Mark Madden: Chase Claypool personifies Steelers' culture problem

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not show guts and pride in their fourth-quarter comeback at Minnesota. If they had guts and pride, they wouldn’t have been trailing a sub-.500 team 29-0. The Steelers’ near-miss mostly was fueled by Minnesota lacking guts and pride, yet the Vikings still won.

The biggest factor in the Steelers’ defeat was them getting absolutely battered in the trenches on both sides of the line. Coach Mike Tomlin said so afterward.

Najee Harris has guts and pride. Despite little support from his blockers and the futility that results, Harris gives 100% on every carry.

Ben Roethlisberger has guts and pride. The 39-year-old quarterback might only be able to deliver one great quarter of football per game, but he withstood a five-sack beatdown Thursday and was a Pat Freiermuth drop away from a chance to tie at game’s end.

It’s a shame Roethlisberger didn’t have another play with which to work.

That brings us to receiver Chase Claypool.

Claypool’s stupidity, selfishness and narcissism killed the Steelers on Thursday.

A first-quarter unnecessary roughness penalty hurt a drive that resulted in a missed 49-yard field goal. Do the math: Thirty-four yards is nearer than 49. It’s a lot closer to six points, too.

Then, in a mind-boggling display of his now-customary tone deafness, Claypool caught a pass for a first down with no timeouts and less than a minute remaining. He posed and pointed to signal the first down, wasting seconds even as guard Trai Turner scrambled to get the ball. Upset that his showbiz was interrupted, Claypool yelled at Turner.

Claypool clearly cost the Steelers time for one more play. A play that could have tied the score.

As ex-Steeler Trai Essex tweeted: “I just can’t fathom a professional NFL WR signaling first down with 30 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts. I can’t.”

Claypool was benched earlier for his taunting flag. That had no effect.

Claypool blamed the ball getting knocked out of his hands and the official’s late arrival for the Steelers losing time after his first-down point. He showed no regret past the obligatory “I’ve got to be better” — which he said before explaining why it wasn’t his fault.

When asked if he’d talk to Claypool about what happened, a likely exasperated Roethlisberger said, “It’s not really my job. To me, that goes up to Coach Tomlin.”

Roethlisberger can lead. Claypool won’t follow.

Claypool should be benched for the Steelers’ next game. In the offseason, the Steelers should get rid of him.

Claypool isn’t that good. He had 11 touchdowns last season. He’s got one this year. He hasn’t become the big-play threat needed to complement Diontae Johnson let alone a No. 1 receiver. Claypool is the most penalized receiver in the NFL: Thursday’s flag was his eighth on the season.

Claypool hurts more than he helps, and that’s before copping a crap attitude is weighed.

He famously said losing to Cleveland in last year’s playoffs was no big deal, because the “Browns are going to get clapped (by Kansas City) next week, so it’s all good.” After the Steelers got routed 41-10 by Cincinnati on Nov. 28, Claypool said practice might be improved by playing music like in warmups, when players “are dancing, having fun.”

Claypool cares about nothing but himself. He is everything a Steeler shouldn’t be. The best words to describe him are expletives.

The same description applied to Antonio Brown. But Brown was a generational talent. (Not that Brown helped the Steelers win many playoff games.)

At some point, Tomlin and Steelers management need to recognize that there’s a culture problem that tangibly hurts the team. Claypool personifies that.

If you want to get their attention, he should be punished.

Tomlin will do no such thing. He’s as impotent as the Steelers’ offensive line.