OT: NFL

[Chuck Norris]

As much of a Steelers fan as I am, I can't help but wonder what the hell they're thinking at Rooney Hall. Never mind Aaron Rodgers, I think it's fair to wonder what Jalen Ramsey has left in him. There's a reason he's been traded twice in the past three years (LA Rams to Miami two years ago, now Miami to Pittsburgh) after he was traded from Jacksonville to the Rams in 2019.

I don’t think the trade is necessarily the blockbuster that the names involved suggest at first glance but I don’t mind it. Minkah hasn’t made a splash play in two years, you don’t pay him what he’s making to be solid. I think Ramsey can still play. And he can play outside, slot or safety.

Getting excited about a tight end when you’re a Steelers fan can be a setup for disappointment but I think Jonnu Smith could wind up being the bigger get in this deal. He’s a TE in name and salary but he’s lined up wide just as often, if not more than he lines up on the line. He’s essentially a big WR who can block and he came into his own to some extent last year. I’d still like them to grab a WR2 but if they try to fill that with a more by committee approach I think Smith can really help fill that void.

[IUPNation]

But can they beat the Chefs/Refs or Bills right now? Can they beat the Ravens

The Stillers need to clean house and tank.

[IUPNation]

Ill leave this landmine right here…..

Terry Bradshaw has slammed the Pittsburgh Steelers for their treatment of former quarterback Kenny Pickett 😲:

🗣️ "Steelers getting rid of Kenny Pickett. A first-rounder, got rid of him after two years. And they're still looking for a quarterback. They didn't even do anything to build around him.

"They didn’t protect him... they didn’t get him an offensive line. They wanted to run the football, but they didn’t have an offensive line that could protect, and they didn’t have weapons. He had no wide receivers to speak of.

"And then they throw a kid in there for two years, and you’ve got an offense that doesn’t fit and doesn’t work, and they can’t run because their offensive line’s not even good enough for a run-blocking team.

"And therefore they say Pickett was a failure. He wasn’t a failure, the Steelers were a failure."

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/146520...fZzTVBijhhXo2A

[Fightingscot82]

I think they're both right.

Pickett was a stretch pick and somewhat of a sentimental pick. He had a great senior season at Pitt in front of everyone but was clearly rated as marginal potential for the NFL. He's a fine QB but that doesn't always translate well. I'll also blame the Steelers for wasting a first round pick the way they did. If you pick someone, develop him, especially a first rounder. He wasn't a PR nightmare or a clear bust like Jamarcus Russell.

[Chuck Norris]

Ill leave this landmine right here…..

Terry Bradshaw has slammed the Pittsburgh Steelers for their treatment of former quarterback Kenny Pickett 😲:

🗣️ "Steelers getting rid of Kenny Pickett. A first-rounder, got rid of him after two years. And they're still looking for a quarterback. They didn't even do anything to build around him.

"They didn’t protect him... they didn’t get him an offensive line. They wanted to run the football, but they didn’t have an offensive line that could protect, and they didn’t have weapons. He had no wide receivers to speak of.

"And then they throw a kid in there for two years, and you’ve got an offense that doesn’t fit and doesn’t work, and they can’t run because their offensive line’s not even good enough for a run-blocking team.

"And therefore they say Pickett was a failure. He wasn’t a failure, the Steelers were a failure."

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/146520...fZzTVBijhhXo2A

This is at least a couple weeks old and there’s nothing he says that hasn’t been discussed to death when it comes to Pickett. He was the “best” prospect of maybe the worst QB draft class ever. The Steelers shouldn’t have picked him and once they did, they failed him miserably. And now he’s long gone. But Bradshaw is gonna Bradshaw. He’s a bitter old man.

[IUP24]

This is at least a couple weeks old and there’s nothing he says that hasn’t been discussed to death when it comes to Pickett. He was the “best” prospect of maybe the worst QB draft class ever. The Steelers shouldn’t have picked him and once they did, they failed him miserably. And now he’s long gone. But Bradshaw is gonna Bradshaw. He’s a bitter old man.

I'm posting this against my better judgement and hope that this doesn't spiral.... I really, really, really hope that this doesn't spiral....

I just wish that we (everyone - not using "we" related to this message board) would just move on from the Kenny Pickett conversation related to the Steelers altogether. There were so many factors and true elements to that entire subject... Just leaving this here for those who still hate the guy to chew on...

