The Pittsburgh Steelers and Kenny Pickett are blameless for the Lamar Jackson contract situation with the Baltimore Ravens. Jimmy Haslam was once a minority owner of the Steelers, but he owned the Cleveland Browns when he decided to pay Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed contract. His decision and the subsequent acrimonious contract negotiations with Jackson have touched off some outrageous reactions throughout the national media.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (8) congratulates Najee Harris (22) after his first touchdown pass on Sunday against the Buccaneers.
When the news broke this week, the Fox Sports debate program First Things First was on the air and they reacted live to the news of Jackson receiving the non-exclusive franchise tag. The show features Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes. Somehow, the Steelers and Pickett found themselves as subjects in the potential chase for the Baltimore Ravens’ former MVP.
Broussard, who also hosts The Odd Couple show on Fox Radio with Rob Parker, initially reacted to who should pursue the chase for Jackson and threw the Steelers into the mix as someone who should jump into the fray:
“I’ve talked about the Jets, you mentioned Detroit,” Broussard said. “I mean what team shouldn’t, Pittsburgh, Tennessee?”
Wright, who has bashed Pittsburgh before as "better than a bye week" in last year's playoffs for the Kansas City Chiefs, took the opportunity and immediately jumped in when Broussard mentioned the Steelers. It looked like he might be the voice of reason, but he quickly dispelled that by unloading on the rookie quarterback:
“Pittsburgh is not doing it,” Wright interjected. “They like Pickett, I don’t know why, he has tiny hands.”
“I like him too,” Broussard responded. “But not like Lamar Jackson.”
Pickett struggled initially when he was thrown into the game at halftime againt the New York Jets in Week 4. He almost brought the Steelers back, but the defense let him down and they lost a winnable game. The rookie signal-caller limped into the bye with his team at 2-6 and two touchdown passes versus eight interceptions.
Credit: Jared Wickerham/Pittsburgh Steelers
Steeler Kenny Pickett (#8) rolls out of the pocket against the Las Vegas Raiders in Pittsburgh, PA.
During the second half of the season, the Steelers went 7-2 and Pickett’s record as a starter in his rookie season was 7-5. He finished with five touchdowns and one interception in the second half of the season. He also led two game-winning drives in back-to-back weeks against the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens to keep Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes alive.
Steelers Encouraged By Fox Sports Host To Dump Kenny Pickett For Derek Carr
This isn’t the first time someone associated with Fox Sports has disrespected the former Pitt Panthers QB and current starter for the Steelers. In February, Jason Smith of Fox Sports Radio encouraged the organization to dump Pickett for Derek Carr:
🎙️ @howaboutafresca: "Pittsburgh is the place for Derek Carr. They can’t go into next season with Kenny Pickett. When things get tough, he’ll still be okay because Mike Tomlin will have his back and everything will be alright!"
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) February 15, 2023
🔊w/@SwollenDome https://t.co/F5QJA646QK
The takes by Wright on Tuesday and Smith last month are just the latest examples of lazy reporting by the national media on the state of the black and gold. The Steelers started poorly last season after they lost TJ Watt, and they were written off as a bad team that was only rescued by Mike Tomlin’s brilliance and overcoming the lack of talent.
The 2022 Steelers were not the 2019 or 2021 versions of the team. The offense was exceedingly young and despite Matt Canada, flashed the potential that an offense centered around Pickett, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and Najee Harris is going to be extremely effective going forward. The team has issues, but the quarterback is not one of them.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' young offense celebrates together.
The conversation about what Jackson does or does not deserve in free agency has nothing to do with Pittsburgh. The Steelers have handled Jackson very well when they have faced him, and he has a losing record against them. The Steelers officially have Ben Roethlisberger off of the salary cap heading into 2023 and they are in a great position with a quarterback on a rookie contract.
The Browns broke the AFC North quarterback situation that the Baltimore Ravens are facing and the silence on an extension or lack thereof of Joe Burrow in Cincinnati is going under the radar for now. Pittsburgh is just fine with Pickett at quarterback, despite the opinions of Fox Sports.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you upset with the Pickett slander? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
