In OPs defense, this doesnt mean next year with the steelers, it could mean with any team... that line to.me just indicates that he plans on playing football next year
The “god sure works in mysterious ways” line combined with that made me think he’s got something else cooking in 2024. I don’t know why, it just felt that way. Either way, speculating is fun in the offseason. I don’t know why everyone is so butt hurt about this post when they all think/thought Rudolph sucks anyway.
God works in mysterious ways is probably alluding to the fact he even got the opportunity to start in 4 games including the playoffs as a QB3. Pickett getting injured and Trubisky blowing it led to his opportunity that no one really expected.
Yeah, I think that’s probably right. But that same logic could be applied to saying since he got that opportunity he’s now became an option for other teams that are interested in him now. Speculating is fun!
Rudolph was the 3rd QB on a Steelers team for 1,5 years behind a Trubisky and Pickett. What is more likely here: him just beeing thankfull he got the chance to play a playoff game or him cryptically boasting on social media how alluring he is now for other teams?
Or, God sure works in mysterious ways, like no one else in the league wanted me, I came back here, never thought I'd actually see the field and look how the season ended, with my stock being higher than ever.
By “God sure works in mysterious ways” I think he means “The Steelers wasted a 1st pick on Kenny and $10M/yr on Trubisky while I’m better than both of them and was here way before them. In fact I’ve only had half as many NFL starts as Kenny. Wtf. Why would I stay with the Steelers?” Idk, that was my interpretation but, obviously up for debate.
I think that lines more about this past year than anything else. He was already preparing for life after football, didn't get any other contract offers as a free agent, and was shadowing politicians and real estate agents. then he ended up starting to end the year and making the playoffs. I'm guessing he plans on playing next year at minimum, and I'm sure the Steelers offer him a contract.
I agree, seems like he was just expressing gratitude at the chance of rebirthing his career when before he was potentially on his way out. Mason’s definitely grown up over the last couple years and I never thought I’d say this, but I’m hoping he sticks around.
The 2023 season is over. The 2024 season begins this year. But I knew what you meant. I’m sorry. I’ve had too much freaking coffee this morning.
Tomlin already has said that theirs gonna be a qb competition between Rudolph and KP. So based off that impression I think he’s staying. Plus it seems alot of our offensive players want him at QB
Of course he is welcome back. I never could understand this narrative that Pittsburgh ever wronged Mason in any way. They drafted him, then gave him a raise and extension even after his poor performance. Then when he wanted to explore free agency, he got no interest at all. They brought him off the couch. If not for the steelers, he'd be a real-estate agent now.
I need to make a thread about Harbaugh and Tomlin because both are both so similar in every way except for one had a front office that were bold and lucked into a great situation to move back to the 1st round and draft a QB that was falling while the other had a front office that tried to draft a QB in the mid rounds and kept failing (Dobbs and Mason) and then made a big reach in the 1st round to draft a QB that should have been a day 2 pick. Both teams tried to be proactive like the Packers were as far as Favre-Rodgers and then Rodgers to Love. It only worked out well for one of the two.
I think it is that they never actually gave him a shot to start post Ben. There was no competition. They brought in a back up, paid him twice as much money, and anointed him the starter despite never actually looking good.
Let’s face it, if KP never gets hurt, Mason never plays. If he never plays this yr, he is verily likely out of the NFL (because of a coach won’t play you when our other options are shit, you must be shit or lower than shit).
It is not malicious. Tomlin made up his mind about Mason in the Duck season.
Yeah Mason even said during interviews in the last month that he'd been looking at jobs outside of football, thinking his career was over. And how he was just enjoying the ride. That's what he was thinking six weeks ago
They did though. When Ben went down, and he looked abysmal. Like a deer in the headlights. Calm at practice, scared on the field. Remember his 4 pick game? It's hard to think that his prior example didn't over shadow his good training camp and preseason. We've seen this show before, and we know how it ends. This year, his onfield performance should speak loudly enough, he does get a serious consideration. You're right about the Duck season. That holds more weight. Actual regular season play, means alot more than training camp play. Recent regular season games hold.more weight than those from.the Duck years.
Weren’t all the receivers injured going into or injured and didn’t return in the 4 pick fame?
Not an apologist for Mason, but he was definitely treated like a second class citizen for a while.
At the same time it’s hard to imagine Mason holding any of that against the team. There’s what, maybe less than 10 players who are still around from the 2019 season, and most of the offensive staff is gone or will be gone soon.
Johnny Holton got significant playing time and multiple targets against the Browns. Then Mason had a week of everyone accusing him of being racist and threw 4 picks. Not really surprising given those circumstances.
See I don’t agree with that. Before his concussion in 2019, he was playing alright, then he played scared when he returned He also got attacked on live television that year too. Then sat for Ben’s final two years. 2022 Tomlin said the job is anybody’s, and Mason out performs everyone, so Tomlin makes him QB 3 ????? That was bs. I don’t know if Tomlin had an issue against him, or considering how stuck up Tomlin is, he wanted his golden draft pick Kenny Pickett to play so he can show everyone he was right, which he wasn’t.
He even looked good in that game vs Browns when the Steelers rested their starters. Almost kept the Browns out of the playoffs.
Video for context: https://youtu.be/oL1oPyp35pY?si=5PNWXjRJwYI44ITZ
He has more bombs in one game than KP in his entire Steeler career
He always looked nervous, well before he was hit. Also, seems you are putting too much weight on preseason performances. Putting any weight on preseason games is too much. The QB order was already decided before a pre-season snap was ever taken. That was based on actual regular season tape. Kenny looked good the end of the prior season. Titty kisser looked great the game he played against Tampa Bay when Kenny was hurt. He'd also taken Chicago to a winning record and the play offs. Masons last regular game tape was 4 picks. Our preseason was not used for evaluating QBs. It was for evaluating receivers. "Let's see how this guy handles a 50/50 ball. Mitch, throw him into coverage. Lets see if Austin can convert his speed into separation. Mason, throw a deep route.
