Tag: Sports

Steelers fans have mixed reactions to Week 7 QB decision

While the news of Russell Wilson getting the starting QB reps in practice was shocking, Steelers fans have mixed reactions to the news.

The ‘Steel City’ is still in disarray, as just when it seemed Pittsburgh had found their quarterback of the future, Justin Fields, after improving to 4-2 under their young signal caller, Mike Tomlin pulled the rug out from under everyone. Russell Wilson, who has been nursing a calf injury for most of the preseason and almost every regular season game so far, appears to be on track to start for the Steelers in Week 7. 

While Fields seems to be handling the news with maturity and poise, former coaches, players, analysts, commentators, and Steelers fans are left scratching their heads. Some fans have argued for Wilson’s inevitable opportunity to start, while others insist it’s impossible to bench Fields after winning 4 out of 6 games for the team. 

Tomlin’s Week 7 QB decision is polarizing, to say the least, and fans have taken to social media, expressing mixed emotions. Here are some of the best reactions to Fields being benched in favor of Wilson: 

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Could a conditional 4th-round pick be the reason for Fields’ benching?

Could the possibility of the Steelers owing the Chicago Bears a fourth-round pick be responsible for Justin Fields benching?

General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin have often proven to the NFL that while every other team is playing checkers, they are playing chess. This was evident in trades like Chase Claypool, Antonio Brown to the Raiders, their strong 2024 draft class, and how they reshaped their QB room with amazing talent. One phrase that is commonly referenced when describing the Steelers’ philosophy is that Pittsburgh doesn’t rebuild—it reloads. With this in mind, it appears Justin Fields may have been benched to maintain future draft capital. 

The Chicago Bears traded their talented QB to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick shortly after Russell Wilson signed a one-year deal with the team. 

The key focus here would be on the ‘conditional’ aspect of the trade. If Fields plays more than 51% of the team’s total snaps, the draft pick would improve from a sixth to a fourth-round selection. While Fields’ talent is undeniable, if the team can lean on the more consistent veteran in Wilson and underpay the Bears on the future of Pittsburgh’s franchise, Khan will make that move 10 out of 10 times. 

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Justin Fields is right, he didn’t play ‘good enough’ through six weeks

While Justin Fields has several qualities of his game to work on, his maturity and poise in accepting his benching is immaculate.

Former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett should take notes on Justin Fields’ attitude and how he handled being benched in favor of Russell Wilson. Fields, while speaking to reporters during the team’s media availability on Wednesday, acknowledged that a QB controversy may not have existed if his play had been better. While fans of the former Bears QB are quick to defend his performance due to the Steelers’ stellar 4-2 record, how many wins were truly a result of his play? 

Fields’ TD-to-INT ratio is fantastic—an eye-popping 10-1. However, there’s more to the QB’s stats than meets the eye. Fields consistently made poor decisions on passing downs, and his interception total would likely be much higher if not for defenses that seemed to drop every ball thrown their way. The young QB showcased maturity by acknowledging his poor play and understands that he gave Wilson the opportunity to take the starting job away from him. 

 

While Fields’ rushing upside is greater, Wilson brings more consistent center-QB exchanges, better accuracy, better decision-making, and an overall better chance to win football games for Pittsburgh. 

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CB Donte Jackson isn’t surprised by his 2024 success

CB Donte Jackson has been looking like the best Steelers’ acquisition from the 2024 offseason. He currently is tied for 3rd-most INTs.

If you asked any NFL player which positional group had the most confidence, swagger, or trash talk, many would argue it’s the cornerbacks. One Steelers cornerback has more than backed up his confidence with incredible playmaking ability so far in the 2024 season. The elite talent in question is none other than CB Donte Jackson, whom Pittsburgh acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers this past offseason. 

Jackson is currently tied for the third-most interceptions in the NFL this season, with three, sharing the title with New Orleans’ Paulson Adebo and Detroit’s Brian Branch. Only two interceptions away from the top spot, Jackson isn’t surprised by his success: 

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The Steelers currently sixth in the NFL in interceptions, and Jackson’s splash plays are a huge reason why. Will Jackson continue his early success in 2024 and eventually take the top spot overall in total interceptions? His toughest challenge yet comes in Week 7’s contest against the Jets, where he’ll have to contend with the terrifying WR duo of Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. 

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Steelers to wear throwback jerseys in honor of Super Bowl IX 50th anniversary

In Week 7 against the New York Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers will wear throwback uniforms inspired by their Super Bowl IX win in the 1974 season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will wear throwback jerseys, inspired by their Super Bowl victory 50 years ago, against the New York Jets in Week 7. Super Bowl IX holds a special place in the hearts of all Pittsburgh fans because it was when the Pittsburgh Steelers earned their first Lombardi Trophy, kicking off a journey to become arguably the greatest NFL franchise of all time. 

The 1974 season not only resulted in winning the greatest trophy in all of professional football, but it was also responsible for perhaps the greatest draft class in Pittsburgh sports history, producing five Pro Football Hall of Famers: WR Lynn Swann, LB Jack Lambert, WR John Stallworth, C Mike Webster and SS Donnie Shell. 

In that Super Bowl, played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on Jan. 12, 1975, the Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16-6. Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense held quarterback Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings to 119 total yards, which is still a Super Bowl record low.

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The beloved block-number-style jerseys are coming back in Week 7, and along with the classic look, gray face masks will also return, which were part of the iconic look of this phenomenal team. The Steelers will look to dominate the Jets in classic Steel Curtain fashion, not only to improve their record to 5-2 on the season but to perform at a level the 1974 Steelers would be proud of.

