Steelers and Pirates fans seem to be in a Goldilocks kind of mode this week.
Some think my porridge is too hot. Some think it’s too cold. Some think I’m serving it up to the wrong people.
Personally, I think it’s just right.
You be the judge in this week’s “U mad, bro?”
Robert appears to believe that I’ve been too hard on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this season.
“Mr. Benz, it’s easy to beat on Ben when he is near the end of his career. But why don’t you even mention Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert and silent owner Art Rooney II being accountable for the plight of the Steelers? It’s fun to beat on Ben when he is down, isn’t it?”
Well, Robert, the Cleveland Browns sure enjoyed beating on Ben during that playoff game, didn’t they?
I’d prefer they didn’t. I would’ve preferred Roethlisberger stay on the Pro Bowl level of play he exhibited the first two months of the season. That didn’t happen, though, and he needed to be criticized for it.
Plus, it’s not like I’ve avoided being critical of Tomlin. And Rooney’s postseason wrap-up is likely to happen sometime this week or next. So, you can be plenty sure I’ll have some comments after he speaks.
As far as Colbert goes, the roster he assembled was good enough to go 11-0 to start the season. But, yes, there are massive holes along the offensive line and at running back that weren’t properly addressed this offseason. As well as looming depth concerns at inside linebacker, pass rusher, cornerback and tight end that need to be patched this spring.
The Steelers groundhog ducked into his hole a few weeks ago. It’s going to be a long winter around here. Plenty of blame to go around, Robby. Hang in there.
This guy doesn’t like some shots I’ve recently taken at JuJu Smith-Schuster or my mention of how he stoked free agency talk during a recent video game session.
He seems to think I haven’t been hard enough on Roethlisberger.
He playing you idiots so bad. Lmao. You guys failing for him trolling. Clowns like high school girls. We all laughing at you goofs doing anything to keep the attention off benny giving the playoff game away and crying cause baker pounded him
— #Mason21 (@Mason2113) January 16, 2021
I think you mean “falling,” but I get the point. We’ll see who is tweeting laughing emojis if Smith-Schuster comes back to Heinz Field in another team’s uniform sometime soon.
And as for deflecting attention from “Benny,” who is doing that, exactly? How many times do I need to write about how badly he played down the stretch of the season before you realize I’m calling him out, too?
Just ask the guy above you.
David didn’t like my recent post — defending an older post — about Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
“Why would you suggest Brady for QB in Pittsburgh when he is at the end of his career? You even said he looked (bad) in last year’s playoff loss. So what is different this year?
“It is obviously the rest of the team around him. Like it used to be in New England, and a line. All day to throw. Tampa Bay is trying to buy a Super Bowl ring. I don’t believe you can in football. Anything less than a ring for them is a bust even within a covid-19 season.”
A couple things, Dave.
• The original column (in January 2020) suggested the Steelers should’ve been ready to join the bidding for Brady (in March 2020) only if Roethlisberger’s elbow didn’t recover. Which, eventually, it did.
Well, at least to the degree that they started 11-0.
• If the Bucs are trying to “buy” a Super Bowl, that doesn’t offend me. And, like you said yourself, is that even possible to do in the NFL? And how is it impossible to do if they are four quarters from winning one?
• How is 2020 “a bust” when it’s only the franchise’s second NFC championship and first Super Bowl trip in 20 years?
• New England’s offensive lines during Brady’s career were plenty good enough. But if you think that Patriots offensive lines made Brady, more than Brady made the offensive lines over the course of 20 seasons, then … well, I can’t help you.
Aside from all that, your email made total sense and was 100% accurate.
Theodore emailed me about speculation surrounding the Steelers’ level of interest in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“Don’t promote a bad idea. Mason (Rudolph) will be fine….Hopefully, if Ben retires and Steelers think they need a QB, then they should pick one up in the first round. Wouldn’t mind Mac Jones or maybe even Kyle Trask from Florida. It would be best to get a QB that played in a pro set offense.”
You’re right, Teddy. Why not draft an unproven college kid instead of the guy who just led the NFL in passing yards, yards per completions, and was second in passer rating? At the age of 25.
If you want to argue that the Steelers can’t (or shouldn’t) bring on Watson’s contract, fine. If you want to argue that it would cost too much in draft stock to acquire him, OK.
But don’t try to tell me that Mason Rudolph is as capable of the job right now as Deshaun Watson is.
That’s almost like saying Tom Brady is a product of his offensive linemen. Not that anybody would actually say that.
Oh … right.
Nathan does not appreciate some of my recent commentary on the Pirates and general manager Ben Cherington.
“Your negativities in judging Cherington, his purposes, trades, etc has become so wearing I no longer wish to read. A real fan has great expectations in the off season.”
OK, Pip. Whatever you say.
“Great expectations” in the offseason? Which offseason? Roughly 2040? Because it seems to me that’s Cherington’s plan before he gets a competitive team on the field again.
Since you aren’t reading my column anymore, maybe you should read “Great Expectations.”
“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching.”
“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears.”
“Ask no questions, and you’ll be told no lies.”
“Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.”
Sounds to me like Charles Dickens was a Pirates fan.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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