PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph said he’s appreciative to the quarterback room now. He said that group is making him better and it always hasn’t been the case.
“No matter who's playing there's been great communication, and everyone is truly trying to make the other person better,” Rudolph said Wednesday. “You know, suggest something that's truly going to help us out opposed to you know, other times where it's not as cohesive as a group and people are forthcoming with hey, how do we help?”
“So, they've been great.”
I can’t imagine to what he is referring to. That Oklahoma State QB room must have been tough.
Geno love
It’s a pair of quarterbacks on Sunday that were left for dead in NFL terms. Rudolph demoted to third string without a chance to compete for the starting job after the Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky and drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round in 2022.
Seattle’s Geno Smith was a first-round pick of the Jets in 2013 and started 29 games his first two seasons. The now 33-year-old would start five games over the next six seasons with the Jets, Giants, Chargers and first two years with Seattle. Then opportunity presented itself in the Russell Wilson trade and Smith led the NFL in completion percentage in 2022 throwing for a career-high 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns.
“I've got a lot of respect for Geno Smith, who, you know, battled,” Rudolph said. “You know, what a career, what an inspiration to a lot of guys and now he's battled through and stayed, stayed aggressive and stayed competent and positive, and he got a shot a couple of years ago and look at what he's doing.”
Smith was rewarded with a three-year, $105 million contract in March.
Rudolph is trying to build on 17-27, 290 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals and maybe parlay that into a contract for 2024. You know, to prolong the time before he contemplates commercial real estate again.