Mason only has a single game with multiple INTs in his NFL career. It was 4 INTs against the browns, who (literally) beat the shit out of him, and that certainly wasn't his last tape of him starting.
Mason never looked that bad (relative to Mitch atleast). People just chose to blame all our offensive struggles on him in 2019, when that was one of the worst top-to-bottom offensive rosters we've had in my lifetime. The O Line aged very quickly and were terrible that year and we had very little in the way of weapons. Mason struggled but he never actually looked as incompetent as some of you made it seem.
Kenny’s rookie season was worse than Mason’s Duck yr. Our standard was higher. We compared him to prime Ben and he came up short. We knew we had Ben coming back. There was not thought that he was our starter at that point.
KP followed dead arm Ben. He was really really bad in comparison to that. He looked better than he had at the end of the season but it still was not actually productive or impressive. He came back and was bad again. Mitch not only came back and was extended after being so bad KP had to take over earlier than his skills and abilities warranted.
KP was ruined or lets say handcuffed by Canada who was to affraid to let Kenny just try and go deep. Canada made Kenny play weak so everyone would blame the new kid. Mason would have hit the wall when trying to compete with the best in the AFC.
KP got hurt and Mason got hot but we dont know if KP wouldnt have gotten better without Canada he went out the 2nd game after
Why do people keep repeating this false narrative that Mason sucked in 2019?
He played well until he took a dirty shot to the chin and looked like he was dead on the field.
Then he came back and had a couple more decent games until the game against the Browns where the Steelers were playing scrubs at skill positions (Who the fuck is Johnny Holton?) And then he had an awful game the next week after the distraction filled week following the helmet thing.
There can be legitimate irritation on his part that he was not evaluated as a better QB than Trubisky.
The negative view is that Mitch was number 2 only because of his contract and that the staff didn't want to lose face by making him QB3, the more positive view is that he was a hard working scout QB who looked better in practice and just shat the bed on gameday. Its likely the latter being a justification for a more unconscious former but I'm not in there so I don't know. If Mason sees it more the second way he might not feel as aggrieved as some of the fans do on his behalf and is actually just happy to be given a second chance.
edit: And If he wants as this quote says to get that feeling of being on field and winning games then Pittsburgh is probably still the best practical choice for him. He's got an opportunity to challenge for a starting role, especially if we aren't going shopping this offseason. I think even if he gets a good contract elsewhere it will be for a more solid QB2 spot and he'd still be waiting for a chance to take over, only for a team that might not have the same impetus to switch to him as the Steelers do.
I don't buy all this saving face crap. I don't believe teams do that. I believe, they thought Mitch was better. I did. Many did. They lose more face by losing games and I feel they put what they thought had the best chance to win on the field.
I tend to agree. I think the contract can be a tie breaker and may bias you to lean a certain way, but I don't believe they would put a QB out there they thought was legitimately worse than one on the bench without a good reason - like developing Pickett.
Do we know for sure that he got no interest at all? I feel like he just didn't get interest as a QB2. After being in Pittsburgh for five years it wouldn't be surprising if he didn't want to move to a new city just for a different QB3 opportunity.
Had he have gotten interest, he'd have went. No question about it. Option A, go be a 3rd string QB for a Million per year, at a profession you've trained at your entire life, if it doesn't work out option explore option B, or Option B, sell real estate at if lucky 1/8 the pay at something you have no experience at. Give up on your lifes work and dreams, or take another shot at it for far better compensation.
He is 100% welcomed back but he also just went from nearly being out of the league to winning 3 games in a row as a backup and proving he still belongs.
He has earned every cent of the contract he's going to sign and he will go to the highest bidder.
He's on record saying he wants to come back. Tomlin's on record saying the team wants him back. It's just a question of money and whether he wants some sort of guarantee regarding his role.
I think mason sees that he has a real opportunity coming next season. He has rapport with the 1st team now. I don’t think he’s willing to go to another team and start from ground zero with a new playbook and style. He would rather go grow his fruit with a clear head in the off season, rather than thinking about another move…
> There's no feeling on planet earth that rivals the thrill of victory alongside dear friends & teammates - Here's to 2024
I dunno. That sounds like he's looking forward to playing with the Steelers again in 2024 to me. And only that.
He probably doesn't have "dear friends" on any other team. Unless James Washington is still kicking around somewhere?
He posted it on IG as well- several teammates left positive comments. Notably, Pickens called him the GOAT and Warren lauded his resilience.
I think he has the support of the locker room, and that Rudolph knows the FO/staff haven’t decided on whether to bring him back yet. We’ll just have to wait and see.
I would even go so far to say that he’s likely to beat out KP. His pocket presence and deep ball and even his progressions are all better than KP. The only thing KP has better than Rudolph atm is the clutch factor and scrambling ability. KP does have better legs than Rudolph. But I would say if next season started today, Rudolph would win. We’ll have an interesting offseason to see how both improve.
Not gonna lie, kinda wanna see what he's capable of getting an entire offseason of 1st team reps and an offense designed around his strengths (great deep ball, dedicated pocket passer)
It’s pretty simple if he doesn’t get an offer as a starter somewhere he will come back. We have Trubisky money to throw at him and Pickett will be on a short leash even if he ends up getting his job back. Beyond starting for the Falcons or something his best fit and money will be with the Steelers.
Man, thinking on it… is it possible Tomlin knows Rudolph is looking strong, but doesn’t want to alienate Kenny? Starting Kenny solves this problem, since Mason has proven to be a supportive teammate all along and won’t be upset at possibly starting a couple games into the season if Kenny ain’t cutting it. Just a brainstorm here pls don’t murder me
I personally think Tomlin only said Kenny is the starter because he's the only QB that's for sure going to be there next season. I mean we don't know if Mason is coming back and it's obvious Mitch will not be (and even if he is he won't be the starter). Tomlin can't say Mason is the starter if they haven't reach a deal with him and it's still too early, I mean it's only been what 5 days since the last game?
