U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pop off about Arthur Smith's interview, Mason Rudolph's situation

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t played a game in 24 days. But there still have been plenty of reasons to write about them.

Therefore, there have been plenty of reasons for you to get angry about what I have written or things they have said and done.

Let’s work through all of that emotion together in this week’s “U mad, bro?”

William sent me this email about the Steelers’ quarterback situation, and his concern about how the receivers will react if Kenny Pickett is reinserted as the starter.

“The Steelers, particularly Mr Art and Coach T, appear to be wedded to one Kenny Pickett. Is there an over/under on how many games before (George) Pickens and (Diontae) Johnson start throwing tablets, helmets and water bottles on the sidelines during a game?”

How many games? Games? Wow. You’re an optimist. I was thinking more along the lines of how many minicamp practices in the spring.

Carmen took exception to me using the word “benched” to describe Pickett’s status by season’s end.

“Picket(t) came out injured. Then they kept Rudolph in because he had the hot hand.”

Ah! The “hot hand” argument. My favorite.

Hey, Carmen, “playing the hot hand” is a kind way of saying, “We are choosing QB X over QB Y.” In other words, “The backup is now starting, and the starter is now benched.”

If Pickett was healthy enough to play — and clearly he was by the Baltimore game and the playoffs, if not maybe even by the Seattle trip — and he wasn’t starting, then he was benched.

Sorry, is “benched” too strong of a word for poor Kenny to read?

It’s not my job to write a convoluted sentence in an effort to word-soup my way around a point just so Pickett can keep up his confidence level.

Or to avoid offending your delicate fanboy sensibilities.

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In a recent column, I pointed out that new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith went through an entire Steelers.com interview, gushing with optimism about how great it was going to be to working with Pickett and how he didn’t even mention Mason Rudolph’s name.

Rich has an ingenious theory as to why.

Because they don’t want him back, yo.

— Rich (@Hondo4006) February 5, 2024

Then why didn’t Mike Tomlin just admit that three weeks ago instead of spewing baloney about wanting him back as potential competition for Pickett? … yo.

Apocalypse Cow (great name, for the record) says I shouldn’t be surprised by that stance from Tomlin.

He's already admitted that he routinely makes stuff up for the media.

— Apocalypse Cow (@dmc200802) February 5, 2024

Right. But isn’t it my job to point that out when he does?

Brent chimes in about why Smith may not want Rudolph.

Smith got rid of Matt Ryan because he didn’t fit in his offense. Why would they keep Rudolph around? Three weeks ago Smith wasn’t the OC.

— Brent (@pgh6times) February 5, 2024

Smith got rid of Ryan because he was 36, washed up, and cost $24 million. Rudolph is 28, just played his best football as a pro and will probably cost half that, and Smith may not even have to start him.

It’s not the same thing. It’s an apples-to-motorcycles comparison.

Speaking of age, Ray has a warped rationalization of Smith’s in-house interview.

“I think you’re reading way too much into it. He was talking specifically about young players. Mason Rudolph is no longer considered a young player!”

I simply pointed out that Smith talked about Pickett like he’s already the starter and the fact that Rudolph wasn’t mentioned. That’s completely counter to the promise of competition at the position advanced by both the head coach and the owner.

You’re trying to reconcile that by saying Smith was “asked about young players” and Rudolph is “no longer young.”

But I’m overthinking it. Gotcha. That’s precious.

By the way, Rudolph is 28. Pickett turns 26 in June. If Rudolph is “no longer considered a young player,” then ol’ grandpa Kenny better be looking into AARP himself.

Sam thinks Rudolph is going to make too much money for the Steelers to keep him.

He might. That wasn’t really the point. But, he might.

Regardless, take it away, Sam.

Mason is going to make $16-$20 mil in free agency. They aren’t going to sign a backup to make more than their starter.

— Sam Beckett (@holebeater11) February 5, 2024

Pickett’s cap number was $3.1 million in 2023. Trubisky’s reworked cap number for this year after his salary restructure last spring was $6 million heading into 2023 … as the backup.

With Pickett still being on an entry-level contract, having the backup make more is far from unprecedented.

Finally, Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward recently pushed back on the “mob” criticism of Smith’s hiring.

Steve emails by putting that opinion into a musical context.

“Maybe someone needs to tell Cam the timeless words of the late great Ronnie James Dio, and that ‘When you listen to fools, the mob rules!’”

Indeed, Steve. Indeed. Very poignant observation on your part.

And, as Dio also said in that song with Black Sabbath: “The end is always the same.”

Much like the Steelers failing to win a playoff game each of the last seven seasons.