U mad, bro?: Steelers fans find preseason useless, stick up for Mike Tomlin in the face of criticism

Steelers fans are still hammering Cam Heyward. They are torching my takes on Mike Tomlin. And they are pounding the NFL preseason.

Then we punctuate by punishing the Pirates.

All that and more in this week’s “U mad, bro?”

Mark is complaining about sloppy regular-season football over the first few weeks when no players of importance play in the preseason.

”It’s been this way for a few years now. September is the new August. Defenses are ahead of the offenses for the first month… unless you’re the Bengals.”

I’d say that, generally speaking, September being the new August across the NFL is an accurate statement.

Unfortunately for the Steelers, January is always the same. It never lasts longer than two weeks.

Joe was ticked off at Cameron Heyward for his hold-in tactics.

”My humble opinion regarding Heyward’s shenanigans — he just doesn’t like sweating at Steelers St. Vincent’s football camp. Plain and simple. Some players hate the dorms, the heat, etc. Some will do anything to get out of football camp.”

Yeah, well, Joe, the thing is, he was present at camp the whole time. He was standing out in the heat. He stayed in the dorms. So I guess that’s not the answer.

By the way, did you just say, “shenanigans?”

via GIPHY

Last week, I posted some complaints about Mike Tomlin. “EDog” disagreed.

Bottom line is he’s the 2nd winningest HC in the NFL the past 18yrs bro

— EDOG (@pityinzer) August 21, 2025

That’s your bottom line. My bottom line is 12 of the last 14 years with no playoff wins and eight in a row with none … bro.

This person tried to defend Jalen Ramsey’s unnecessary roughness penalty in that Carolina preseason game last week.

I didn't hear a whistle, did you?

— ✨Saurosaur✨ (@Nud3ants) August 21, 2025

Here was my response:

No… I heard three pic.twitter.com/vBv1OWZaNE

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) August 21, 2025

Up next we have an email from wxman21b. He really enjoyed my column on the importance — or lack thereof — of playing starters in the preseason

”After reading your column today, I was completely in disagreement but that’s nothing new! Not having the 1st string play as a team in any preseason game is inviting injuries, chaos in communication, no cohesiveness, not learning your abilities and disabilities, no leadership, familiarity and typically a Tomlin team to miss the playoffs for another season! Another inept contribution from Tim Benz.”

Well, here’s the thing. Tomlin has played the starters a bit more often in years gone by and still has had early-season injuries, chaos in communication, a lack of cohesion, etc.

And they still haven’t won a playoff game in 12 of the last 14 seasons. So, in a way, you’re kinda proving the point of the column.

But thanks for the inept contribution anyway.

Finally, Mervin has two complaints about the Pirates.

”Why is Suwinski still on the Pirates? Bubba should be thrown into the Briar Patch as a STARTER, win or lose — that is his background and training!”

Merv, given the Pirates’ history of pitching injuries to young starters over the past few decades, I wouldn’t suggest throwing Bubba Chandler anywhere.

Not in the deep end of the pool. Certainly not into the frying pan or the fire. And the briar patch doesn’t sound like a very good idea either.

What if a briar hurts his pitching hand? How is he supposed to handle all of that “bulk relief” then?

And in terms of Jack Suwinski, Mervin, how am I supposed to know?

Where is Jimmy Hoffa buried? Who built Stonehenge and why? Where is Bigfoot? Why is only one company allowed to make the game “Monopoly?”

And why is Jack Suwinski a major league player?

Some things are just not meant to be answered.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Chris Adamski talk about the Steelers’ 53-man roster, and the beginning of regular season practices in this Mike’s Beer Bar podcast.