Mark Madden: Steelers can control narrative in training camp, but results speak differently

What is the big story of Steelers training camp?

We’re told it’s not T.J. Watt refusing to be a full participant in practice while his contract extension gets settled (if it does). He’s their best defensive player, but…nothing to see here.

We’re told it’s not Kevin Dotson being dropped to the second string. He was their best offensive lineman last year, but…it’s no problem.

Those issues may yet get resolved. Here’s betting Watt plays Week 1 at Buffalo and that Dotson also starts that game. But until that happens, those are big stories.

But that’s not how Steelers news gets filtered. It’s not about researching and reporting, it’s about waiting to be handed the controlled narrative.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Watt’s passive holdout is no big deal, because Cam Heyward allegedly did the same thing last year while negotiating his new contract. No one noticed that then, let alone reported it. But it became truth because Tomlin said it.

Watt’s passive holdout and Dotson’s demotion pale in comparison to the “battle” for the No. 2 quarterbacking job.

God forbid Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins has to play in a regular-season game. If that happens — and it likely will — it won’t matter which one plays. Neither is very good.

But that’s an easy, insignificant topic.

Other acceptable discussion points are:

• Wow, is that punter big!

• The fans are having a terrific time at open practices. JuJu Smith-Schuster waved to them!

• Give Watt what he wants! Give Joe Haden what he wants! Give Minkah Fitzpatrick what he wants when the time comes! Free money for everybody! (But Ben Roethlisberger had to — and did — take a pay cut because it was best for the team. He’s only the quarterback.)

• Who’s going to be the third cornerback? (That actually does matter, especially because there doesn’t yet seem to be a good answer.)

• Anything involving a good deed or something fan-friendly done by a Steelers player.

It’s reminiscent of Rocky’s training camp prior to the first Clubber Lang fight in that never-ending franchise’s third movie. There was a bubble machine, music blaring and photo ops. Then Rocky got his block knocked off and Mick died.

Apollo Creed won’t be showing up. Nor will common sense when it comes to objectively deciphering the preseason.

That’s OK. Week 1 at Buffalo is when it starts to legitimately count. The biggest problem with Steelers training camp is that the media is required to write and babble about it non-stop.

The results aren’t a narrative that can be controlled.

That applies to the Pirates, too.

Before the season, we got told there was no way the Pirates would lose 100 games. But they’re on pace to lose 104. They got one hit Tuesday and had two hits Wednesday. They have lost seven straight and 17 of 22. Among those losses are scores of 11-6, 9-0, 12-0, 15-4, 10-0 and 11-3.

But they had a terrific draft. So, we look forward to 2023, ’24, ’25, whenever.

By the way, Ke’Bryan Hayes isn’t very good. The numbers don’t lie, and they spell disaster for you at Sacrifice.

In the meantime, the Steelers’ friends in the media won’t consider the idea that letting Watt play out his contract this season and franchising him next year is a reasonable option. It would save the Steelers approximately $11 million — Watt wants $28 million per, the franchise tag pays $17 million — and delay the decision on signing Watt long-term.

You’re not dumping Watt. The Steelers can control him through 2023 without him agreeing to anything.

But that would make Watt angry. The media friends and fans don’t want that.

Nobody cared about Le’Veon Bell getting angry when he got franchised. Wonder why?

Don’t forget the Steelers’ rule about not negotiating contracts in-season. That makes the clock tick a bit louder.