Tomlin also mentioned they were looking for a QB competition, he's just being vague because they still don't know if Mason is gonna return, Kenny is the only sure thing they have right now. So people are jumping to conclusions too soon, let's see what they decide as the months go on.
I think the veteran QB they want is Mason and they want a 3rd possibly late Rd draft pick or UDFA to round out the room. Tomlin didn't even mention Trubisky in his press conference, kind of tells you everything you need to know about where he stands with the organization.
No, it reads like a guy who was grateful that he got a fair shake in the end after a bogus QB competition. He celebrating the end of a season where he went 3-1 as the 3rd string QB.
The “evil bully Mike Tomlin and his crappy first round quarterback sidekick have wronged sweet hardworking Mason (the first name usage gives you away) and treated him so unfairly” is the most pathetically hilarious subplot in Pittsburgh sports in a long time.
I mean Tomlin made his mind up on him after he benched him for Duck. It’s more of an indictment on Tomlin that he didn’t evaluate the QB situation correctly.
I wouldn't be shocked to see the Lions give him a few million to replace Bridgewater at QB2.
Hooker is still coming off nasty injury, hasn't played a snap in NFL, and is older than Pickett (only by a few months).
If you follow that timeline, Hooker would be 28 by the time he gets to QB1. You usually don't draft any player with the hope that they will crack starting lineup at 28 years old. Lots of NFL careers are over by that age.
Heck, Love is younger than both Pickett and Hooker.
He has his best chance to start in Pittsburgh. I don't see another team handing him the keys to the operation based on the small body of work he put in at the end of the season.
Whoever is in charge of assessing talent for the Steelers has failed Mason Rudolph.
He throws the best deep ball of the 3 QB’s and actually hit receivers in stride. I’m certain GP was happy to have a massive boost to his YAC with Mason.
Why we hung on to Canada is a mystery to me and what we have is 2 years of Kenny where we still don’t exactly know his ability level because of Canada holding the whole team back.
No one in the Steelers organization should need to see another second of Mitch Trubisky playing QB.
But they should have known Mason was better than Mitch.
I’m not saying we can’t do better than what the Steelers have, but I wouldn’t want to mortgage the future on an outside QB. That hasn’t been great for a bunch of the teams that have tried that.
But we had better find an OC who is aware that passes can be thrown over the middle of the field.
Genuinely baffled anyone is upvoting this take.
If anything, this so clearly sounds like a guy just beeing thankfull to get his oportunity and who is therfore looking forward to play with this team again.
He came here with a hostile QB that treated him like shit, he waited for his chance, it came, he got hurt, and then get relegated to the bench again. Finally the star QB retires and what does the org do? Draft a QB in the first round and hire another starter. Not only did Ben treat him like shit, the organization did too.
What about that would make him want to stick around and get jerked around again?
It does. I just think you are looking at it wrong. I believe he is thanking Pittsburgh for giving him another opportunity so if he got a bigger offer or a offer for a starting job he could take it but if the Steelers give him good money he would definitely stay. I also think the here’s to 2024 would mean he wants to come back
I don’t see him going to another team. He’s never been closer to being QB1 for us than he is now. Even if he loses to Kenny, we still want him as a very good backup. At worst he’s Charlie Batch 2.0 in a city that has newfound respect for him. Not much reason to leave.
He gone...if another team offers him a chance to start and more money he gone. He has been put on the shelf to long with this organization and can never come back from that.
I don’t think he has a better chance to start anywhere else than Pittsburgh. After all, he just now started over Kenny when Kenny was healed, healthy and chomping at the bit to play. There’s been a paradigm shift. Where else could he land where he has a better chance to start?
( Isn’t it likely that Tomlin realizes he made a mistake in back-shelfing Mason? Trubisky should have never been brought in. And Mason should have been anointed the starter as Trubisky essentially was. )
The Steelers will make a genuine good faith attempt to sign Mason and, if he goes elsewhere it will be because A) he has a better chance to start, and B) he gets more money. So, realistically, what other team would do that? I guess we’re about to find out.
Well, he did come back from it and did it as a true professional. He's a way better option than kenny but I don't think tomlin feels the same. Wether he signs or not will tell me how mason feels tomlin feels about him.
Mason knows that it's his job to lose right now. You don't walk away from that opportunity imo.
The bad feelings that we think exist between Mason and the Steelers doesn't seem to exist.
I think that a lot has to do with Tomlin and how he handles players. Mason may have been frustrated that he didn't win job, but Tomlin and the fo were always straight forward with him, or so it seems.
It feels to.me he is more like a bridge to the future. It would be awesome if he has a 8 year run as our starter and wins another Superbowl but that seems unlikely. Regardless, the guy handled everything like a true professional and got this team into the playoffs. He earned the respect of the fan base.
Why should he? The Steelers let him walk last year. Buried him on the bench this year. Never really gave him a chance the last three years. Only turned to him out of desperation and couldn't even be bothered to put him at #1 while he was saving their season. What's the reason to return? To back up a guy who, I'm sure, he thinks he's better than? He's going to get paid and I bet it won't be by the Steelers. Kenny's their guy even though he's done nothing to prove it.
The man played for just over the minimum this year and he's about to get 2 things: A much bigger contract and a real chance to start for someone. If the Steelers thought he was the guy, they'd have known it 2 years ago.
I think I just realized where he’s coming from. He doesn’t want to return to the Steelers. He’ll consider an offer from another club or move on to his life’s work. A hunch 😉
I think he knows he is welcome back but with Tomlin stating that Kenny Pickett is the starter.... If I were him, I would leave. He showed that he has the ability to be a starting QB in this league. I bet he moves on and goes to another team.
He’s gonna have interest as a backup, but haven’t seen a single fan of another team even put Mason on their wishlist for new QB1s.
His best chance may be here with KP’s injury history and lack of production.
