U mad, bro?: When Penguins fans are openly heckling Steelers coaches, you know things are at a boiling point
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The Pittsburgh Steelers feel like the worst 3-2 team in the history of the NFL. The Penguins blew a two-goal lead in their home opener. And the Steelers offensive coordinator is apparently getting booed everywhere in the 412 and 724 area codes.
So, as you may be able to assume, “U mad, bro?” wasn’t exactly difficult to put together this week.
I got this message from … wait, let me double check, ah, yes … “Captain Chicken Butt” right after the Penguins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on opening night.
Season is done. They are finished. Time to clean house and trade everyone
— Captain Chicken Butt (@GoogMasterFlash) October 11, 2023
Agreed. Only one thing can save the Penguins now. The Steelers have to fire Matt Canada.
A “Fire Canada” chant has broken out here at the Penguins game pic.twitter.com/CeztxYWpv4
— Jenna Harner (@JennaHarner11) October 11, 2023
Then, this guy saw that response from me to “Chicken Butt” and followed up with a question of his own.
And hire who?
— F. S. Flip Fisher (@Flipsteeler) October 11, 2023
Ron Hextall. Obviously.
Here’s an example of where the Matt Canada hate has gotten out of control. This email was sent to me by a man named Patrick.
“When you only score 5 offensive touchdowns in 5 games, being 3-2 isn’t because of the offense. If they had a better offensive coordinator, they would be 5-0. When will Canada be out?”
Look, Patrick, I don’t think Canada is any good either. I wouldn’t have kept him in advance of this season, let alone kept him through the bye week.
But with the way that the Pittsburgh defense played against Houston and San Francisco, a genetically engineered demon baby hatched in a petri dish from the DNA of Andy Reid, Bill Walsh and Don Coryell wouldn’t have been able to outscore the Texans and 49ers.
The only reason those two teams didn’t score 40 points each against the Steelers is because they didn’t have to in order to win. They could’ve both scored 50 if they really wanted.
If you honestly believe that the Steelers would be 5-0 with “Coordinator X” in place of Matt Canada, you are delusional.
More sports
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• Matt Canada: ‘There’s a good vibe from the guys’ on the Steelers offense as it seeks turnaround
• New Pitt starting quarterback Christian Veilleux (Vay-er) sounds like he’s ready to lead
Rich is bummed out watching the Houston Astros in the MLB playoffs.
@TimBenzPGH Just watched the Astros win to go to their 7th ALCS in a row, and the Pirates haven't smelled it since I was a freshman in high school. Wish I could call Nutting and say, "This is what a real baseball team looks like."
— Rich (@rxn128) October 12, 2023
Me too. Let’s figure out another way to get him the message. Maybe we can stand outside of his house and bang it out in morse code on some trash cans.
Jason chimes in about why the Steelers refuse to start Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback.
He can’t tackle good enough…smh
— Jason Lehman (@Jason2sh) October 8, 2023
Well, that’s true. After all, he is playing behind Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson, who have been elite tacklers all seas— … wait a minute.
YINZ SEE THAT?? @CMC_22
#SFvsPIT on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/gQXH3ih8Ak— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 10, 2023
David sent a Penguins tweet in the wake of the club’s 4-2 loss to Chicago on opening night.
It only is game one, but it seems as if nothing has changed. Uncalled for penalties, especially back-to-back. No discipline. Defensive lapses. Too much passing vs. shooting, and lastly, I remain committed to believing Jarry is not the right goalie.
— David Anthony Castelveter (@AviationVet) October 11, 2023
As I remain committed in thinking that the star players may still be good enough to launch 40 shots a night, but no longer good enough to bury three or four goals a night. Which, with this defensive approach, may be necessary.
This is an email from Kevin responding to a column I wrote last week about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
“In response to your article today. You’re right. The sharks are circling any chum they can find right now….Tomlin, Canada, Pickett and the media. Reminds me of the “Fire Hextall” chants a few months ago and the frustration with the Pens, who did make changes. Just seems like an accumulation of frustrations that have been building for the past 5 years…no playoff wins, no progress, no changes and more of the same.”
Come to think of it, Kevin, maybe “sharks” was the wrong analogy. Maybe it’s more like vultures. Sharks tend to swim after things that may be bleeding but still alive.
Finally, here’s a post from someone responding to Tomlin “winning” that goofy challenge of a catch in the Baltimore game — that he kinda didn’t really win.
Winning a challenge that does nothing to change the outcome is the “never had a losing season” of challenges.
— PtentialHuman (@PotentialHuman2) October 8, 2023
I can’t possibly add anything to this fine example of social media poetry. I’ve been on X/Twitter since 2011. In that time, I’ve probably seen tens of millions of posts.
I think this just might be the first example of a perfect tweet.