Friday Football Footnotes: Art Rooney II says Steelers will keep Mitch Trubisky, pursue NFL Draft

This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” looks at Mitch Trubisky’s future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also discuss the prospects of the city hosting the NFL draft, and potentially keeping the prospect of AFC Championship home games.

Speaking of AFC Championship games, we also have an update on Patrick Mahomes’ injury and some high-level trash talk, minus any self-awareness.

More Mitch

According to Steelers owner Art Rooney II, his franchise plans to keep quarterback Mitch Trubisky as Kenny Pickett’s backup.

Trubisky was signed to a two-year contract before the 2022 season. But he was benched in favor of Pickett before the fourth game of the season was over. Many wondered if Trubisky would ask for trade.

So far, apparently, that hasn’t happened. According to OverTheCap.com, the team could save $8 million against the salary cap if he is released. Apparently, that isn’t going to happen either.

“I expect Mitch will be on the roster next year and be an effective backup if we need him,” Rooney II said on KDKA-TV. “I think he showed that he can be that. We can win with him.”

Trubisky came off the bench to help the Steelers win when Pickett was concussed against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also threw three interceptions and lost against the Baltimore Ravens when he relieved Pickett following his second concussion. But he started the next week and helped beat the Carolina Panthers.

Feeling a draft?

Also during Bob Pompeani’s interview with Rooney II, the topic of Pittsburgh hosting the NFL draft came up.

“We want to pursue hosting the draft in Pittsburgh. (We) have had some discussions about it. So it’s something that is definitely on our radar screen that we are going to try to pursue,” Rooney II said.

The draft was held in New York City from 1965-2014, often at Radio City Music Hall. It has since moved around to various NFL towns including Chicago, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Cleveland and Dallas.

The event will take place in Kansas City again in 2023, and it’ll be in Detroit in 2024. No host has been designated as of yet for 2025.

More sports

• Tim Benz: Ranking the Steelers’ 6 wins, 5 losses in home AFC Championship games
• Art Rooney II: Improved offense in 2nd half of season led to Matt Canada's return as offensive coordinator
• U mad, bro?: Readers angry about Steelers criticism, Tremaine Edmunds speculation, Ivan Provorov column

Another level

On Thursday, Rooney II came out against the idea of moving AFC and NFC Championship games to neutral site venues. During a recent “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, Steelers.com contributor and team historian Bob Labriola said that Rooney’s predecessor, his father, Dan Rooney, had been pushing back against that idea for decades.

Part of the reason Labriola thinks other owners, like Rooney II, will argue against neutral site venues is that it will suck public revenue away from municipalities where the home stadiums are located.

“The economic impact to the city is pretty significant,” Labriola said. “Do you want to give that up? Or do you have some sort of loyalty to your city that you business-partner with? “

As Labriola and I further discussed, that issue may be particularly relevant for any franchise that may be angling for a new stadium that may need public assistance to construct.

By the way, have I mentioned that the Steelers are roughly two-thirds of the way through their Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium lease that ends in 2030?

Did I bring that up yet?

Nothin’ for nuthin’

This was quite the turn.

Here’s Kansas Chiefs linebacker William Gay in advance of the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals: “We don’t do no talkin’.”

Also, William Gay:

Not many words from #Chiefs LB Willie Gay today but one thing stood out.

“What impresses you about that Bengals offense?”

“Nothing.” pic.twitter.com/lp6KQ2HeAG

— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) January 26, 2023

What? Nothing impresses you about the Bengals offense? No Joe Burrow? Not Ja’Marr Chase? Tee Higgins? Joe Mixon?

Not even tight end Hayden Hurst? I mean, the guy survived the sting of being a Pittsburgh Pirate to go on to a successful career in professional athletics. That almost never happens!

As far as a response from the Bengals? Here’s what Chase said.

“I ain’t got no response for him. We gonna get him. I ain’t got no response.”

Again … “I have no response.”

Also, “We gonna get him.”

More on Mahomes

Speaking of that game, Patrick Mahomes’ high ankle sprain apparently is healing quickly. That’s according to offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Although Bieniemy can’t figure out how that injury is getting better so fast. “I have no idea, but I want whatever he’s taking.” Bieniemy said via ProFootballTalk.com. “It’s the intestinal fortitude that’s in him. He just refuses to accept that he’s not going to put himself out there to be with his teammates. You love that about him. Last week was a unique situation and difficult in a lot of ways because obviously you always want to make sure that the player is OK, but more importantly, you also know that he can give you the best chance of winning.”

Because reports have been positive about Mahomes’ recovery, the Chiefs are now one-point favorites over the Bengals, according to BetRivers.com. Cincinnati had opened as the favorites earlier in the week.

We previewed the AFC Championship game with Soren Petro of Sports Radio 810 WHB Radio during Thursday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast.