U mad, bro?: Readers fuming about Steelers fans' behavior, George Pickens media coverage, MLB contracts
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won two in a row. The Penguins are generally playing better. And it even appears the Pirates are trying to address their first base hole with someone who isn’t old, washed up and overweight.
So, generally, readers are in a good mood right now.
Keep in mind, though, that the Steelers haven’t won in Philadelphia since 1965. So I’m pretty sure what the tone of “U mad, bro” will be next Thursday.
In the meantime, here’s an appetizer for this week’s edition.
Steve J. has quite a theory on George Pickens’ hamstring injury. He thinks the Steelers faked it.
“I can’t believe you bought that baloney. So when did he hurt himself? During the Friday ‘practice’ walkthrough? Getting out of the car? Experimenting with more creative eye black techniques?
This was the Steelers and more so Art Rooney reacting to the behavior by Pickens that also drew 2 fines and the anything but ‘grown up’ comments made by Pickens that Friday as well. Even if he had a slight hamstring issue, if it wasn’t the Browns, and if the fines didn’t come, then Pickens plays.
This was Mother Superior Art II laying down the Rooney law. That law being: You can illegally head hunt and get a fine for that, but don’t you get fined for making a violent shooting gesture with your fingers.
The Steelers also looked at this as a perfect opportunity to send a message to Pickens in a game they thought they could not only win without him, but probably stood a better chance of because they felt he’d probably double down on his petulance (i.e. ‘passion’) at some point, costing them points and possibly a win, and they didn’t want to risk also losing him to a real NFL suspension for the much tougher games following this one.”
OK. Got it. So, him missing the game in Philadelphia against the 11-2 Eagles this week is part of the conspiracy theory then too, I guess?
I like it! Hard sell it. Gotta commit to the bit at this point, right?
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Tuesday on 105.9 The X, I was joking about how paranoid Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi was going to be during North Carolina week in two years with Bill Belichick taking the head coaching job there.
To steal a phrase from Mike Tomlin, “Drones and so forth.”
I got this tweet from Tad.
@TimBenzPGH Narduzzi driving to the facility during Belichick week pic.twitter.com/hWg1oOLEm9
— Tad Wissel (@DickAndSauce) December 10, 2024
Good call, Tad. That’s exactly what I was thinking. And much like Henry Hill in “Goodfellas,” Narduzzi also usually ends his seasons in witness protection.
The 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl match up is set!@Pitt_FB
vs@ToledoFB????December 26, 2024
⏰2:00 P.M. EST
???? Ford Field | Detroit, MI pic.twitter.com/pDOxlUHZMA— GameAbove Sports Bowl (@GameAboveBowl) December 8, 2024
In Monday’s “First Call,” I referenced Carly Teller complaining about how Steelers fans treated her and the other wives and girlfriends of Browns players who were in attendance at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.
The fans in Pittsburgh today were so blatantly disrespectful to me and the Browns girls. I’ve never felt so attacked by people who I literally did nothing to. Very sad/embarrassing behavior.
— Carly Teller (@carlyteller) December 8, 2024
I pointed out that she was incredibly vague in her complaint, and I suggested that the Dawg Pound has been known to be very harsh to Steelers fans when they visit as well.
This reader, Jim, is mad at me for doing that.
“You bring up how Clowns’ WAGs were poorly treated by Steeler fans. No one should be treated that way at a sporting event, it’s completely classless. And you bringing up a lame justification for it puts you in that same level of classlessness. Hope you’re enjoying the holidays. Peace on earth and goodwill to all little guy.”
Did you see her husband (offensive lineman Wyatt Teller) respond to this story during an interview the next day, Jim? He basically said everything I did. If you missed it, here it is.
#Browns Wyatt Teller on his wife Carly posting on X that #Steelers fans were “blatantly disrespectful” to her and other #Browns wives and GFs: pic.twitter.com/Gspk5cMvdr
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 9, 2024
Upon seeing that, don’t you think maybe … just maybe … she might have been blowing things out of proportion with her claim on social media. Don’t you think that once he found out what happened, if it reached the level of unacceptable behavior he would’ve said something justifying his own wife’s characterization? Instead, he essentially downplayed the whole thing.
Could this perhaps be an example of sympathy-seeking and playing the victim on social media for likes and retweets? I mean, seriously, if she was really “blatantly” disrespected and “attacked,” would Teller have brushed the whole thing off like that?
I doubt it.
And, by the way, to my other point, do you really wanna know how Browns fans treat the family members of Steelers players? Listen to Joey Porter’s wife/Joey Porter Jr.’s mom on “Hard Knocks” this week.
Peace on earth and goodwill to you too, Big Guy.
This person sent me a message while I was complaining about the missed facemask penalty against Joe Burrow on “Monday Night Football” in Dallas.
Do you expect more from NFL officials? They’re as reliable as WWE refs
— Rockntay II (@RebelUp13) December 10, 2024
Well, the difference is the WWE refs are often paid to get it wrong on purpose. NFL refs just do it by accident.
Also, when wrestlers get mad at WWE refs, they can throw them out of the ring over the top rope. In the NFL, you get 15 yards for finger guns.
This guy was critical of Alex Highsmith’s roughing the passer penalty versus the Browns.
Don’t give them a chance To even call it
— Heizynburgh (@Heizynburgh) December 8, 2024
What’s he supposed to do? Stop himself midway through his attempt to tackle and begin magically levitating? Who is he? That guy from the Creed halftime show?
Finally, Craig read my column about Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets.
“So..somewhat of a downbeat article. I don’t blame you. But at least y’all have a team to cover there. We here on the left coast don’t have the luxury. We used to have the Portland Beavers. Remember them? They were a Pirates minor league affiliate back in the ‘70’s…. I remember when A-Rod left for Texas with that $252M deal, myself and all my buddies who used to travel up to the Kingdome to watch McGuire and Canseco, absolutely flipped when we saw the numbers. Drop in the bucket nowadays. Doesn’t even phase anyone anymore. We’re all just numb to the numbers…. I weep for the future of this country. But, like Jim Rome would say, ‘no one held a gun to his head to sign that deal.’ If the market can bear it, they’ll pay it.”
Thanks for the email, Craig. And, yes, that was largely the crux of my column. As eye-popping as the Soto numbers were, are they really that surprising? Sadly, no, for exactly the reasons you outlined.
Also, no, I’m not old enough to remember Portland as a minor-league affiliate for the Pirates when Stargell was there.
However, I’m very much aware of how the big league club has become a Triple-A team for the rest of MLB.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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