Mark Madden Columns category, Page 29
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Bill Russell’s No. 6 isn’t really retired
On Thursday, the NBA retired Bill Russell’s No. 6 league-wide. He was the first NBA player to be so honored. He was an 11-time champion, a civil rights pioneer and the league’s first Black head coach. Russell passed away July 31. But there was a disclaimer: Players already wearing No....
Mark Madden: Trading for Roquan Smith would improve the Steelers defense, but consider the end game
Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith wants to be traded. The Steelers might be interested, at least in the mind’s eye of our fertile imaginations. Smith is good. Smith, 25, was the eighth pick overall in 2018. He has been second-team All-Pro in each of the last two seasons. Devin Bush isn’t...
Mark Madden: Good for the Brooklyn Nets for standing up to Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant picked Kyrie Irving over Steph Curry. He went to Brooklyn and finagled with the roster. It turned into an excrement show. Durant has won one playoff series during his two seasons in Brooklyn. He wants to be traded, but it appears no team wants to give up what’s...
Mark Madden: Pirates whiff on inaugural Hall of Fame class
The Pirates’ intent is always in question. Their competency is doubtful, too. But you’d think they could at least get the inaugural class of their in-house Hall of Fame right. They didn’t. Fifteen Pirates and four Pittsburgh-based Negro League stars will be honored in a ceremony Sept. 3 at PNC...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: For Steelers players, ‘hold-ins’ work every time
Steelers training camp is the home of the “hold-in.” If it wasn’t born there, it was perfected there. It’s part of the scenery, like lawn chairs. T.J. Watt’s was the noisiest. Diontae Johnson’s was the latest. Minkah Fitzpatrick limited his to OTAs and minicamp. Cam Heyward did it. Probably. It...
Mark Madden: Starting with Mitch Trubisky, little to like in Steelers camp so far
Mitch Trubisky mostly has struggled at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. He had a streak of 17 straight incompletions during seven shots. On Thursday, Trubisky punctuated going 0 for 4 during one team period by swinging his helmet in frustration. Trubisky is with a new team and learning a new offense....
Mark Madden: Training camp ‘hold-in’ accomplishes nothing for Steelers’ Diontae Johnson
Diontae Johnson lost his hold-in. He won’t acknowledge that. But he has. The Steelers won’t give Johnson what he wants: A contract extension with an average annual value of $20 million or more. Negotiation won’t change that. The Steelers don’t often give receivers a second contract. Hines Ward and Antonio...
Mark Madden: At Steelers camp, there are issues more interesting than daily dissection of QB battle
The large mob of Pittsburgh Steelers fans attending training camp at Latrobe is exemplary of our predilection for the meaningless. So enjoy refreshing sports notes, the most disposable of words! • Mason Rudolph is going to earn the Steelers’ starting quarterback job. But he won’t get it. So much for...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers didn’t draft Kenny Pickett to be quick fix
Those who feel Kenny Pickett should have got a presidential-style motorcade into Latrobe, then gifted the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 quarterback job are either dumb or don’t pay attention, perhaps both. Patrick Mahomes was drafted 10th overall in 2017. He started once as a rookie. Jordan Love was drafted 26th...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ quarterback situation seems to be pointed in right direction
Coach Mike Tomlin says he won’t micromanage or overmanage the Steelers’ quarterback situation. But Tomlin will and is. That’s why three quarterbacks are getting equal reps in a “competition” that’s already decided. But the Steelers have effectively handled replacing Ben Roethlisberger. (Getting him to quit was the problem. Now it’s...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ QB competition smokescreen overshadows plenty of roster concerns
Pay attention to the non-battle at quarterback if you like. But Mitch Trubisky will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback. There’s no “competition.” Meantime, plenty of legit issues surround the Steelers as training camp opens. Their problems are great, and they are many. • If the Steelers don’t get much improved...
Mark Madden: Comparing Kenny Pickett to Ben Roethlisberger is unfair but will constantly happen
The Steelers took Kenny Pickett with the 20th pick in this year’s NFL draft. The Steelers took Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th pick in the 2004 NFL draft. Pickett was the first quarterback taken. The next QB didn’t go till the third round. Roethlisberger was the third quarterback taken. Eli...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers have a method with rookies, so expect Kenny Pickett to be 3rd string
When the Steelers drafted Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th selection in this year’s draft, a lot of you thought he might start. Not me. I said that if the Steelers drafted him, Pickett should start. But he won’t. I wouldn’t have drafted Pickett. But the Steelers did. The...
