Penguins

U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans not wild about state of Steelers QBs, Bryan Rust’s New York state of mind

Tim Benz
Slide 1
AP
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust moves the puck away from New York Rangers center Tyler Motte (14) during the second period an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in Pittsburgh.

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A June swoon? Not for “U mad, bro?”

At least not to start the month. We are already coming in hot for the early summer.

Who is catching the heat? A two-time Stanley Cup champion. Both Steelers QBs. Derek Shelton and Ben Cherington.

And the entire Steelers wide receiver depth chart.

At this rate, July and August are going to get pretty ugly.


We start with Kevin. He appears less than thrilled with the Steelers’ quarterback situation.

Is this the part where I’m supposed to guess which one came from which place?


I wrote a column on Monday ripping the Pirates for their two losses in Toronto. But some guy named “John E” sent me this email.

In the subject, it just said “YOU are Too easy

Then he added in the body of the email “on GM & MGR

Well, John E, I hate to tell you that “YOU are TOO late

To have a read when I called them out a month ago.”


A.B. isn’t mad. He has merely sent a request.

Tim would you please do an informative article on the receptions, yardage per catch, and how many times they were targeted, on all receivers on the Steelers roster.

I mean, I could. But that would be a really, really short “article.”

Wanna read it right now? It’s not going to take long. There wasn’t very much to add up.

Quez Watkins: 21 targets…15 catches…141 yards…9.5 avg…1 TD

Denzell Mims: 25 targets…11 catches…186 yards…16.9 avg…0 TD

Scotty Miller: 16 targets….11 catches…161 yards…14.6 avg…2 TD

Van Jefferson: 43 targets….20 catches….209 yards….10.5 avg….0 TD

Calvin Austin III: 30 targets…17 catches…180 yards…10.6 avg…1 TD

So, for those five guys, that’s a total of 135 targets, 74 catches, 877 yards for an average of 11.8 yards per reception and four touchdowns.

Impressive, eh? Not a bad year … if it was turned in by one guy. Not five.

George Pickens by himself had 106 targets, 63 receptions, 1,140 yards, an average of 18.1 yards per reception and five touchdowns.

I hope you found that “informative” enough.

By the way, are your initials really A.B.? Or are you that … um … “other” A.B.? And are you just angling to get your old job back here in ‘tahn, n’at?

Because, if that’s the case, I hate to break it to you, but just asking for an article from me isn’t going to get that done.

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Keith was obviously a huge fan of my article about how I think the Steelers are overcomplicating the offensive tackle situation.

The same NFL professionals that have as many playoff wins as you and I do the last seven years, Keith? Those NFL professionals?

Steelers honks like you are so funny to me. You continue to act like they are so far above and beyond reproach, yet they have zero playoff accomplishments since 2017.

I’m confused. So you aren’t debating that they are a painfully mediocre team, you are just mad that … I keep pointing it out?

That’s sorta my job. That’s what I do. You get that, don’t you?

If I don’t do that, who is going to do it? Are you?

You, Lieutenant Weinberg?!

You need me on that wall, Keith!

Now do I have your “attention?”


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Here’s someone who is also named Tim. He wants to follow up on my column from last week when I was critical of Bryan Rust’s assertion that the Penguins would’ve beaten the New York Rangers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs if they would’ve played each other.

You ‘forgot’ to mention the inevitable Achilles heel issue the team has playing between the pipes, ya know, the guy who has never won a playoff round? (and will continue to drag this ship down to Titanic levels).

No, Tim. I didn’t “forget” Tristan Jarry. I just didn’t feel like this topic directly concerned him.

Trust me, regardless of who is in goal this season, Iceburgh is going to hit the iceberg sooner rather than later.


Finally, here’s someone who agrees with my belief that Rust is out of his mind for suggesting that the Penguins could’ve beaten the Rangers.

For those that don’t know, a “delusion cocktail” is a very popular drink at PPG Paints Arena. It’s equal parts denial and arrogance, served with a splash of entitlement and a twist of narcissism.

It doesn’t age well, melts quickly and gives you at least a six-year hangover.

It’s usually served in a goblet, a mug, or a glass … but no one gets it in a “Cup.”

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