My inbox this week was stuffed with plenty of emails about the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback conundrum. Offensive line concerns. Journalism lectures. Penguins negativity. And hamburger commercials.

I didn’t get any Valentine’s Day e-cards though. That was sad.

But in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, “U mad, bro?” is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get … but you always would’ve preferred the gift of alcohol instead.

Here’s this week’s edition. Drink up.

Based on this email, it appears Don is frustrated by the direction of the Steelers. He is even more frustrated at my suggestion that they should be part of the bidding process on the likes of Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers if those guys become available on the trade market. Which, considering news over Super Bowl weekend, may be a moot point.

“No quarterback on the team. What??? When did that happen? Didn’t see that coming, for the last five years!

Yeah, make another franchise-killing move by trading more draft choices for another old QB. That’s the answer???? If you can’t build a respectable team, just talk a good game. Talk is really cheap these days.

There is no positive direction, or any indication of going in one. The Steelers have a new standard, DAZED AND CONFUSED.”

Carr isn’t that old, Don. He’s 30. A 34-year-old named Matthew Stafford just won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.

Another “old” quarterback just won the NFL’s MVP at the age of 38. His name is Aaron Rodgers and that was his fourth time winning the trophy. Which is why I’m saying it’s — at the very least — worth asking the Green Bay Packers what the price would be to acquire him.

Then there was the oldest guy of the bunch, Tom Brady, who finished second in the MVP balloting at age 44 and was part of a division-winning team this year.

Brady is also a quarterback who switched organizations and won with a new franchise in Tampa Bay one year ago, as Stafford did with the Rams this year.

Times are changing, Don. Quarterbacks switch teams now. You don’t have to “build a respectable team” strictly through drafting a quarterback and keeping him here for decades just because the Steelers did it with Ben Roethlisberger and Terry Bradshaw.

Then again, based on your “Dazed and Confused” mention, your musical references are from the late 1960s. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that your football frame of reference is as well.

Here’s a similar email from “jawall” regarding the quarterbacks.

“If the Steelers had a better offensive line I’d be all for trying to get Rodgers or Wilson on the team. I’m just not sure getting a top line Quarterback makes the team a contender with the offensive line the team has. Would either of these Quarterbacks make the Steelers a better team, definitely. But I don’t think either makes them a contender, based on the supporting cast they would have on offense.

I guess I’d like to see significant improvement on the offensive line before the team spends big money on a franchise quarterback.”

I get this email a lot. “Fix the offensive line before you fix the quarterback.”

Yeah. OK. In a perfect scenario, sure. The Steelers would love to draft a quarterback and plop him behind an offensive line that was ready-made, like the one Roethlisberger had his first two seasons.

But did you happen to see the Super Bowl by any chance? How did that Cincinnati Bengals offensive line in front of Joe Burrow look to you? Not to mention the nine times he was sacked in a playoff game against the Tennessee Titans before that.

Did you watch much of the 13-4 Green Bay Packers this year? How much of that offense was the result of Rodgers making up for an injured and deficient blocking unit in front of him? Do you think Lamar Jackson made a few plays on his own this year behind Baltimore’s line?

Again, it’s not the 1970s anymore. The way offenses are structured, the quarterback protects the offensive line as much as the offensive line protects the quarterback. Look at what Roethlisberger did in 2008 and 2010 to get to those Super Bowls, as well.

“Rich and Anita” sent me an email about Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. Specifically, the concern over his small hands at the Senior Bowl.

“Do you recall this old Burger King Commercial?”

You know what, I had forgotten about that one. A missed opportunity by me. And by Burger King, if they don’t get Pickett to reprise that role.

In advance of Sidney Crosby’s 500th goal and the Penguins’ corresponding 5-4 overtime win against the Flyers on Kris Letang’s game-winner, I got this email from someone named “Steve J.”

He was responding to a preview of the game that I posted Tuesday morning. The subject heading of his email was: “This has loss written all over it.”

Steve’s email began by quoting me, back to me. Which I always enjoy.

“‘The Penguins have now won all three of their games since the All-Star break. And they’ve all been on the road. Now the Pens come home against the struggling Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.’”

Combine that with the Flyers being last and the Pens being first in the Metro, and this home game has all the markings of a Pens loss that shouldn’t happen, but always seems to.

If I’m (head coach Mike) Sullivan, I give some Wilkes-Barre guys with something to prove a shot in this one to offset the half-hearted lack of effort and careless play that will show up from enough of the “star” players.

Isn’t Letang due for a maintenance day?”

No offense, Steve, but I may avoid seeking you out the next time I’m in need of gambling advice.

To conclude, do you remember our good friend “Brad” from a recent “U mad, bro?” before the NFL playoffs? He thinks I’m way too hard on the Steelers.

It turns out, there was more.

And, if you liked the Brad appetizer, you are going to love the Brad main course.

“Previous comments regarding your commentary is accurate. As a member of the press you are shockingly unaware, or maybe you’re just nieve [sic], or just to [sic] young to appreciate the impact of the Pittsburgh Steelers upon western Pennsylvania, in fact, upon fans all over the nation, if not the world. I too, have been a fan for over 50 years, and I can assure you that the joy they’ve brought to my life and countless others is innumerable.

I don’t think that anyone is asking you to be partial in your reporting, but certainly we do expect you to be informed, if not appreciative of an organization that by everyone’s account is the GOLD standard of the NFL, after all they are the holders of 6 SB, which went unmatched for a number of years until the Patriots tied it, which is wrought with controversy.

If you’re going to be critical of fans analysis of your critiques, maybe you’re in the wrong business.

I think everyone should be less expectant of you, since you are from Bostonoriginally, but if you’re going to represent Syracuse’s school of Journalism, you should have learned in your 300 level classes to be unbiased. I guess the Tribune Review is desperate for beat writers when they have to reach into the outrageously pathetic Patriot outcast to report on the most cherished entity in the city.”

It’s good to hear from Brad again. I sure hope his WiFi reception is strong enough that high up on his soap box to receive my response.

But that was such a well-constructed and thoughtful email, I couldn’t let it go without addressing his concerns.

• Yes. I was born in Boston. I lived there for all of the first six months of my life before we moved. I come from a family of Steelers fans. I grew up a Steelers fan.

• I’m not a beat writer. I’m a columnist. Columnists are not paid to be unbiased. They are paid to write their opinions. I was taught that in my Syracuse 300 level journalism classes. Actually, I was taught that in middle school.

• I’m 47. I’m not too young or — how did Brad put it — “nieve.”

• I’m not sure when (or how) I expressed an opinion that you felt was not “informed,” Brad. But, if you are willing to walk down from the top of Mount Pious, I’d appreciate you telling me.

Meanwhile, I feel obligated to “inform” you that your “gold standard” football team just lost 42-21 in the first game of the playoffs, and finished just 9-7-1 before that postseason loss. They recently concluded a fifth straight season without a playoff win. That’s a first since the “Immaculate Reception.” And they have allowed 171 points in their last four playoff games.

Feel informed now, Brad? I hope so. Glad I could help. Please stay in touch. Your emails are always welcome here.

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