Russell Wilson's Next Contract

[Mojouw]

I can't get almost anything to work on here...so not able to quote. Apologies all around.

But...c'mon. This is the most disingenuous argument.

IF the Steelers had just stuck with Trubisky for stability at the position...no one would have liked that.
IF the Steelers had torn it down and done a full scale we stink for 3 years rebuild after Ben left...most fans would have lost their minds.
IF the Steelers had made a massive multi-year $$$ commitment to Fields...most fans would have been skeptical at best.

I can see what you are saying. I talked about how I would have traded Cam and others the year after Ben's injury when it became clear he was cooked. I just posted about how letting Colbert have a 2 year run at the end to "reload" around Ben was a poor decision from a long term franchise view, despite the short term rationale.

But we shouldn't pretend that the Steelers have had a post Ben QB that was worth sticking with.

[Born2Steel]

And just what has moving off of them accomplished? Right back in the same spot they were before. Which begs the question. Are the Steelers Desperate to find a QB, or can't find a QB because they are desperate?

Sooner or later, you have to stop the carousel and start committing.

Lost in all of the shuffle is how the offense is severely underpaid while the Defense, the lifeblood of the group, has been consistently garbage during the postseason drought. Now if the Steelers have been losing close games because they can't generate enough offense, then there would be a case of the QB being the problem, but they haven't. The Steelers Defense has been absolute dog water. No QB is going to fix that.



Two of those guys have actually won playoff games. Went to an AFC Title Game with one of them.

Anyone of them. At least the Steelers would have a semblance of a plan at the position going on instead of just flinging shit at a wall. Fields bolted because he wasn't sure he was going to be benched at the first sign of trouble, for a dude was also no longer wanted on the team. You can thank "Mr. Highly Compensated" for that. The track record speaks for itself. For all the things Pittsburgh prides itself in for its "stability", yet they are highly unstable and dysfunctional at the most important position in the league. Even the 80's Steelers weren't this terrible. I'd rather have one mediocre QB who stinks for years, than cycling through many QB's who are clearly aren't the answer.



Yes. This is what teams who celebrate 9-8 every season are left to do. Their mistake was not rebuilding after Ben. But they want their cake and eat it too. Get the 9-8 glory but going nowhere. For what? For Patrick Queens, Minkah Fitzpatricks, and other defensive "stars" who are useless in the playoffs.

It's over for this current core, and it's time to rebuild. If what transpires in 2025 plays out like I hope it does, they're thankfully finally pulling the plug on this current experiment and stocking up for the 2026 draft.

Plays out like you hope it does?

[Born2Steel]

Kellen Mond is currently playing in the UFL. I liked him coming out of Texas A&M. I'm still willing to give him a shot at our QB job.

[Voice of Reason]

What Russell Wilson said about his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers

"Pittsburgh was a good place for me, man. It really helped rejuvenate me, just in every way

I shudder to think how badly he would have played in those last five games if he hadn't been "rejuvenated".

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I

But we shouldn't pretend that the Steelers have had a post Ben QB that was worth sticking with.

Truth.

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Kellen Mond is currently playing in the UFL. I liked him coming out of Texas A&M. I'm still willing to give him a shot at our QB job.

I thought he was inaccurate, overhyped and made some poor decisions. I guess he is in the UFL for a reason.

[Edman]

But we shouldn't pretend that the Steelers have had a post Ben QB that was worth sticking with.

And that's how you end up with a Quarterback Room with Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson.

"Worth" has nothing to do with it. It about having a plan for the position. What are we doing? Nobody may have liked those moves you mentioned, but at least there would be an understanding and confidence that the team has an idea of what they're doing.

Somebody mentioned the Steelers to find Ben 2.0. Ben 2.0 isn't showing up if you keep wasting your time on projects who clearly aren't the answer. If it we followed your rationale, we would've dropped Ben after he had a terrible 2006 season where he led the league in interceptions and the team finished 8-8. We would've signed Chad Pennington or something.

[Mojouw]

And that's how you end up with a Quarterback Room with Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson.

"Worth" has nothing to do with it. It about having a plan for the position. What are we doing? Nobody may have liked those moves you mentioned, but at least there would be an understanding and confidence that the team has an idea of what they're doing.

Somebody mentioned the Steelers to find Ben 2.0. Ben 2.0 isn't showing up if you keep wasting your time on projects who clearly aren't the answer. If it we followed your rationale, we would've dropped Ben after he had a terrible 2006 season where he led the league in interceptions and the team finished 8-8. We would've signed Chad Pennington or something.

I honestly have no idea what you are proposing as the alternative "solution".