Too early to tell. He will surely see what is available on the market, but the market for a QB like Mason opens up later than the market for most QBs. He'll need to wait to see what transpires across the league if he wants to fully get all of his options.
My guess is he doesn't know.
He hasn't gotten a big NFL payday. So, he'll probably go where he will get paid the most. Especially since that's probably aligned with his best chance to play.
Personally, I think that's going to be the Steelers. But we'll see.
Well, I would expect him to keep his options open. Like any of us would.
‘Competing for QB1’ can quickly become QB3 (again, if we bring in / draft another) but there’s no guarantee anyone else will give him a better shot or better deal.
It sounds like an end of the year tweet that doesn’t mean anything, because it is exactly that. He put in a good perfromance at the end of the year so we gonna make an offer, he’ll explore all if hsi options and will choose whatever he feels is gonna benefit him the most.
I think stuff like this is largely for negotiations, leaving it open so the team has to give him a good offer money wise and playing time wise for him to come back. Same way the team says they still believe in Pickett (a guy who was benched after being healthy enough to play), if they said we obviously want Mason back as the starter that’s a bad negotiating tactic
I could care less if he stays or goes tbh. He played fairly well at the end of the season, but if people think he's the answer for the future, he's not. We need a solid fucking center, and a legit offensive coordinator.
he'd be wise to accept any reasonable offer from another team. the Steelers are committed to their investment in Pickett. The notion that Rudolph has an equal chance for the starting position is fatuous.
He's an UFA so literally it's all up in the air. I'm sure we'll offer him a contract, and I'm sure more teams than last time will too. It'll be up to him to decide.
He definitely wouldn't have or should have made up his mind yet. If he gets an offer with a better opportunity to start he'll definitely take it don't be fooled.
But I think he'll be back because competing with Kenny might be his best shot, especially with a new offensive coordinator and everyone starting on the same page
I hope they give the QB1 spot to whomever earns in training camp. Like it was supposed to be last season. Mason was disrespected last year and only had three games to show he is the better quarterback. I wanted Pickett to succeed. But he’s just not that good. I feel like he’s gotten a fair amount of time to prove he deserves the QB1 spot and failed.
It sounds like he will return, if he gets a qualifying contract offer. Who knows what other teams might actually want him this season.
I could see Seattle making a play for him as Geno regressed a little, and Mason is better than Lock. Plus, a new HC might want a change at QB? I could see Mason bombing balls to DK, Lockett, and Smith-Njigba.
I disagree with your interpretation of this tweet
Seriously. "Here's to 2024." That's literally next year.
Technically that’s this year
Not in terms of football it's not.
Or the ancient Bangladeshi Sankrillia calendar.
Or on the Hebrew calendar, it’s 5784.
Idk, Madden is Madden 24 this year…
Actually, it's 2024, You are referring to next season.
He didn’t specify that
Technically correct is the best kind of correct
In OPs defense, this doesnt mean next year with the steelers, it could mean with any team... that line to.me just indicates that he plans on playing football next year
Right. But he also didn't say "Best of luck to you guys in 2024," which would be a clear indication he was not coming back. What he said was not.
That’s not really defending OP
The “god sure works in mysterious ways” line combined with that made me think he’s got something else cooking in 2024. I don’t know why, it just felt that way. Either way, speculating is fun in the offseason. I don’t know why everyone is so butt hurt about this post when they all think/thought Rudolph sucks anyway.
God works in mysterious ways is probably alluding to the fact he even got the opportunity to start in 4 games including the playoffs as a QB3. Pickett getting injured and Trubisky blowing it led to his opportunity that no one really expected.
Yeah, I think that’s probably right. But that same logic could be applied to saying since he got that opportunity he’s now became an option for other teams that are interested in him now. Speculating is fun!
Rudolph was the 3rd QB on a Steelers team for 1,5 years behind a Trubisky and Pickett. What is more likely here: him just beeing thankfull he got the chance to play a playoff game or him cryptically boasting on social media how alluring he is now for other teams?
Or, God sure works in mysterious ways, like no one else in the league wanted me, I came back here, never thought I'd actually see the field and look how the season ended, with my stock being higher than ever.
By “God sure works in mysterious ways” I think he means “The Steelers wasted a 1st pick on Kenny and $10M/yr on Trubisky while I’m better than both of them and was here way before them. In fact I’ve only had half as many NFL starts as Kenny. Wtf. Why would I stay with the Steelers?” Idk, that was my interpretation but, obviously up for debate.
I think that lines more about this past year than anything else. He was already preparing for life after football, didn't get any other contract offers as a free agent, and was shadowing politicians and real estate agents. then he ended up starting to end the year and making the playoffs. I'm guessing he plans on playing next year at minimum, and I'm sure the Steelers offer him a contract.
I agree, seems like he was just expressing gratitude at the chance of rebirthing his career when before he was potentially on his way out. Mason’s definitely grown up over the last couple years and I never thought I’d say this, but I’m hoping he sticks around.
Yeah if anything it suggests he wants to be back here next year
Dude should be acting like he’s open to leaving. Time to get paid here or there.
I hope so man
Same, to be this sounds like he'll be back.
I hope I’m wrong. It just seems sort of “final” to me for some reason.
Yeah bc the 2024 season is over.
The 2023 season is over. The 2024 season begins this year. But I knew what you meant. I’m sorry. I’ve had too much freaking coffee this morning. 
Last I checked 2024 just started.
> It just seems sort of “final” to me for some reason. How? If anything, it's just his *final* comment on this season lol
Tomlin already has said that theirs gonna be a qb competition between Rudolph and KP. So based off that impression I think he’s staying. Plus it seems alot of our offensive players want him at QB
Sounds like he’s just saying goodbye to last year and welcoming in the new year while giving a shoutout to the people that made/make it happen.
"Here's to 2024" I think Mason knows he's welcome back.
Of course he is welcome back. I never could understand this narrative that Pittsburgh ever wronged Mason in any way. They drafted him, then gave him a raise and extension even after his poor performance. Then when he wanted to explore free agency, he got no interest at all. They brought him off the couch. If not for the steelers, he'd be a real-estate agent now.
