Steelers' Terry Bradshaw Issues Inspired Response To Colin Cowherd's Criticism Of Kenny Pickett's Arm

The Pittsburgh Steelers' last player to win the NFL MVP Award, Terry Bradshaw, has been part of the NFL on Fox studio show since its inception. Bradshaw’s homespun takes on NFL football have been a Sunday staple for 30 years. Bradshaw’s network has been assigned to cover the NFC primarily for all of that time, so he has rarely had the opportunity on Fox to delve deeply into the Steelers. 

On Sunday night, Bradshaw let loose with a heartfelt endorsement of Kenny Pickett. Anthony G. Halkias covered the genuinely affectionate words from the Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback for SteelerNation.com. Bradshaw's affection for Pickett is a well-known fact and comes on the heels of a nearly non-existent relationship with Ben Roethlisberger. 

Building on his comments from Sunday night, he went even further with his praise for the second-year signal-caller on Monday. Bradshaw echoed and expanded on the effusive praise in an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Monday afternoon. 

“I love him, I said it on the air yesterday, I love him,” Bradshaw began. “I start with poise. Every quarterback must be able to handle the fire from the pocket. He does that extremely well. He’s got everything that I want in a quarterback. Maybe not ideal size.”

Bradshaw’s expanded analysis is a little surprising because Pickett has been criticized for abandoning clean pockets this season. The Steelers' current quarterback is not the prototypical quarterback. He is mobile, but he isn’t Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts. He has good size, but is not Anthony Richardson or Josh Allen. Colin Cowherd threw one of his critiques of Pickett at Bradshaw about not having a huge arm.

“You don’t need a huge arm if you’ve got a huge brain,” Bradshaw bristled. “You see things faster. You go to the receivers quicker because your brain is fast. You understand. That, to me, is critical. A lot of people don’t like him. That’s fine. I’ll take that sucker all day long. “

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50 years of football knowledge spilled out onto Cowherd’s studio set. Bradshaw called his plays as the Pittsburgh quarterback under Chuck Noll. He was rarely recognized as a brilliant tactician during his playing career. It is why he has delivered solid NFL analysis for Fox Sports for three decades. 

Cowherd often projects himself to be a quarterback guru and embraces the offensive side of the game. The Fox Sports host has no respect for defense and defensive coaches. He has waivered on Pickett quite a bit over the 2023 season. He has called Pickett both a bust and compared him favorably to the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow.

The one thing that Cowherd would have a hard time disputing is that Pickett embraces the big moment. Whatever other problems exist, unlike some quarterbacks like Justin Herbert, for example, when the game shifts to the fourth quarter, Pickett finds a way. He’s just a little sharper and a little better with the game on the line.

“He doesn’t give rats a** about touchdown passes or anything else. All he cares about is winning,” Bradshaw echoed his sentiments from the Fox broadcast. “Yesterday, no touchdowns. None whatsoever. But he still completed a high percentage of his passes. They won the football game.”

In a word, Pickett has moxie. He will not be the first quarterback picked to start a franchise and is in good company in that regard. Joe Montana was not a unique physical specimen. He just went 4-0 in Super Bowls and was arguably the best quarterback of the Super Bowl era.

All the arm talent in the world can’t make you a great quarterback in the clutch. Patrick Mahomes has both traits. It makes him a special player, and maybe he will go down as the best when it is all said and done. The combination of both is rare, so if you have to choose between arm talent and grit, the Steelers chose correctly, as Cowherd points out.

“I talk to GMs about this, and it’s totally underrated,” Cowherd stated. “Kenny Pickett has physical courage. He will stand there to the last second. You played in an era where if you didn’t have it, you were out of the league. We play in an era now where there’s a lot of stuff behind the lines. Not all these kids are willing to get hit. Kenny is willing to get hit, and GMs love that.”

Cowherd’s point is a solid one about Pickett. The league’s protection of quarterbacks, to the detriment of the game, has allowed more than a few players onto the field before they were ready. The NFL has even developed the rookie quarterback window as a viable Super Bowl strategy. If a team hits on the pick, they are a contender. If they do not, they move on quickly.

“Here’s the thing, let me correct you. Nobody playing quarterback wants to get hit,” Bradshaw smiled. “On Monday or Tuesday, when they look at the tape, everyone in that offensive meeting, they look and see what you just got. It may have been their guy that got you. They take it personal, and they love you when you stand in there like that and show that courage. It’s a great way of leading a football team when you can display courage.”

Bradshaw's first five years in the NFL were an extremely challenging time for him. He was benched multiple times after turning the ball over relentlessly. Fans did not truly embrace him until the Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X. Bradshaw's early struggles may have helped him build a bond with Pickett, who faced his own challenges to start his career. 

It doesn't mean Pickett will win four Super Bowls and become a Hall of Fame quarterback. What Bradshaw is saying is that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Pickett has the most essential tool in a quarterback's tool kit, which is why he has amassed five come-from-behind wins in his 11 career victories. He might not lead the league in passing, but will fans care if the Steelers start winning playoff games? 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is Bradshaw on the money with his praise for Pickett? Please comment below, or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq. 

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