Mark Madden: We will see if Pat Narduzzi is as smart as he thinks he is
In 2021, Pat Narduzzi had his best season since taking over as Pitt football coach in 2015: His Panthers went 11-3, won the ACC and went to a New Year’s Six bowl. The offense was the driving force of the two platoons, averaging 41.4 points (third best in the nation)...
Mark Madden: Outrage over insignificant Madden NFL video game ratings is ridiculous
Blood pressure skyrocketed in Pittsburgh when Acrisure Stadium was christened and the ketchup bottles were removed. They were presumably stored right next to the Joe Paterno statue. But locals already have found a different insignificance to babble about. (It never takes long.) The EA Sports Madden NFL video game player...
Mark Madden: New acquisitions make the Penguins better now but weaknesses remain
The Penguins got older but also better. They heightened their chances for winning immediately, but the subsequent plummet will be that much more precipitous. That’s the plan. A Faustian bargain. Will it work enough? Anything less than playing in the Eastern Conference final seems a letdown. Even that wouldn’t really...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Barry Bonds belongs in Pirates’ inaugural Hall of Fame class
The Pittsburgh Pirates are starting an in-house Hall of Fame. The initial inductees get unveiled Sept. 3 before the Pirates’ home game vs. Toronto. This illustrates the Pirates’ two primary philosophies: “Don’t look here, look over there” and “Here’s a reason to buy a ticket besides lousy baseball.” The first...
Mark Madden: Flyers continue to look foolish with offseason decisions
The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t in prime position. Not like from 2008-18. They’re a pretty good team, no better. Their stars are aging. They haven’t won a playoff series since ’18. They have few prospects to refresh with. They’re stale. Not a legit Stanley Cup contender. But it could be worse....
Mark Madden: With Evgeni Malkin signed, Penguins’ plan comes together, for better or worse
Ron Hextall executed his plan, and did it well. Whether or not it’s the correct plan, and how well it works, is yet to be seen. The Penguins GM kept all four of his marquee free agents, bringing each in at under market value. Probably. The word is that Evgeni...
Mark Madden: From Evgeni Malkin to Heinz Field, fans’ priorities are out of whack
The priorities of Pittsburgh sports fans are way out of whack. A Twitter poll with more than 10,000 responding showed more than 30% voting would rather see Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin retire as Pittsburgh Penguins than have the team win another Stanley Cup. You always can pick...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: A 3-year deal for Evgeni Malkin makes perfect sense
It’s uncertain how the Evgeni Malkin contract saga will end. But one thing is definite: There will be a bad guy. If the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final offer is two years and Malkin declines, the team is the bad guy. If the Penguins’ final offer is three years and Malkin declines,...
Mark Madden: With Kris Letang re-signed in win-now move, Penguins might as well keep Evgeni Malkin, too
Within the context of the Penguins’ desire to win now, GM Ron Hextall couldn’t have done better with Kris Letang’s new contract. The dollar figure of $36.6 million is shockingly low. Letang unquestionably would have commanded more in free agency. I overestimated his mercenary streak. But Letang never has been...
Mark Madden: PR plays major role in NFL’s decision on Deshaun Watson’s punishment
With each day that passes before the NFL’s punishment of Deshaun Watson is determined, the bigger the likelihood that the suspension will be lenient, even minimal. The case has festered for more than a year. A three-day hearing was just held. The two sides will submit paperwork to the disciplinary...
Mark Madden: PNC Park is great but doesn’t compare to Forbes Field
PNC Park is, indeed, a classic ballpark. Everybody says that, but few show up. Many say they’re excited about the Pirates current faux renaissance, but the team still ranks fourth from bottom in MLB attendance. Maybe crowds will increase along with Oneil Cruz’s batting average. Or perhaps Cruz will keep...
Mark Madden Hot Take: Given Penguins’ erroneous quest, Letang’s contract length doesn’t matter
NHL free agency starts July 13. The Pittsburgh Penguins haven’t re-signed Kris Letang or Evgeni Malkin. Malkin is of secondary concern, so let’s consider Letang. The word is that GM Ron Hextall doesn’t want to give anyone a contract longer than three years. That matches the remaining years of Sidney...
