Mark Madden on Mason Rudolph: ‘I bet he starts at quarterback for a year or two’

Our first “Madden Monday” podcast of 2021 looks at the Steelers of 2022. Could they really open up that season with Mason Rudolph at quarterback?

In the wake of Sunday’s performance against the Cleveland Browns, Mark Madden seems to think so.

Madden isn’t saying that’s what he’d do. But he’s getting the sense that’s what the Steelers will do.

“I thought he did OK,” Madden said of Rudolph’s 315-yard performance Sunday. “I won’t go any better than OK. But when I consider the way the Steelers do things, I bet he starts at quarterback for a year or two.”

Madden is making that prediction based on tendencies of what he seems to think will be typical Steelers behavior.

“They aren’t going to go after a quarterback which is what I would do. Like a Sam Darnold (New York Jets) or somebody (else) that didn’t cut it after being a high draft pick. So since they won’t do that, they are going to draft a guy. They haven’t drafted him yet. So whoever they do draft, whether it’s next year or the year after — whenever Ben Roethlisberger retires — I bet Rudolph has to start for a year or two.”

Not that Madden is optimistic about that scenario.

“I don’t think (Rudolph) will do very well when he does start. But I think that is how it will work out.”

So essentially the Tommy Maddox kind of contract?

“Not essentially,” Madden replied. “I think they will give him the Tommy Maddox contract. In fact — if I were them — I would literally find the Tommy Maddox contract. Cross out Tommy’s name. And write in Rudolph’s.”

Mark and I also examine the Steelers Week 17 loss in Cleveland, their playoff rematch, the college football national championship, and the Penguins contract extension for John Marino.