It kinda sounds like tanking. But I am not sure if that is what you are getting at.

If it is tanking or whatever you want to call making sure you have the highest draft pick possible...as long as the Rooneys own the team it isn't happening. FWIW, I think what is taking place right now is about as close as the Steelers will allow themselves to get to full on "Suck for Luck" style tank.

If it is just rolling with stability from one season to the next so it seems like something or other...I can't get that. I mean that is just how you end up totally lost as a franchise. And not just the lost that TV and internet "pundits" rant about.

I really feel that is where all the Steelers fan gnashing of teeth and rending of garments about the "QB plan" is coming from. Basically the NFL man on the TV or the internet said "WHAT IS THE PLAN?! I JUST DON"T SEE IT!" and then everyone freaks out. But, step back, and remember that the NFL media pundits are morons who talk out of both sides of their ass.

1. Same NFL media pundits just trash teams when they obviously tank for draft position to get a QB.
2. Same NFL media pundits laugh and deride teams when they over-pay for veteran QBs instead of rebuilding.
3. Same NFL media pundits call teams out when they stick with failed or failing prospects for too long.

I could go on. But I think everyone gets the point. In the recent seasons the Steelers have "respected" their veterans on the roster by trying to remain "competitive" and not tank. They moved off of washed up vets and reclamation projects quickly. They moved off flailing prospect quickly. They have accumulated extra assets to try and maneuver in the draft for a more highly rated prospect. The Steelers have done all the things that the NFL media pundits CLAIM they want to see a team do.

But, since it is all about generating controversy, these same pundits now claim they would rather have seen the team draft Shad Sanders or trade for Kirk Cousins. We saw the Atlanta Falcons do BOTH of those things last season with Pennix standing in for Sanders and the EXACT same media guys clowned on them for it.

The only thing the Steelers haven't done, and I think they should have done this, would have been to trade a recent first round pick for a future first in order to "control" their ability to move high in the draft more.

I am not arguing that the plan has been perfect. Starting Trubisky at all, ever, was dumb. Not firing Canada a season+ sooner was dumb. Drafting a RB in the first round was dumb - despite the fact that I am and remain a Harris supporter. But I am at a lose to see when and where they had a better option than they took...

[El Kabong]

Ben 2.0 isn't showing up if you keep wasting your time on projects who clearly aren't the answer.

I don't understand this. I would think you would find Ben 2.0 faster if you cycle through prospects faster. See that a guy is mediocre and get rid of him quickly. What's the point in keeping a mediocre guy for years? Doesn't that delay getting Ben 2.0?

If it we followed your rationale, we would've dropped Ben after he had a terrible 2006 season where he led the league in interceptions and the team finished 8-8. We would've signed Chad Pennington or something.

That's just silly. By 2006 Ben had already won a Super Bowl and showed signs of greatness. Of course no one was dumping Ben in 2006.

Trubisky, Pickett, Fields, Wilson...any of these guys show the kind of greatness Ben did by 2006 that we should be beside ourselves for having let them go?

[Born2Steel]

Russell Wilson plays for the Giants now. Are they a better team because of him now? Have to wait and see.

I think the Jets will be better with Fields than they were last season with ARod coming back from injury. But again, we don't know that and will have to wait it out.

Trubisky is not making anybody better. He's done as the face of a franchise I would think.

Kenny Pickett was already benched by Mason Rudolph here once. I think he would be an upgrade over Thompson in our QB room. But I don't know he would be better than Howard. Have to wait and see on that as well.

[Edman]

I don't understand this. I would think you would find Ben 2.0 faster if you cycle through prospects faster. See that a guy is mediocre and get rid of him quickly. What's the point in keeping a mediocre guy for years? Doesn't that delay getting Ben 2.0?

Calling Mitch Trubisky and Russ Wilson "prospects" is very generous. They were stop gaps at best. Signing Russ Wilson and dumping Kenny Pickett last year was a mistake then and it was an even bigger mistake now. The only reason Russ was signed was because Cam recruited him to the team for a "ride", yeah they got the ride alright. Straight into a brick wall.

That's just silly. By 2006 Ben had already won a Super Bowl and showed signs of greatness. Of course no one was dumping Ben in 2006.

Ben's "signs of greatness" was that he could hand the ball off really well to HOF'er Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker and knew how to get the ball to his veteran playmakers. He was supported by a Fantastic running game, and a great Defense. Doesn't hurt to have solid playmakers like Hines Ward, Randle El, and Plaxico Burress to throw to. Oh, and he also had a great Offensive Line and a great OC on Ken Whisenhunt. Ben had great ability (Play Extension, Powerful Arm, Mobility) but was was surrounded by a rock-solid team and infrastructure where he could grow and develop as a QB. And yet despite that, Ben still faced his struggles because he wasn't polished or perfect. This board would've hung him after 2006 if they held him to the same standards as they do the QB's now.

