Earlier today, a New York sports journalist by the name of John Frascella published what he is calling “an exclusive” report on how things went down between the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Russell Wilson. Now, I learned at a very early stage in my amateur journalism career that you should always have two sources but those days are gone and this is another reason why. Below, I’ve posted the content of Frascella’s tweet which comes from his account @LegendSports7.
In between each of the 10 points he lists are my comments in RED.
“BREAKING, EXCLUSIVE: The FULL details of the Steelers drama involving Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson & Mason Rudolph have emerged (Giants also involved!):
1. The Steelers met with Russell Wilson the Friday before they ultimately signed him. He did NOT sign that day because he refused to sign unless he was guaranteed to be the starter.
Russell Wilson has been to two Super Bowls, winning one. He has every right, whether the team agrees with it or not, to demand he be the starter. I don’t see a problem here.
2. My source says THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE GIANTS. Russell Wilson did not sign with the Giants because they refused to guarantee him the starting job.
Fine. The Giants refused to name him the starter. That is every bit their right as a franchise.
3. In the meantime, Mason Rudolph negotiated a contract to remain with the Steelers, but when he met with them that Sunday they pulled the rug out from under him! Pulled back the deal!
If anyone knows how the Steelers operate, it’s Rudolph. That doesn’t make the situation any better, but this is a business last time I checked. If you can make your team better, especially at quarterback, then you do it. Feelings do not matter in the NFL.
4. When Wilson wouldn’t initially sign, the Steelers’ plan was to have Pickett & Rudolph compete for the job.
Which makes perfect sense as one was the only guy on the roster and the other was likely to re-sign.
5. Rudolph & Pickett had already made plans to start practicing together that Monday.
Again, makes logical sense.
6. Instead, Rudolph called Pickett that Sunday night and told him the Steelers decided to go a different direction. His deal was off the table.
So Rudy did a good thing here and let his teammate know things had changed.
7. Pickett tried calling Mike Tomlin that Sunday night, but coach did not answer.
This is a bit disingenuous. We don’t know what Mike Tomlin was doing and even if he was ignoring the phone call it was likely due to the fact that he was trying to get more information. To me, this makes sense on his part. He didn’t want to make numerous phone calls because he didn’t have the whole story. Get the information in full, then share it.
8. Tomlin returned Pickett’s call on Monday, AFTER the news came out that the Steelers were signing Wilson.
This goes to my point above. Tomlin waited until he had all of the information. Should Tomlin have let Pickett know prior to it being made public? Absolutely he should have. That’s something that should be a courtesy.
9. Tomlin told Pickett that Wilson was the guaranteed starter. THERE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE A QB COMPETITION.
Of all the points in this story, this is one I struggle with the most. First, what Mike Tomlin tells players is between them. Now if Kenny Pickett chose to share this then that’s his prerogative to do so. Keep in mind however, that this is only his side of the story. Furthermore, there is ALWAYS a competition in Training Camp unless you have a bonafide superstar in the position. Wilson was one at one time, but not anymore. Does he deserve the opportunity to be the starter ahead of Pickett or Rudolph? Absolutely based strictly on his success and perhaps more importantly, his numbers from last year which were far better than Pickett’s.
10. Pickett was very unhappy with Tomlin and the Steelers, then he demanded a trade.
I’m totally fine with Pickett being unhappy with Tomlin. I’d be unhappy too if I heard this news. Completely understandable.
All per my trusted source. Just… WOW.”
What this entire ‘exclusive’ is missing however is one of the more important factors in the entire saga, Kenny Pickett and the team. Let’s recall that T.J.Watt, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick all spoke with Russell Wilson in the lead up to his signing. Take that for what you will. I don’t think team leaders do that however if there’s full confidence in the quarterback they have but I’ve been wrong before.
The bottom line is that when Mike Tomlin stayed with Mason Rudolph over Pickett at the end of the season, this should have been all the writing on the wall Pickett needed. Traditionally, starting QBs get their jobs back after an injury but there are never guarantees. We can also not forget that Pickett struggled to maintain leadership over this locker room and that’s never a good thing either.
If anyone has a right to be upset by anything here it’s Mason Rudolph but let me remind all of you something one more time. This is the National Football League. It’s a multi-billion dollar business where the feelings of players rarely matter. Just because you were a first round draft pick or because you played well in three games, means nothing. Could things have been handled better? Of course! That’s true of most situations, but the situation is over and it’s time to move forward.