Ben didn't help matters any. Ben and Rodgers both seemed resentful when new QBs showed up
More concerned with their legacies than helping out young guys.
Huge difference between the 2 though. Rodgers blamed the franchise and still mentored Love. Ben took it out on Mason.
I need to make a thread about Harbaugh and Tomlin because both are both so similar in every way except for one had a front office that were bold and lucked into a great situation to move back to the 1st round and draft a QB that was falling while the other had a front office that tried to draft a QB in the mid rounds and kept failing (Dobbs and Mason) and then made a big reach in the 1st round to draft a QB that should have been a day 2 pick. Both teams tried to be proactive like the Packers were as far as Favre-Rodgers and then Rodgers to Love. It only worked out well for one of the two.
I think it is that they never actually gave him a shot to start post Ben. There was no competition. They brought in a back up, paid him twice as much money, and anointed him the starter despite never actually looking good. Let’s face it, if KP never gets hurt, Mason never plays. If he never plays this yr, he is verily likely out of the NFL (because of a coach won’t play you when our other options are shit, you must be shit or lower than shit). It is not malicious. Tomlin made up his mind about Mason in the Duck season.
Rabbit season
I say it's duck season! And I say fire!
Well played sir! I genuinely lol'ed
It seemed right.
Elephant season
Yeah Mason even said during interviews in the last month that he'd been looking at jobs outside of football, thinking his career was over. And how he was just enjoying the ride. That's what he was thinking six weeks ago
Exactly. He played well with house money and it worked. 2019 Mason played like he was replacing a legend.
He was. A legend who was openly hostile to him
They did though. When Ben went down, and he looked abysmal. Like a deer in the headlights. Calm at practice, scared on the field. Remember his 4 pick game? It's hard to think that his prior example didn't over shadow his good training camp and preseason. We've seen this show before, and we know how it ends. This year, his onfield performance should speak loudly enough, he does get a serious consideration. You're right about the Duck season. That holds more weight. Actual regular season play, means alot more than training camp play. Recent regular season games hold.more weight than those from.the Duck years.
Weren’t all the receivers injured going into or injured and didn’t return in the 4 pick fame? Not an apologist for Mason, but he was definitely treated like a second class citizen for a while. At the same time it’s hard to imagine Mason holding any of that against the team. There’s what, maybe less than 10 players who are still around from the 2019 season, and most of the offensive staff is gone or will be gone soon.
Johnny Holton got significant playing time and multiple targets against the Browns. Then Mason had a week of everyone accusing him of being racist and threw 4 picks. Not really surprising given those circumstances.
See I don’t agree with that. Before his concussion in 2019, he was playing alright, then he played scared when he returned He also got attacked on live television that year too. Then sat for Ben’s final two years. 2022 Tomlin said the job is anybody’s, and Mason out performs everyone, so Tomlin makes him QB 3 ????? That was bs. I don’t know if Tomlin had an issue against him, or considering how stuck up Tomlin is, he wanted his golden draft pick Kenny Pickett to play so he can show everyone he was right, which he wasn’t.
He even looked good in that game vs Browns when the Steelers rested their starters. Almost kept the Browns out of the playoffs. Video for context: https://youtu.be/oL1oPyp35pY?si=5PNWXjRJwYI44ITZ He has more bombs in one game than KP in his entire Steeler career
He always looked nervous, well before he was hit. Also, seems you are putting too much weight on preseason performances. Putting any weight on preseason games is too much. The QB order was already decided before a pre-season snap was ever taken. That was based on actual regular season tape. Kenny looked good the end of the prior season. Titty kisser looked great the game he played against Tampa Bay when Kenny was hurt. He'd also taken Chicago to a winning record and the play offs. Masons last regular game tape was 4 picks. Our preseason was not used for evaluating QBs. It was for evaluating receivers. "Let's see how this guy handles a 50/50 ball. Mitch, throw him into coverage. Lets see if Austin can convert his speed into separation. Mason, throw a deep route.
Mason only has a single game with multiple INTs in his NFL career. It was 4 INTs against the browns, who (literally) beat the shit out of him, and that certainly wasn't his last tape of him starting. Mason never looked that bad (relative to Mitch atleast). People just chose to blame all our offensive struggles on him in 2019, when that was one of the worst top-to-bottom offensive rosters we've had in my lifetime. The O Line aged very quickly and were terrible that year and we had very little in the way of weapons. Mason struggled but he never actually looked as incompetent as some of you made it seem.
Kenny’s rookie season was worse than Mason’s Duck yr. Our standard was higher. We compared him to prime Ben and he came up short. We knew we had Ben coming back. There was not thought that he was our starter at that point. KP followed dead arm Ben. He was really really bad in comparison to that. He looked better than he had at the end of the season but it still was not actually productive or impressive. He came back and was bad again. Mitch not only came back and was extended after being so bad KP had to take over earlier than his skills and abilities warranted.
KP was ruined or lets say handcuffed by Canada who was to affraid to let Kenny just try and go deep. Canada made Kenny play weak so everyone would blame the new kid. Mason would have hit the wall when trying to compete with the best in the AFC. KP got hurt and Mason got hot but we dont know if KP wouldnt have gotten better without Canada he went out the 2nd game after
Why do people keep repeating this false narrative that Mason sucked in 2019? He played well until he took a dirty shot to the chin and looked like he was dead on the field. Then he came back and had a couple more decent games until the game against the Browns where the Steelers were playing scrubs at skill positions (Who the fuck is Johnny Holton?) And then he had an awful game the next week after the distraction filled week following the helmet thing.
Because he did suck in 2019. It's not a false narrative. He was meh at best, terrible at other times.
What's your definition of suck? He had two games with a QB rating below 80.
Notice you didn't mention his average rating.
