want his services because of his behavior.”

I won’t fault Smith-Schuster for the 17-game schedule response. He was asked a direct question by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He gave a direct answer. And, honestly, I agree with him.

Now, was Smith-Schuster’s logic flawed as to why the 17-game schedule is bad? That’s a different story. I’d argue yes. JuJu’s explanation for his dislike of the schedule was a little flimsy.

As far as the “lining up more outside” comment, again, he was just answering a question, Raymond. But I do agree with you being dubious of how Smith-Schuster presented the information to Schefter. I haven’t heard the organization state that yet either.

And when JuJu says “a lot of people are talking about it,” he doesn’t make it clear if he means “a lot of people” at the Steelers facility. Or all of his followers on social media.

There’s a big difference.

Since we brought up Smith-Schuster, last week I threw out a mild one-liner about one of the games he circled on the upcoming NFL schedule. This guy was really bent out of shape about it.

Omg juju said the team can't wait to play in Minnesota ? and not division rivals! He's showing too much personality and that makes me angry ? ... tiktok! Rabble rabble https://t.co/HqfXL45RC3

— Jhomas ??️?(@Jhomas_10) May 14, 2021

Easy, Tiger! Your tweet is about ten times more triggered than the post itself. It was a nothing, fleeting line.

I mean, if you felt the need to defend JuJu, I’ve been way more critical than that!

Where were you then?

Tom wasn’t happy with Devin Bush’s comments about the Jacksonville Jaguars looking at Tim Tebow as a tight end, while Colin Kaepernick still doesn’t have a job.

“For Devin Bush to make (that) argument, he’s not very knowledgeable and very much uninformed. Or is he nothing more than a ‘(crap disturber)’? And I truly hope that he does not fall into that category. Devin Bush needs to focus 150% on preparing himself to perform at a level that will provide quality playmaking and leadership.”

Tom, I don’t want to get bogged down on the whole Tebow versus Kaepernick argument. We’re talking about one guy trying to be a quarterback. The other might be a third-string tight end.

It’s an apples-to-hair dryers argument.

What worries me about Bush is that he seemed to think the Steelers were slated to play Jacksonville before he made those comments.

??Tebow got a job before kaepernick. Wait til we play Jacksonville????

— Devin Bush ll (@_Dbush11) May 11, 2021

But Bush is also a guy who just recently shrugged off any value in taking advantage of a free college education while he was playing at Michigan.

Only went to school for sports & Friends. Otha than that..classrooms ?

— Devin Bush ll (@_Dbush11) May 15, 2021

So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he didn’t know how to look up that information in advance of last week’s NFL schedule release.

Finally, here’s a post from Lee in the comment section of a recent “First Call.” He is a big fan of Mark Madden and me. He wanted to express his appreciation for what we do at TribLive.

“I haven’t listened to talking heads since the 90s. I don’t live in West Pa anymore, so I don’t hear the locals. Life is so much better. I don’t read Madden anymore here, since he ‘gave up on the Steelers’ (yet still writes about them, lol). Benz isn’t THAT bad, except for his ‘U Mad, Bro’ articles.”

I agree. I haven’t listened to Talking Heads since the ‘90s either.

Actually, I haven’t listened to them since the ’80s. The last album I had from them was “True Stories.” And that was released in, what, 1986?

Eh, why am I asking? Lee, you gave up on “U mad, bro?” and aren’t reading this. Just like Mark gave up on the Steelers and shouldn’t be writing about them, right?

Lee, you might be asking yourself, “How did I get here?”

The answer is, clicking on the link. Because you can’t stay away.

Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was.