U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are pushing back against media criticism, whether they are right or not

Steelers fans have had enough! It is time to fight for the flag!

Or, in this case, the Terrible Towel.

I suppose a month of ridiculing the Black and Gold during this winter of discontent has reached its saturation point. We’ve gotten far enough away from the team’s last loss that it’s easier to pretend it didn’t happen than try to figure out how it took place.

Steeler Nation is tired of the slings and arrows from negative sports fans. The poisonous narratives on social media. The doomsday scenarios from sports commentators with axes to grind and … and … well, functioning eyes and common sense.

Regardless, it is time to defend the home front in this week’s “U mad, bro?”.

Let’s see if Steelers fans play defense better than the actual players did against the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round.

Let’s start big. Aaron emailed me and thinks I’m being too critical of the local NFL team. He believes that the Steelers would’ve gone 16-0 if it weren’t for injury problems.

“Man, you must not have watched the season. If they didn’t lose so many of their important players they might have ran the table.

A few years ago Ryan (Shazier) was lost for good because of his injuries. They’d have four All-Pro linebackers and a helluva three-man line in front. With a quickly developing backfield.

The only mistake the Steelers made was about a decade ago when they forced Bruce Arians out.”

Ah! The injury excuse. Right.

I’ll grant you, Aaron, that Bud Dupree and Devin Bush are good players. And their absences hurt.

But let’s not go overboard. The Steelers won their next six games without Bush in the lineup. Dupree and Vince Williams never made a Pro Bowl let alone be named All-Pro. And if they had Shazier, they never would’ve traded up to get Bush.

Beyond that, tell me again how many players the Browns were missing because of injury and covid-19 during the playoff game. Or how about Washington beating the Steelers despite losing Antonio Gibson early and Terry McLaurin playing through an ankle injury. Or when the Ravens nearly upset the Steelers at Heinz Field with only two-thirds of their team. Or the Bengals beating them with a third-string quarterback.

Now you tell me who didn’t watch the season.

By the way, Ladarius Green, Jon Bostic, Morgan Burnett, Artie Burns and Jarvis Jones were all acquired after Bruce Arians was fired. I think those guys qualify as mistakes, too. Don’t you?

Reno thinks Mark Madden and I were too harsh in our assessment of the Steelers in Monday’s podcast.

They were 12-4 bro

— Reno (@JohnJelias) February 1, 2021

Oh. You’re finished? Well, allow me to retort.

The Steelers lost five of six to close out the season, including playoff humiliation. That “12-4” team is going to likely lose its top running back, wide receiver and offensive tackle, not to mention Dupree at outside linebacker, maybe two useful defensive backs (Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton) and potentially Matt Feiler and Tyson Alualu.

So it’s a little hard for me to take comfort in how that 2020 record was built and apply it to 2021 thinking.

Bro.

This guy agrees with Reno about the podcast.

Tired of all the negativity and drama with you guys. They were 12-4. Sky is not falling.

— TWWITE (@TWWITE4) February 1, 2021

Do you know what I’m tired of? The Steelers losing at home in the playoffs. Or missing them entirely. Fueled by late-season collapses.

You say 12-4. I say 1-5 in their last six.

I’ll ask you what I asked the other guy. Given how they got there and the subtractions to come, what’s the clearer picture of what 2021’s team will be? The 12-4 regular-season record? Or the 1-5 result down the stretch?

That’s what I thought.

And if the sky does fall, I sure don’t want that group of wide receivers to be held responsible for catching it.

Linda loved my “I told you so” column about Tom Brady and the Steelers.

“What a sad day it is for you, Tim, when you come to realize after all these years of ‘reporting’ on the Pittsburgh Steelers you still don’t know who they are … AT ALL!

You seem to believe that the Steelers, the Rooney’s, the fans, Steeler nation, would be agreeable to signing a person who doesn’t reflect any of Pittsburgh’s philosophies such as good and HONEST hard work. Let me repeat that, I need to put more emphasis on the word ‘honest!’

You honestly believe Steeler Nation would endorse signing someone who knowingly and willingly cheats to win? If you believe this then you, Tim Benz, don’t know anything about the Steelers, Steeler Nation, and most especially the Rooney’s.

Maybe it’s time for you to move to Tampa and join Tom Brady.”

Wow. I’m impressed this lady managed to type an email that long with only nine fingers since the other one was constantly wagging in my face the whole time. How does her computer find a WiFi signal while she’s riding on such a high horse?

Maybe she’s right, though. Perhaps I can make it down to Tampa in time for the Super Bowl. Gisele and I will wave to her from the deck of the pirate ship in the end zone while Tommy is warming up before the game.

But good call, Linda. The Steelers have never been accused of bending the rules at all. Nope. Not once. Never.

And Brady didn’t work hard to make his way up from a sixth-round draft pick to a 10-time Super Bowl quarterback. He only cheated to do that.

I mean, he’s been to just (checks notes) six Super Bowls since Spygate was unearthed. And only (checks notes again) four since the Deflategate playoffs. So clearly Brady is merely a product of his own malfeasance.

You’re right. I was much happier watching an honest, hard-working quarterback last year. Like “Duck.” That turned out great.

I’ll end with Dustin to provide a little balance and some realism.

Shows how blind fans are. Too blind to see that the Steelers aren't as good as they hope, yet the fans are in total denial

— Dustin (@Dustin64380925) February 1, 2021

Thank you, Dustin. I’ll go back to one of my old Pittsburgh credos.

The old joke about “denial” is wrong. It’s not a river in Egypt. It’s the fourth river in Pittsburgh. Especially after the Steelers have a disappointing season.