U mad, bro?: Steelers fans launch all sorts of opinions on Kenny Pickett, draft strategy, Devin Bush

This week’s “U mad, bro?” has all manner of heated reactions to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ selection of Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. Others question the overall draft strategy. There is some push back to a column I wrote about Devin Bush.

Plus, we have gratuitous shots at the Pirates …

… and my writing skills.

Let’s fire it up.

Uh, oh! Are those sirens I hear?

Yup. The grammar police are back! And, by rule, a grammar police email at “U mad, bro?” always goes to the top of the stack.

Take it away, Neil.

“Tim, prepositions. All you so-called journalists or writers sicken me and deserve to be beaten by sister Mary Conrad.”

Well, Neil, I’d love to apologize for my grievous error that angered you so much. But since you didn’t even tell me what mistakes I allegedly made, I can’t atone for my sins.

That said, a person who is as flawless as you are when it comes to details, should probably know that the first “S” in “Sister” should be capitalized upon first reference when identifying a nun by her name.

So maybe *S*ister Mary Conrad should smack you on the knuckles a few times before she turns her attention to me.

Larry is less than excited about the Steelers’ decision to draft Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett.

“If the offensive line doesn’t improve dramatically it doesn’t matter who is under center. Tom Brady couldn’t have done any better with the line the Steelers had last season. All three quarterbacks are more mobile than Ben. Picket(t) hasn’t played against a NFL pass rush or pass defense. Mike Tomlin has to make the decision when the learning curve starts. It could be painful. Being able to run the ball and control both lines of scrimmage will be what makes or breaks the Steelers.”

On one hand, Larry is right. I also believe that the Steelers are too convinced that their offensive line is going to be improved in 2022.

On the other, only in Pittsburgh could the team spend a first-round draft pick on a QB for the first time in almost 20 years … who almost won the Heisman Trophy … from the hometown university … in the year 2022 … and have the response be: “Yiinz know it’s all ab’aht runnin’ da football, n’at, right?!”

William didn’t like my column the day after Pickett was drafted.

“The tone of your article suggests that you can’t wait to see him fail so you can say, “I told you so.’”

Forget the “tone” of my article. The tone of your email suggests that you are a fanboy who is afraid to ever be critical of the team and can’t stand to hear it when other people are.

Regardless, I don’t think that was the tone of my column at all. Either way, I don’t have to wait for Pickett’s performance. I can already say, “I told you so.”

Like when I told you the Steelers, fans and their team-friendly media were just talking themselves into believing Trubisky was going to be more than he is. Perhaps just Pickett’s backup.

Meanwhile, this person on Twitter is upset at those who think the Steelers should’ve selected Liberty quarterback Malik Willis instead of Pickett.

Everyone is saying Malik is a project. No projects wanted. I think this is a great pick. He has played here, in this weather, and thrived. Maybe Mitch is the starter this year, but Kenny is the future.

— RememberTheJOHNSTOWNFLOOD (@JohnstownFlood2) April 29, 2022

Pickett will be 24 years old when the season starts. If he’s “the future,” he better be the “present” as well.

Otherwise, the Steelers should’ve picked someone else.

Somebody named “Coach Rooney 16” hates the idea of Pickett starting.

There is little to no chance Pickett starts week one of this year or next. I hope I am wrong, but in my mind it was Willis or no QB. Seems like a panicked pick.

— Ryan Rooney (@CoachRooney16) April 29, 2022

If he can’t start until he is 26, then he shouldn’t have been drafted. At all. Let alone at No. 20. He’s battling Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.

Not Joe Montana and John Elway.

David didn’t like my column about the Steelers deciding to decline the fifth-year option on Devin Bush.

“I know you have to come up with garbage to write so maybe people will read it. Your idea about Bush’s ‘failure’ as well as Kevin Colbert’s (for drafting him) really ignores the main fact that his severe injury precipitated this. Take away the injury (which one can’t) and then see how good/bad he has been.”

Well, you hit the nail on the head with the you can’t “take the injury away” portion of your email. But the Steelers are sticking with Stephon Tuitt despite his knee injury and off-field issues.

Kendall Simmons, a former first-round pick in 2002, was:

• Diagnosed with diabetes before his rookie season

• Missed all of 2004 with an ACL

• Suffered severe frostbite during the 2006 offseason

Under a different CBA, he got a four-year extension before the 2007 season started. The Steelers stand by their investments through injury if they think the player deserves it. Bush will have to prove that he does in 2022.

During the 2021 season, two ex-Steelers who now work in the media, Arthur Moats and Chris Hoke, both said they felt that Bush’s struggles illustrated issues beyond just the injury. Hoke said he was “playing with no heart.” Moats said he wasn’t showing effort.

Even in an attempt to defend Bush because of his injury, Vince Williams mentioned in a tweet that Bush’s effort “could and should be better.”

Bush’s disappointment isn’t entirely about the knee injury. If it was, the Steelers would’ve given him the fifth year. So stop making it sound that way.

Finally, over the weekend, I tweeted this photo of a pop-up goat farm that appeared out of nowhere in my neighborhood on the North Side.

I live right on the North Side. This the corner of Federal & Perrysville. Yesterday, nothing. Today, full fledged goat farm. Out of nowhere. Nine goats and a donkey. pic.twitter.com/IWiCCAOfz5

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) April 30, 2022

Here’s one of the responses I got.

9 goats and a donkey sounds like the Pirates roster

— VaLure Spinners (@v_helium) April 30, 2022

True. The donkey could be a designated hitter. Why not? They’ve already got one for an owner.