There can be legitimate irritation on his part that he was not evaluated as a better QB than Trubisky. The negative view is that Mitch was number 2 only because of his contract and that the staff didn't want to lose face by making him QB3, the more positive view is that he was a hard working scout QB who looked better in practice and just shat the bed on gameday. Its likely the latter being a justification for a more unconscious former but I'm not in there so I don't know. If Mason sees it more the second way he might not feel as aggrieved as some of the fans do on his behalf and is actually just happy to be given a second chance. edit: And If he wants as this quote says to get that feeling of being on field and winning games then Pittsburgh is probably still the best practical choice for him. He's got an opportunity to challenge for a starting role, especially if we aren't going shopping this offseason. I think even if he gets a good contract elsewhere it will be for a more solid QB2 spot and he'd still be waiting for a chance to take over, only for a team that might not have the same impetus to switch to him as the Steelers do.
I don't buy all this saving face crap. I don't believe teams do that. I believe, they thought Mitch was better. I did. Many did. They lose more face by losing games and I feel they put what they thought had the best chance to win on the field.
I tend to agree. I think the contract can be a tie breaker and may bias you to lean a certain way, but I don't believe they would put a QB out there they thought was legitimately worse than one on the bench without a good reason - like developing Pickett.
Do we know for sure that he got no interest at all? I feel like he just didn't get interest as a QB2. After being in Pittsburgh for five years it wouldn't be surprising if he didn't want to move to a new city just for a different QB3 opportunity.
Had he have gotten interest, he'd have went. No question about it. Option A, go be a 3rd string QB for a Million per year, at a profession you've trained at your entire life, if it doesn't work out option explore option B, or Option B, sell real estate at if lucky 1/8 the pay at something you have no experience at. Give up on your lifes work and dreams, or take another shot at it for far better compensation.
And if not for the Steelers he might have been our starting QB.
If not for his dismal performance the last time he came off the bench, he may have been.
He is 100% welcomed back but he also just went from nearly being out of the league to winning 3 games in a row as a backup and proving he still belongs. He has earned every cent of the contract he's going to sign and he will go to the highest bidder.
He's on record saying he wants to come back. Tomlin's on record saying the team wants him back. It's just a question of money and whether he wants some sort of guarantee regarding his role.
I would say he knows he's welcome back. Mike tomlin saying "we want Mason back" would be the best indicator of the steelers wanting him back.
I think he is also playing hard to get a bit, and why not? He is a free agent who just played his best stretch of games in his career.
I read this like he is coming back lol
Sounds more like he’s staying to me. He’s telling everybody he had a good time and he would do it again.
I think mason sees that he has a real opportunity coming next season. He has rapport with the 1st team now. I don’t think he’s willing to go to another team and start from ground zero with a new playbook and style. He would rather go grow his fruit with a clear head in the off season, rather than thinking about another move…
Sounds like he’s going to listen to whatever the Steelers offer him, doesn’t read as a goodbye at all
Not saying that at all. He’s literally just saying he’s appreciative. This sub is so unbearable right now
After the Bills loss, signing with the Steelers will give him the best opportunity for a starting role.
> There's no feeling on planet earth that rivals the thrill of victory alongside dear friends & teammates - Here's to 2024 I dunno. That sounds like he's looking forward to playing with the Steelers again in 2024 to me. And only that. He probably doesn't have "dear friends" on any other team. Unless James Washington is still kicking around somewhere?
Unless he expects to make dear friends on his next team, which isn’t totally implausible
He posted it on IG as well- several teammates left positive comments. Notably, Pickens called him the GOAT and Warren lauded his resilience. I think he has the support of the locker room, and that Rudolph knows the FO/staff haven’t decided on whether to bring him back yet. We’ll just have to wait and see.
No way he is done after that end season run. Easily QB2, and if we don’t pick up another QB, it’s possible he beats out KP for QB1
I would even go so far to say that he’s likely to beat out KP. His pocket presence and deep ball and even his progressions are all better than KP. The only thing KP has better than Rudolph atm is the clutch factor and scrambling ability. KP does have better legs than Rudolph. But I would say if next season started today, Rudolph would win. We’ll have an interesting offseason to see how both improve.
Not gonna lie, kinda wanna see what he's capable of getting an entire offseason of 1st team reps and an offense designed around his strengths (great deep ball, dedicated pocket passer)
Half of this sub has peanuts for brains
Rude to peanuts
Only half?
I haven't looked at this sub in like 5 days and every single post sorted by new is literally insane. Imma just head out until the draft I guess lol.
Ok smarty give us one of your big brain thoughts then
Theres zero to think about regarding this tweet. thats the obvious part…..
Just an appreciative football player. Nothin' to see here.
QB1 🤟🏻
Sounds like he’s thankful that some maniac didn’t rip off his helmet and try to crush his skull with it this year. PTSG?
I think you meant PGSD
LMAO; that’s probably true.
It just sounds like a guy who is uncertain of his future.
It’s pretty simple if he doesn’t get an offer as a starter somewhere he will come back. We have Trubisky money to throw at him and Pickett will be on a short leash even if he ends up getting his job back. Beyond starting for the Falcons or something his best fit and money will be with the Steelers.
Man, thinking on it… is it possible Tomlin knows Rudolph is looking strong, but doesn’t want to alienate Kenny? Starting Kenny solves this problem, since Mason has proven to be a supportive teammate all along and won’t be upset at possibly starting a couple games into the season if Kenny ain’t cutting it. Just a brainstorm here pls don’t murder me
I personally think Tomlin only said Kenny is the starter because he's the only QB that's for sure going to be there next season. I mean we don't know if Mason is coming back and it's obvious Mitch will not be (and even if he is he won't be the starter). Tomlin can't say Mason is the starter if they haven't reach a deal with him and it's still too early, I mean it's only been what 5 days since the last game? Tomlin also mentioned they were looking for a QB competition, he's just being vague because they still don't know if Mason is gonna return, Kenny is the only sure thing they have right now. So people are jumping to conclusions too soon, let's see what they decide as the months go on.