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Did the center-QB snap exchange issues get Justin Fields benched?

Is Justin Fields’ benching the result of the perfect storm that is Zach Frazier’s injury, and the young QB’s botched snap exchanges?

Steelers fans, including myself, are still reeling in confusion after head coach Mike Tomlin all but directly stated that Russell Wilson would be the starting quarterback in Week 7. While this information is being confirmed through practice reps, it doesn’t provide fans of the 4-2 Justin Fields any sense of clarity. 

There are some rumors and conspiracy theories, such as the Steelers wanting to avoid giving the Bears a conditional fourth-round pick, Justin Fields being available for trade before the deadline, or even issues that haunted the young QB earlier in the season: fumbles on the center-quarterback exchange. 


Fields has been on the receiving end of some seriously botched snaps, some caused by the center, but most by the quarterback. With C Zach Frazier OUT due to injury and a new, unproven center taking his place, Wilson, who has 188 career games of experience under center, seems like the responsible option in terms of ball security, rather than a quarterback with proven snap-handling issues. 

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93.7 The Fan host on Steelers’ trade rumors with new WR target

Andrew Fillipponi, host of the popular PIttsburgh sports radio station, 93.7 The Fan, touched a rumor involving a new WR trade target.

Steelers commentator and host of 93.7 The Fan, Andrew Fillipponi, threw some gas on the proverbial ‘Pittsburgh trading for WR’ fire. The trade rumor in question, from Fillipponi, focuses in on the Panthers attempting to move on from former three-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro WR Adam Thielen. This isn’t the first trade Pittsburgh has been linked to, as Omar Khan and the Steelers’ organization attempted to trade for both WR Brandon Aiyuk and WR Davante Adams but ultimately came up short. 

Thielen is currently on IR after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3. He will be eligible to return no sooner than the Carolina Panthers’ Week 8 contest against the Denver Broncos on October 27th. Could the Panthers activate Thielen and trade him between this date and the trade deadline on November 5th? 

Fillipponi, asked fans of the ‘Steel City’ on social media if the team should pursue the former Vikings receiver.

Let us know what you think about the rumor involving Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick and Adam Thielen below:

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Center Ryan McCollum showcases resilience in buildup to Week 7

C Ryan McCollum proves why everyone should follow their dreams, and to continue to work hard to make all things possible.

While losing dominant rookie center Zach Frazier to injury in Week 6 was far from ideal, the wise words of the next-man-up, center Ryan McCollum, surely instill confidence in both Steelers fans and the organization alike.

McCollum has played in 19 career games after going undrafted in 2021. His lone start came during his rookie year with the Detroit Lions, and he has bounced on and off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad since. However, now set for his second career start in relief of Frazier, McCollum has never let the hard times and uncertainty this game brings get him down.

This is exactly the type of attitude you want out a backup who is looking to make the most of his opportunity.  While the Steelers offensive line is extremely banged up, losing 3 starters to injury so far in 2024, the team appears to be in capable hands with McCollum looking to spearhead the Pittsburgh rushing attack.  The Steelers will lean on his efforts and the offense overall, as the team faces a stout New York Jets’ defense in Week 7.

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Steelers’ VP Art Rooney Jr. named a 2025 Hall of Fame candidate

Beloved member of the Rooney family, Steelers’ VP Art Rooney Jr., is one of 25 candidates from the Contributor category for 2025 HOF.

Steelers’ Vice President Art Rooney Jr., son of the Steelers’ founder Art Rooney Sr. and father of Steelers’ owner Art Rooney II, is one of 25 candidates named for the Contributor category in the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Rooney Jr. served as the Steelers’ Personnel Director from 1965 to 1986, before becoming the Steelers’ Vice President in 1987.

Without Rooney Jr., the Pittsburgh Steelers’ generational success might have never come to fruition, as he  and the scouting department was responsible for 10 Hall of Fame caliber players from 1969 to 1974.  Players drafted or signed from his guidance included ‘Mean’ Joe Green, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, and Mel Blount, just to name a few.

The Rooney family is a vital and beloved piece of Steelers history, and in some ways, the heart of Pittsburgh itself.  Rooney Jr. created the tradition of winning for the ‘Steel City’, and much of what we fans love today about our great team is because of him.

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Week 7 matchups to watch: Najee Harris vs C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams

Steelers’ RB Najee Harris versus NY Jets’ linebackers C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams is a matchup that will not disappoint in Week 7.

Pittsburgh faces a tough Week 7 defensive unit in the New York Jets.  A major component of what makes the New York Jets’ defense elite is their pair of do-it-all linebackers, C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams.  However, the Steelers offer one of the best rushing attacks in the league, showcased by Najee Harris’ amazing statistical production in Week 6.

Mosley and Williams make an unstoppable run-stopping and tackling machine for the New York Jets.  Both are playing at elite levels against the run in 2024, with the polarizing PFF giving these players grades of 75.4 for Mosley, and 75.6 for Williams.

Harris is coming off the best game of his 2024 campaign.  On a measly 14 carries, Harris produced an outstanding 104 yards of rushing and one touchdown. It would only be fair to the Steelers’ running back to compare his own elite PFF grade against the New York linebackers—an amazing 90.7 in Week 6.

Fans can look forward to Harris’ physical brand of football versus the run stopping abilities of Mosley and Williams in matchup that epitomizes the ‘unstoppable force’ meeting the ‘immovable object’, on October 20th, at 8:20 PM EST in Week 7.

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