Mark Madden: Mike Tomlin continues to disrespect Steelers savior Mason Rudolph

Mason Rudolph will start at Buffalo.

But Kenny Pickett is still QB1 on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ official depth chart.

Mike Tomlin got salty when he was asked about it.

This has zero to do with Sunday’s playoff game. But it’s an aggravating look inside the screwy way Tomlin and the Steelers organization have come to think.

This is not a media-manufactured controversy. The media didn’t manufacture the depth chart.

What good comes from listing Pickett as QB1? There just isn’t a logical reason to do it.

It’s disrespectful to Mason Rudolph. As noted, Rudolph is starting Sunday despite being listed as the backup.

Rudolph saved the Steelers’ season. He got Tomlin’s overrated backside off the perceived hot seat. In his three starts, Rudolph posted passer ratings of 112 or better. He has given the offense poise and rhythm it’s lacked since Ben Roethlisberger retired. That Pickett can’t assemble.

But Tomlin has been sparing in his praise of Rudolph, referring to him almost dismissively as “the hot hand.” He is not good, just on a heater. Tomlin cites Rudolph’s confidence in himself, but not his own faith in Rudolph.

Now this: Listed as QB2 a few days before he starts a playoff game.

I’ve rolled my eyes at the thought that Tomlin just doesn’t like Rudolph. But that’s getting harder to dismiss. Respect and fair treatment for Rudolph has been minimal.

When asked about not changing the depth chart, Tomlin snapped, “Would it make you feel better if I did?”

No. It would make me feel better if the Steelers got a new head coach. One who wins playoff games by way of justifying his comical level of self-importance.

Listing Rudolph as QB1 would merely be accurate. Not doing so provokes unnecessary wonder.

The depth chart insults Rudolph.

It makes Tomlin look stupid.

Does it placate Pickett? Does it soothe Pickett’s ego for him to be able to look at the depth chart and pretend? Is Pickett really that soft?

Probably. This is further papering over Pickett’s refusal to dress as the backup Week 17 at Seattle. How can you not believe that now?

Pickett seems to think he should have been reinstated as the starter the minute he was medically cleared. That’s regardless of Rudolph’s quality performance or how poorly Pickett played prior to injury.

This is all silly but is 100% created by the Steelers. It’s unspeakably dumb, especially right before a playoff game.

It tells Rudolph, who will be a free agent, that he should escape Pittsburgh in rapid fashion the minute the Steelers’ season ends. (That’s presuming other offers.) The insult of the depth chart should remind Rudolph that he was never treated fairly by Tomlin unless desperation beckoned.

If the Steelers bring Rudolph back, fans will clamor for him to play the moment Pickett struggles. That’s why they probably won’t bring Rudolph back.

Unless Rudolph wins at Buffalo. That would open a can of worms.

If the Steelers are so committed to Pickett even as he rides the bench, Tomlin should put his cojones where his depth chart is and start Pickett at Buffalo. Not indulge goofy games a head coach of 17 years should be embarrassed to play.