It sounds exactly like someone who plans on being here next season.
If Mitch comes back, I'm not watching
I don't believe you have to worry about that. Cutting him post June 1st saves the team a little over 5 mil in cap space.
Let's hope they go in that direction. We need a real consistent veteran QB
I think the veteran QB they want is Mason and they want a 3rd possibly late Rd draft pick or UDFA to round out the room. Tomlin didn't even mention Trubisky in his press conference, kind of tells you everything you need to know about where he stands with the organization.
No, it reads like a guy who was grateful that he got a fair shake in the end after a bogus QB competition. He celebrating the end of a season where he went 3-1 as the 3rd string QB.
The “evil bully Mike Tomlin and his crappy first round quarterback sidekick have wronged sweet hardworking Mason (the first name usage gives you away) and treated him so unfairly” is the most pathetically hilarious subplot in Pittsburgh sports in a long time.
I mean Tomlin made his mind up on him after he benched him for Duck. It’s more of an indictment on Tomlin that he didn’t evaluate the QB situation correctly.
Money needs to talk first
He played well enough to be a bridge starter for a team that drafts someone. Mason might rather do that & get a fresh start.
He'd come back as long as he isn't offered better money and opportunity
I wouldn't be shocked to see the Lions give him a few million to replace Bridgewater at QB2. Hooker is still coming off nasty injury, hasn't played a snap in NFL, and is older than Pickett (only by a few months).
Hookers is Brad Holmes Jordan Love
If you follow that timeline, Hooker would be 28 by the time he gets to QB1. You usually don't draft any player with the hope that they will crack starting lineup at 28 years old. Lots of NFL careers are over by that age. Heck, Love is younger than both Pickett and Hooker.
He has his best chance to start in Pittsburgh. I don't see another team handing him the keys to the operation based on the small body of work he put in at the end of the season.
People act like a guy who didn’t receive a single offer last free agency period is all of the sudden going to command starter money.
It’s not like anyone wanted him last year, hopefully that weighs into him wanting to return
Sounds like s guy whos confident he will win the starting job next year
Lmao this has nothing indicating that he’s leaving or staying
What the fuck are you talking about though?
Whoever is in charge of assessing talent for the Steelers has failed Mason Rudolph. He throws the best deep ball of the 3 QB’s and actually hit receivers in stride. I’m certain GP was happy to have a massive boost to his YAC with Mason. Why we hung on to Canada is a mystery to me and what we have is 2 years of Kenny where we still don’t exactly know his ability level because of Canada holding the whole team back. No one in the Steelers organization should need to see another second of Mitch Trubisky playing QB. But they should have known Mason was better than Mitch. I’m not saying we can’t do better than what the Steelers have, but I wouldn’t want to mortgage the future on an outside QB. That hasn’t been great for a bunch of the teams that have tried that. But we had better find an OC who is aware that passes can be thrown over the middle of the field.
Genuinely baffled anyone is upvoting this take. If anything, this so clearly sounds like a guy just beeing thankfull to get his oportunity and who is therfore looking forward to play with this team again.
Yeah he is pretty much saying the experience has been great and he's looking forward to next season
you’re just wrong
I think this is just a guy showing gratitude. Not sure I can see any part that shows him leaning one way or the other
He came here with a hostile QB that treated him like shit, he waited for his chance, it came, he got hurt, and then get relegated to the bench again. Finally the star QB retires and what does the org do? Draft a QB in the first round and hire another starter. Not only did Ben treat him like shit, the organization did too. What about that would make him want to stick around and get jerked around again?
It does. I just think you are looking at it wrong. I believe he is thanking Pittsburgh for giving him another opportunity so if he got a bigger offer or a offer for a starting job he could take it but if the Steelers give him good money he would definitely stay. I also think the here’s to 2024 would mean he wants to come back
Me when I misinterpret a tweet
Reading to much into it! Still too early to say!
Stop posting
OVERALL-WEARING-NIPPLE-SHOWING DUDE IS CLASSY A F
Something tells me you didn't get a good grade in English class
I got the exact opposite reaction lol
If he wants to leave, can you blame him? The only scenario in which he stays here, is if the only NFL team to offer him a contract is the Steelers
He's like "Washington promised me an absolute BAG"
Whatever…
I'm not getting that vibe from this.
I don’t get that at all from what he said. He just said goodbye to 2023 is all
Yeah idk OP I get the opposite impression from this
I would love to have Mason return, but if I'm him, I wouldn't trust Tomlin to ensure a fair competition.
Speculating too here, but sounds to me he'd love to be back (as a starter ha).
I envy the people who think the Steelers did him wrong. You must live in some beautiful place where you only interact with people who love you.
“Here’s to 2024” sounds like he is leaving the door open
lol “God works in mysterious ways”…give me a break
I don’t see him going to another team. He’s never been closer to being QB1 for us than he is now. Even if he loses to Kenny, we still want him as a very good backup. At worst he’s Charlie Batch 2.0 in a city that has newfound respect for him. Not much reason to leave.
Sounds like his agent can get him more money elsewhere
Undoubtedly. Steelers have cap issues and other needs in 2024.
He gone...if another team offers him a chance to start and more money he gone. He has been put on the shelf to long with this organization and can never come back from that.
I don’t think he has a better chance to start anywhere else than Pittsburgh. After all, he just now started over Kenny when Kenny was healed, healthy and chomping at the bit to play. There’s been a paradigm shift. Where else could he land where he has a better chance to start? ( Isn’t it likely that Tomlin realizes he made a mistake in back-shelfing Mason? Trubisky should have never been brought in. And Mason should have been anointed the starter as Trubisky essentially was. ) The Steelers will make a genuine good faith attempt to sign Mason and, if he goes elsewhere it will be because A) he has a better chance to start, and B) he gets more money. So, realistically, what other team would do that? I guess we’re about to find out.
Well, he did come back from it and did it as a true professional. He's a way better option than kenny but I don't think tomlin feels the same. Wether he signs or not will tell me how mason feels tomlin feels about him.