1. Kenny Pickett probably wasn't a "first round quarterback" in a stronger QB class. But he had the benefit of being the best draft-eligible college QB in a year that wasn't a deep or strong QB class. That happens. Players in their final year of college finally put everything together, have a big year, and it translates on draft day. It's certainly not the first time it happened, and it certainly will not be the last. Plenty of 1st round QBs are taken as reach picks. Blame the Steelers for drafting him where they drafted if he wasn't a first-round pick. Most drafted QBs fail and are quickly out of football. I believe Pickett is close to getting an NFL pension at this point - good for him.

2. Kenny Pickett wasn't a "bad pick" because of his age. And the popular tone of "he only was as good as he was because he had played in college for so long" is amazingly hilarious. When Pickett was drafted, he was two years younger than Louisville QB Tyler Shough, who the Steelers fans and local media wanted them to draft as a mid-round pick. Pickett played in 4 games as a true freshman at Pitt. One year after he enrolled at Pitt, the NCAA changed the redshirt requirements, allowing a player to play in 4 games and not lose a year of eligibility. So you can effectively just say that Pickett just used his Redshirt Senior year at Pitt in 2021 instead of blaming it on COVID. Had the redshirt rule been in effect his freshman year in 2017, he still would have had one more full season of eligibility even AFTER the 2021 season. He played less seasons and games of college football than Sean Clifford did during his career at Penn State.

3. Divide the Steelers fan base into four segments... Pitt fans, WVU fans, Penn State fans, and non-local Steelers fans with zero connections to the Western PA college football triad. Pitt fans who are part of the Steelers fan base likely are the smallest chunk out of that group. If people honestly, still, to this point don't believe that Pickett having gone to Pitt had anything to do with the substantial hate and criticism he received, I don't know what else needs to be said to those folks to convince them.

4. Continuation of 3... The Pittsburgh media.... Listen to the radio. Read the posts on social media. Read what they write in the paper. Objectively look at how they broad the subject of the regional colleges. Then look at where they graduated from college or look at who they "root for" when they are wearing their "fan" hat not at work. I'll leave it at that. And if you don't think those mouthpieces contributed to the polarization, then you never wanted to objectively evaluate the situation.

5. Kenny Pickett needed to play a lot better for the Steelers. He didn't. Certainly not the first time a player was below the line for them.

6. Mike Tomlin's first words after they drafted Pickett were "We got our guy!"... Exact quote. All reports indicated that Pickett was Tomlin's pick. Pickett was below the line. But why is Tomlin insulated from the criticism related to Pickett?

7. The Steelers have been objectively awful with first round picks over the last decade. Devin Bush... The Steelers traded draft capital to get him. Artie Burns... He was objectively awful. Jarvis Jones.... Major bust (maybe a larger bust than Pickett given the hype, but he wasn't a former Pitt QB). Terrell Edmunds.... He was projected as a 3rd round pick that the Steelers took in the 1st round. He started games, but wasn't anything more than an average NFL safety. Broderick Jones... He's tracking towards "bust" territory. My point is... Other guys have been selected in the first round by the Steelers that didn't pan out. Pickett is not unique.

8. The story about him "not dressing" against Seattle.... If you are a fan, and THAT was what makes you hate Kenny Pickett.... Grow up. Consider the source (Gerry Dulac). Consider how he's posted stories in the past during contract disputes that make players look bad and helps provide fan favor to the organization. He's a mouthpiece for the Steelers.

9. Still believe the Steelers approach and utilization of Pickett at QB was horrific. When he was thrust into action in his rookie year, there were clear growing pains. By the back half of that season, he was trending upwards. Trending upwards to the point that the national media was projecting the Steelers found their next franchise QB (specifically after the win at Baltimore). Does everyone forget that? In year 2, the Steelers offensive approach with him changed significantly, and so too did his performance.

10. If Pickett played at NC State, I am 100% certain we aren't still having this conversation.

[Chuck Norris]

I'm posting this against my better judgement and hope that this doesn't spiral.... I really, really, really hope that this doesn't spiral....

I just wish that we (everyone - not using "we" related to this message board) would just move on from the Kenny Pickett conversation related to the Steelers altogether. There were so many factors and true elements to that entire subject... Just leaving this here for those who still hate the guy to chew on...

1. Kenny Pickett probably wasn't a "first round quarterback" in a stronger QB class. But he had the benefit of being the best draft-eligible college QB in a year that wasn't a deep or strong QB class. That happens. Players in their final year of college finally put everything together, have a big year, and it translates on draft day. It's certainly not the first time it happened, and it certainly will not be the last. Plenty of 1st round QBs are taken as reach picks. Blame the Steelers for drafting him where they drafted if he wasn't a first-round pick. Most drafted QBs fail and are quickly out of football. I believe Pickett is close to getting an NFL pension at this point - good for him.

