Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett has lit the NFL world on fire due to his impeccable preseason performance in 2023. He has shown that he is ready to take a leap as he enters his second season in the league and his first full season as the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh. He has turned a lot of doubters into believers, and has the Steelers poised for another winning season and a playoff appearance in 2023. However, Pickett is still being mocked by media and opponents due to his "tiny hands".
Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kenny Pickett still receiving backlash for his hand size
Steelers' Pickett Mocked By Marlon Humphrey For His Small Hands
While going through the pre-draft process, Pickett was constantly berated for his hand size with many saying his hands would be an issue at the NFL level. The thought was that he would have issues with holding onto the ball while under pressure, and fumble a bit.
Pickett did fumbled four times in his rookie year, but only lost one. Four fumbles by a quarterback might seem like a lot, but for a player who touches the ball in some way every single play, it's not. Almost every quarterback had more fumbles in 2022 than Pickett.
Jordan Schofield / Steeler Nation (Twitter: JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Kenny Pickett first NFL game against the New York Jets
The latest to rip on Pickett for his hand size, was Marlon Humphrey, who is a star cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers biggest rival in the NFL. On a recent episode of Humphrey's podcast, Punch Line Podcast With Marlon Humphrey, Humphrey's co-host challenged him to see if he could name every starting quarterback in the NFL just by seeing their picture. Humphrey definitely recognized Pickett, but took the time to poke fun at him for his hand size.
"Twoooooo hands, two hands, Kenny Pickett, tiny hands."
This was an unnecessary shot towards Pickett. They're divisional rivals, so it makes sense to talk some trash to one another, but nonetheless, still unnecessary. The "two hands" comment can mean a couple things. It likely means he is making a joke about Pickett needing two hands to hold a football, or it could be a knock on Pickett for wearing two gloves. Pickett has said it just makes him more comfortable throwing the ball, but it is still strange and out of the ordinary to see a quarterback wear two receiver gloves on a consistent basis.
Punch Line Podcast With Marlon Humphrey / YouTube
Steelers' Kenny Pickett is mocked by Ravens' Marlon Humphrey
Pickett has only really played one game against the Ravens and Humphrey, as he was concussed early on in the two team's Week 14 matchup. In his one game against the Ravens, the Steelers got the victory by a score of 16-13. The Steelers were fighting for a chance to make the playoffs, and had they lost that game, they likely would've been eliminated from any shot at postseason play. Pickett led a two-minute drill drive while down 13-9, and threw the game winning touchdown to Najee Harris to seal the Steelers' victory.
In addition to throwing the game winning touchdown pass, Pickett threw for 168 yards and committed zero turnovers which inevitably gave the Steelers an opportunity to win the game late. This could be a reason Humphrey feels the need to poke fun at Pickett for a joke that NFL media was making over a year ago, and before Pickett was even a Steeler. Pickett likely won't react to this joke made by Humphrey, but he'll likely remember it next time he lines up across from the Ravens' defense.
What do you think about Humphrey making fun of the starting quarterback for the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!
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