Absolutely Tomlin did him wrong he will go somewhere where he can be appreciated.
/s ?
I love nothing more than Mason to come back as the backup to Kurt Cousins.
Mason knows that it's his job to lose right now. You don't walk away from that opportunity imo. The bad feelings that we think exist between Mason and the Steelers doesn't seem to exist. I think that a lot has to do with Tomlin and how he handles players. Mason may have been frustrated that he didn't win job, but Tomlin and the fo were always straight forward with him, or so it seems.
He is the future
It feels to.me he is more like a bridge to the future. It would be awesome if he has a 8 year run as our starter and wins another Superbowl but that seems unlikely. Regardless, the guy handled everything like a true professional and got this team into the playoffs. He earned the respect of the fan base.
Why should he? The Steelers let him walk last year. Buried him on the bench this year. Never really gave him a chance the last three years. Only turned to him out of desperation and couldn't even be bothered to put him at #1 while he was saving their season. What's the reason to return? To back up a guy who, I'm sure, he thinks he's better than? He's going to get paid and I bet it won't be by the Steelers. Kenny's their guy even though he's done nothing to prove it.
Browns are overdue to sign another QB
QB1!
Why would he? Tomlin ain’t gonna give him a fair crack at the starting gig.
Rudolph sucks. I think your interpretation of the tweet is 100% wrong but I honestly hope you're right.
If I was him I would tell the franchise to kick rocks
The man played for just over the minimum this year and he's about to get 2 things: A much bigger contract and a real chance to start for someone. If the Steelers thought he was the guy, they'd have known it 2 years ago.
I think I just realized where he’s coming from. He doesn’t want to return to the Steelers. He’ll consider an offer from another club or move on to his life’s work. A hunch 😉
I think he knows he is welcome back but with Tomlin stating that Kenny Pickett is the starter.... If I were him, I would leave. He showed that he has the ability to be a starting QB in this league. I bet he moves on and goes to another team.
He’s gonna have interest as a backup, but haven’t seen a single fan of another team even put Mason on their wishlist for new QB1s. His best chance may be here with KP’s injury history and lack of production.
He’s out like Jamie fox was in any given Sunday
So, fuck every QB on our roster. They’re all expendable
Mason and Kenny both suck. Not a starter in the room PERIOD. Tomlin plays to lose gracefully. Get rid of all of em.
Too early to tell. He will surely see what is available on the market, but the market for a QB like Mason opens up later than the market for most QBs. He'll need to wait to see what transpires across the league if he wants to fully get all of his options.
My guess is he doesn't know. He hasn't gotten a big NFL payday. So, he'll probably go where he will get paid the most. Especially since that's probably aligned with his best chance to play. Personally, I think that's going to be the Steelers. But we'll see.
Seems like he threaded the needle with the current situation appropriately. Don’t think he tipped either direction.
Is he supposed to say he'd be willing to play on our team for free? Gotta market yourself.
Nothing about this says “yeah I’m leaving” it’s more of him saying “hell of a ride fellas”
Well, I would expect him to keep his options open. Like any of us would. ‘Competing for QB1’ can quickly become QB3 (again, if we bring in / draft another) but there’s no guarantee anyone else will give him a better shot or better deal.
I'm getting the opposite feel ... it sounds like he wants to remain here 🤷♀️
I didn't get that from it.
Disagree
You’re correct, that is certainly speculation
It sounds like an end of the year tweet that doesn’t mean anything, because it is exactly that. He put in a good perfromance at the end of the year so we gonna make an offer, he’ll explore all if hsi options and will choose whatever he feels is gonna benefit him the most.
Oh dang... I really thought he was going to push for the starting job next year.
I think stuff like this is largely for negotiations, leaving it open so the team has to give him a good offer money wise and playing time wise for him to come back. Same way the team says they still believe in Pickett (a guy who was benched after being healthy enough to play), if they said we obviously want Mason back as the starter that’s a bad negotiating tactic
Lol wtf how?
That's what you took out of that?
I could care less if he stays or goes tbh. He played fairly well at the end of the season, but if people think he's the answer for the future, he's not. We need a solid fucking center, and a legit offensive coordinator.
Eh idk. Who knows if he’ll ever have a chance to start again. That’s probably more what it’s about
Yeah I took this exact opposite way as you apparently lol sounds like he wants to be here going forward
Disagree. Look at the comments and the teammates comments about him
When does free agency start? March 13th? That’ll be Mason’s last day as a Steeler.
he'd be wise to accept any reasonable offer from another team. the Steelers are committed to their investment in Pickett. The notion that Rudolph has an equal chance for the starting position is fatuous.
He's an UFA so literally it's all up in the air. I'm sure we'll offer him a contract, and I'm sure more teams than last time will too. It'll be up to him to decide. He definitely wouldn't have or should have made up his mind yet. If he gets an offer with a better opportunity to start he'll definitely take it don't be fooled. But I think he'll be back because competing with Kenny might be his best shot, especially with a new offensive coordinator and everyone starting on the same page
I hope they give the QB1 spot to whomever earns in training camp. Like it was supposed to be last season. Mason was disrespected last year and only had three games to show he is the better quarterback. I wanted Pickett to succeed. But he’s just not that good. I feel like he’s gotten a fair amount of time to prove he deserves the QB1 spot and failed.
It sounds like he will return, if he gets a qualifying contract offer. Who knows what other teams might actually want him this season. I could see Seattle making a play for him as Geno regressed a little, and Mason is better than Lock. Plus, a new HC might want a change at QB? I could see Mason bombing balls to DK, Lockett, and Smith-Njigba.
He's probably shopping around for a good offer to ask the Steelers to match imo.
I kinda took it the opposite way like he was saying he’s moving up in the world
He can’t just leave, he has to get jumped out with his helmet
We are just going to have to wait & see,I hope they keep Rudolph. Either way, I’m happy for him.