After Terry Bradshaw retired, the Steelers waited 20 years to draft their subsequent potential franchise quarterback. After Ben Roethlisbeger retired, the Steelers wasted no time. Within the very subsequent draft, they used their first-round choose on Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Simply two seasons later, the Steelers pulled the plug on the Pickett experiment, sending him to Philadelphia for a reasonably modest return.
The transfer comes not lengthy after the Steelers have been centered on transferring ahead with Pickett and Mason Rudolph, who began the final three regular-season video games (all wins) and a playoff loss to Buffalo. Lower than one month in the past, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette reported that the Steelers weren’t serious about a veteran quarterback who aspires to start out. One week in the past, that method dramatically modified, with Dulac (in a possible effort by whoever steered him flawed to make amends) reporting that Russell Wilson was visiting the Steelers.
Now, Rudolph has signed with the Titans and Pickett has been traded and Russ has been launched as the brand new starter within the Metal Metropolis.
For many groups, it’s no large deal. For the Steelers, it’s a break from how they do issues. They’re affected person. They don’t make sudden actions. They don’t take large dangers. They don’t go all-in — within the regular sense or the Jerry Jones nonsense sense.
They now are. They’ve admitted that Pickett was a mistake. He did nothing spectacular throughout his two years and 24 begins. His passer ranking was an anemic 78.8. He threw 13 landing passes and 13 interceptions.
And so the Steelers have stepped apart from their stay-the-course method and made a daring transfer. Russ is in. Kenny is out. Mason is gone.
They’ve one quarterback beneath contract in Wilson. It stays to be seen who they’ll add. (Ryan Tannehill stays obtainable.)
For now, we all know one factor. The Steelers have flipped their very own script on how they do issues. It is going to be fascinating to see whether or not it’s an aberration or the beginning of a brand new pattern.
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