You know how Brock Purdy gets savaged for being carried by "the system"? Ben was the poster boy for that back in the day.

Trubisky, Pickett, Fields, Wilson...any of these guys show the kind of greatness Ben did by 2006 that we should be beside ourselves for having let them go?

They also did not have what Young Ben had. Their best WR was George Pickens, their best runner was Najee Harris, and they had no Offensive Line, and horrible OC's and overly conservative Canada/Smith offenses that do not throw to the middle of the field. Their Defenses also weren't as good as advertised. That's a major difference.

When you cycle through several different QB's and they all look the exact same thing, maybe it's not all the QB.

But lets just forget that. They just need to find this mystical QB who will magically fix everything.

[Mojouw]

There have been some strong takes on here before. But, this one might be a in league of its own.

[El Kabong]

Calling Mitch Trubisky and Russ Wilson "prospects" is very generous. They were stop gaps at best. Signing Russ Wilson and dumping Kenny Pickett last year was a mistake then and it was an even bigger mistake now. The only reason Russ was signed was because Cam recruited him to the team for a "ride", yeah they got the ride alright. Straight into a brick wall.



Ben's "signs of greatness" was that he could hand the ball off really well to HOF'er Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker and knew how to get the ball to his veteran playmakers. He was supported by a Fantastic running game, and a great Defense. Doesn't hurt to have solid playmakers like Hines Ward, Randle El, and Plaxico Burress to throw to. Oh, and he also had a great Offensive Line and a great OC on Ken Whisenhunt. Ben had great ability (Play Extension, Powerful Arm, Mobility) but was was surrounded by a rock-solid team and infrastructure where he could grow and develop as a QB. And yet despite that, Ben still faced his struggles because he wasn't polished or perfect. This board would've hung him after 2006 if they held him to the same standards as they do the QB's now.

You know how Brock Purdy gets savaged for being carried by "the system"? Ben was the poster boy for that back in the day.



They also did not have what Young Ben had. Their best WR was George Pickens, their best runner was Najee Harris, and they had no Offensive Line, and horrible OC's and overly conservative Canada/Smith offenses that do not throw to the middle of the field. Their Defenses also weren't as good as advertised. That's a major difference.

When you cycle through several different QB's and they all look the exact same thing, maybe it's not all the QB.

But lets just forget that. They just need to find this mystical QB who will magically fix everything.

Ben showed fantastic ability to pull out victories in the final seconds of games right from the start. That didn't start with LXIII, Ben did that as a rookie. It's not like Ben was just carried by his team.

If you're trying to say that young Ben would have looked no different than Fields or Wilson on this team last year, I strongly disagree.

[Edman]

Ben showed fantastic ability to pull out victories in the final seconds of games right from the start.

So did Kenny Pickett. Kenny had quite a few comeback wins in 2022. He even won more games as a starter. We know the story on that.

If you're trying to say that young Ben would have looked no different than Fields or Wilson on this team last year, I strongly disagree.

Can you name one player or unit from the 2022-2024 roster that is on par talent-wise to their roster counterpart of the 2004-2008 Steelers teams Ben had? What quarterback is succeeding with George Pickens and Diontae Johnson as his top receivers? Van Jefferson as his #2? Kendrick Green/Mason Cole as his center? A Defense that allows 300 yards rushing?

Ben had talent and could play with the best and wasn't carried but I also don't pretend that he was some one-man show dragging untalented teams to wins. He was surrounded by a LOT of championship talent. And far superior coaching.

I'll just leave it at that, though. We disagree and that's it.

[Voice of Reason]

When you cycle through several different QB's and they all look the exact same thing, maybe it's not all the QB.

I've been saying this since I've been here. They won't listen.

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Ben showed fantastic ability to pull out victories in the final seconds of games right from the start.

So did Kenny.

[El Kabong]

So did Kenny.

Is it your position that if only Kenny had had more time here he would have become as good as Ben?

[Voice of Reason]

Is it your position that if only Kenny had had more time here he would have become as good as Ben?

No, but IMO he probably would have become good enough to eventually lead the Steelers to at least some playoff wins, and maybe even a Super Bowl if things went right. Also good enough that we would not be forced this year to depend on a 42-year-old head case as our QB, or forced to spend major draft pick capital on a new QB in 2026.