2. Kenny Pickett wasn't a "bad pick" because of his age. And the popular tone of "he only was as good as he was because he had played in college for so long" is amazingly hilarious. When Pickett was drafted, he was two years younger than Louisville QB Tyler Shough, who the Steelers fans and local media wanted them to draft as a mid-round pick. Pickett played in 4 games as a true freshman at Pitt. One year after he enrolled at Pitt, the NCAA changed the redshirt requirements, allowing a player to play in 4 games and not lose a year of eligibility. So you can effectively just say that Pickett just used his Redshirt Senior year at Pitt in 2021 instead of blaming it on COVID. Had the redshirt rule been in effect his freshman year in 2017, he still would have had one more full season of eligibility even AFTER the 2021 season. He played less seasons and games of college football than Sean Clifford did during his career at Penn State.

3. Divide the Steelers fan base into four segments... Pitt fans, WVU fans, Penn State fans, and non-local Steelers fans with zero connections to the Western PA college football triad. Pitt fans who are part of the Steelers fan base likely are the smallest chunk out of that group. If people honestly, still, to this point don't believe that Pickett having gone to Pitt had anything to do with the substantial hate and criticism he received, I don't know what else needs to be said to those folks to convince them.

4. Continuation of 3... The Pittsburgh media.... Listen to the radio. Read the posts on social media. Read what they write in the paper. Objectively look at how they broad the subject of the regional colleges. Then look at where they graduated from college or look at who they "root for" when they are wearing their "fan" hat not at work. I'll leave it at that. And if you don't think those mouthpieces contributed to the polarization, then you never wanted to objectively evaluate the situation.

5. Kenny Pickett needed to play a lot better for the Steelers. He didn't. Certainly not the first time a player was below the line for them.

6. Mike Tomlin's first words after they drafted Pickett were "We got our guy!"... Exact quote. All reports indicated that Pickett was Tomlin's pick. Pickett was below the line. But why is Tomlin insulated from the criticism related to Pickett?

7. The Steelers have been objectively awful with first round picks over the last decade. Devin Bush... The Steelers traded draft capital to get him. Artie Burns... He was objectively awful. Jarvis Jones.... Major bust (maybe a larger bust than Pickett given the hype, but he wasn't a former Pitt QB). Terrell Edmunds.... He was projected as a 3rd round pick that the Steelers took in the 1st round. He started games, but wasn't anything more than an average NFL safety. Broderick Jones... He's tracking towards "bust" territory. My point is... Other guys have been selected in the first round by the Steelers that didn't pan out. Pickett is not unique.

8. The story about him "not dressing" against Seattle.... If you are a fan, and THAT was what makes you hate Kenny Pickett.... Grow up. Consider the source (Gerry Dulac). Consider how he's posted stories in the past during contract disputes that make players look bad and helps provide fan favor to the organization. He's a mouthpiece for the Steelers.

9. Still believe the Steelers approach and utilization of Pickett at QB was horrific. When he was thrust into action in his rookie year, there were clear growing pains. By the back half of that season, he was trending upwards. Trending upwards to the point that the national media was projecting the Steelers found their next franchise QB (specifically after the win at Baltimore). Does everyone forget that? In year 2, the Steelers offensive approach with him changed significantly, and so too did his performance.

10. If Pickett played at NC State, I am 100% certain we aren't still having this conversation.

Beating a dead horse so he can publicly rip the Steelers is totally on brand for Bradshaw. I gave this little more than an eye roll when he first made the comments and I doubt I was alone among Steelers fans. I’m 1,000% over the Pickett-Steelers drama.

[IUPNation]

Beating a dead horse so he can publicly rip the Steelers is totally on brand for Bradshaw. I gave this little more than an eye roll when he first made the comments and I doubt I was alone among Steelers fans. I’m 1,000% over the Pickett-Steelers drama.

Well he has a ring and now plays in Cleveland. There may be more drama.

[Chuck Norris]

Well he has a ring and now plays in Cleveland. There may be more drama.

It wouldn’t shock me if he’s somewhere other than Cleveland by the start of the season. I could see him being the odd man out in their QB derby or traded if another team has an injury.

[IUP24]

Beating a dead horse so he can publicly rip the Steelers is totally on brand for Bradshaw. I gave this little more than an eye roll when he first made the comments and I doubt I was alone among Steelers fans. I’m 1,000% over the Pickett-Steelers drama.

Oh I agree 100%, Chuck. It should be a non-story or non-conversation at this juncture. It’s still incredible to me how you still see people on social media from the Steelers fanbase just absolutely killing the guy. It’s unbelievable. I have never seen anything like it.

Any post from the Browns with Pickett in it has comments filled with Steelers fans who are just trashing the guy. It’s insane. These people need to move on.