Steelers News: Why going with Mason Rudolph moving forward is the right call

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 7 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares to rest and recover during their bye week we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at the Steelers are making the right choice starting Mason Rudolph, despite what fans might think.

Let’s get to the news:

• There were many who thought after Week 6 the Steelers should give Devlin Hodges the starting job over Mason Rudolph. Why they made the right call.

Tim Benz: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin makes right call on quarterbacks, despite odd logic

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

What Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin decided to do with his quarterback situation was the right move.

I’m just not so sure about the logic he used to get there.

Or why he is as secure in the decision as he appears to be.

On Wednesday, Tomlin was asked if Mason Rudolph would be the starting quarterback when he recovered from his concussion.

“Yes,” Tomlin said flatly. “If that makes you guys feel good.”

Well, gosh, Mike. I felt good anyway. But thanks for making such an important decision on my account.

“Seriously, guys. That guy is our quarterback when he clears the (concussion) protocol. And it’s as simple as that,” Tomlin responded when I asked further about what went into the decision. “We appreciate the efforts of Duck. But as soon as (Rudolph) is ready to go, he’s ready to go.”

So it appears that Hodges was strictly bridging the gap until Rudolph got healthy and wasn’t auditioning for anything further, regardless of how well he may have played.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Don’t think NFL players have any power? Think again...

Mark Madden: Antonio Brown, Jalen Ramsey prove NFL players have the power

By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Antonio Brown set a standard for every star player in the NFL, however chaotically so. It had nothing to do with his talent. That might be on ice for keeps because Brown ultimately outsmarted himself.

But Brown set wheels in motion that will turn the NFL into European soccer.

Whenever a player wants to change teams in European soccer, all he has to do is say so. Then, whether by grace or petulance, that player gets his way. It happens 95 percent of the time.

Contract length doesn’t matter. What the team wants isn’t much considered. The players have the power. Most of the greats get funneled to a precious few destination teams.

Brown duplicated that act in the NFL, taking it to absurd depths. The harebrained wide receiver left decency and honesty in a mangled heap as he finagled his way from Pittsburgh to Oakland to New England inside of six months.

Ignore Brown’s bad end with the Patriots, and it’s a blueprint.

Jalen Ramsey added his own variations. But the former All-Pro cornerback got his wish to be traded this week when he exited Jacksonville for the Los Angeles Rams.

Ramsey’s trek wasn’t as bloody as Brown’s. But Ramsey only played the first three of the Jaguars’ six games, missing time through paternity leave, back and hamstring injuries and the flu.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Trey Edmunds is just trying to make a name for himself with the Steelers providing him that shot.

Trey Edmunds shows value in first action of season for Steelers

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Trey Edmunds did not play a snap on offense during his 2019 regular-season debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the running-back-by-trade showed why the organization values him.

“As coach (Mike) Tomlin says, he’s varsity special teamer,” Steelers running backs coach Eddie Faulkner said of Edmunds. “And that’s what’s kept him around.”

With Jaylen Samuels out because of a knee injury, the Steelers promoted Edmunds from their practice squad to serve as the No. 3 running back during last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Though the performances of James Conner and Benny Snell rendered the need for any other runners moot, Edmunds did play 17 special-teams snaps. Only Ulysees Gilbert played more for the Steelers.

Edmunds’ biggest impact was on the Chargers’ onsides kick in the final minutes when Edmunds occupied two Los Angeles players, allowing Cameron Sutton to leap to secure the ball and allow the Steelers to maintain possession.

Faulkner, unsolicited, brought the play up. Edmunds downplayed his efforts on the sequence.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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