Mason Rudolph coming back

[Pabst]

Per Andrew Fillipponi (and a few other dude's I've never heard of).

Unless someone really impresses in camp/preseason, your QBs next year will be Pickett, Mitch, and Mason.

[Kodiak.]

This really doesn't make sense to me unless they plan to trade/cut Trubisky.

It also says something not-so-good about Rudolph....but I'm OK with him as backup if he's around vet min.

[jewelsongs]

Good depth signing. Probably the vet minimum.

[Quixotic]

Prolly equivalent to Trubisky, for a LOT less money. Maybe this lets them trade Mitch for a draft pick or something. And clear a little cap space.

I kinda like Rudolph. Not as a player of course. But he seems like a decent human being. Can prolly hold a clipboard as well as anyone.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Didn’t we all kinda know this was coming ?? Lol



One of the more frustrating aspects of this team is it’s steadfast refusal to aim for any upside at the bottom of the roster

There are 3 QBs and probably 1 on the practice squad as well. Why not take a chance on some developmental upside flyer at # 3 ??

It’s highly unlikely your winning the game either way with your 3 QB why not grab someone who might have an edge somewhere ??

I love the Steelers but they are a permanently frustrating team if you believe in trying to maximize every angle you can

[stairway 2 seven]

You've got to be kidding. Not 1 of the other 31 teams would sign him. Can't get rid of this guy.

[K_C_]

Mason only makes sense if Trubisky isn't coming back.

If they are really paying Trubisky 7 million bucks to watch Kenny play next season, that is pure fucking comedy and Trubisky should win some sort of award for con artistry.

[Steelafan77]

Not only that what does this say about the additional QB talents currently trying out? Fuhgitaboutit!?

Or is it going to be one of those seasons like 2010 when there were 4 QBs on the roster?

Roethlisberger
Leftwich
Batch
Dixon

[tbsteel]

Not only that what does this say about the additional QB talents currently trying out? Fuhgitaboutit!?

Or is it going to be one of those seasons like 2010 when there were 4 QBs on the roster?

Roethlisberger
Leftwich
Batch
Dixon

Not unless Kenny get accused of rape.

[Ice]

Didn’t we all kinda know this was coming ?? Lol



One of the more frustrating aspects of this team is it’s steadfast refusal to aim for any upside at the bottom of the roster

There are 3 QBs and probably 1 on the practice squad as well. Why not take a chance on some developmental upside flyer at # 3 ??

It’s highly unlikely your winning the game either way with your 3 QB why not grab someone who might have an edge somewhere ??

I love the Steelers but they are a permanently frustrating team if you believe in trying to maximize every angle you can

Agreed 100% if this means Kenny, Troobs and Bibbs are the top three. Get something at QB3 to develop, if for no other reason than to possibly flip for a pick or two later on.

[Steelafan77]

Not only that what does this say about the additional QB talents currently trying out? Fuhgitaboutit!?

Or is it going to be one of those seasons like 2010 when there were 4 QBs on the roster?

Roethlisberger
Leftwich
Batch
Dixon

Not unless Kenny get accused of rape.

Now that was spitting scotch out of my mouth funny….

[Jobu]

Didn’t we all kinda know this was coming ?? Lol



One of the more frustrating aspects of this team is it’s steadfast refusal to aim for any upside at the bottom of the roster

There are 3 QBs and probably 1 on the practice squad as well. Why not take a chance on some developmental upside flyer at # 3 ??

It’s highly unlikely your winning the game either way with your 3 QB why not grab someone who might have an edge somewhere ??

I love the Steelers but they are a permanently frustrating team if you believe in trying to maximize every angle you can

Agreed 100% if this means Kenny, Troobs and Bibbs are the top three. Get something at QB3 to develop, if for no other reason than to possibly flip for a pick or two later on.

Develop QB3? We better hope the can manage to develop QB1.

[RemoAZ]

Hilarious that they can't try for someone better than Rudolph to develop. He couldn't get a sniff from any other team so has to come crawling back. The off season was going too well. I guess there had to be a garbage signing at some point.

[Pabst]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

[Scunge]

I like Rudolph coming back. Mitch probably still thinks he can be more than a #2, so he will move on after this season.

This is just smart business. If I were the Steelers I would give Mason a two year deal. If Mitch leaves after the season, you still have an experienced backup.

And if you have Mason locked up as the potential backup QB for 2024, and injuries happen in 2023 elsewhere around the NFL and teams come sniffing around at Trubisky? Sure, if the offer is right the Steelers can trade him and get a draft pick.

The stat that is always thrown around lately, is that there were something like 69 QBs last season that started a game. Injuries happen and I am thrilled to have the Steelers with 3 QBs that give them protection against injury and also gives them ammo to make a trade. Win Win.

Lastly, somebody needs to say this and so here it is. Accusing somebody of being a racist, of saying a slur, the N-word, whatever, and then for that to be such a national headline, to be talked about and scrutinized, etc, can be devastating for a player like Mason Rudolph.

I think there are many, many teams that will not touch Rudolph at all simply because of that Garrett incident. Doesn't matter that the NFL did an investigation and can't find any evidence that backs up Garrett. Unfortunately for Rudolph, the damage is done and it will forever hang over him in the NFL.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

The ghost of Brian St. Pierre

[steelmann58]

I sure Mitch will be gone and Mason will be the backup after he leaves

[Scunge]

Also, I think people don't realize how hard it is to have decent backup QBs that have starting experience and more importantly, wins and 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives.

Mitch Trubisky, 55 game starter, 31 wins, 24 losses, 4 4th quarter comebacks, 8 game winning drives.
Mason Rudolph, 10 game starter, 5 wins, 4 losses, 1 Tie, 2 4th quarter comebacks, 1 game winning drive.

Collectively that is 36-28-1, with 6 4th quarter comebacks and 9 game winning drives.

Our backup QBs have experience and genuinely appear to be team first players. I think we have one of the top 5 backup QB rooms in the NFL, go ahead argue with me.

[stillthere]

Not only that what does this say about the additional QB talents currently trying out? Fuhgitaboutit!?

Or is it going to be one of those seasons like 2010 when there were 4 QBs on the roster?

Roethlisberger
Leftwich
Batch
Dixon

Not unless Kenny get accused of rape.

He has to win a Superb-Owl this year and bounce his noggin off a windshield first.

[stillthere]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

Yup.

I have no problem with a guy that knows how to be a pro, is already acquainted with team mates, the system, the program, etc. If they stumble across some rare gem and can trade Mitch after an early injury then it's a smart move, and even if the opposite were true and they were able to turn Mason into a draft pick due to a trade would be a bonus as well.

It is similar to having Dobbs as the 3rd. I mean Charlie Batch made a good career out of being a 2 and 3 for a few years. Charlie Whitehurst as well, he made quite a few millions of dollars in the league as Clip Board Jesus. Chad Henne, the guy that used to backup Brees for years in NO I think he played at Mizzou or some school in the midwest.

Recipe when Ben was developing was to have vets back him up and be sounding boards and when Ben got older the back ups tended to be quite a bit younger other than Bruce Gradkowski.

[stillthere]

I like Rudolph coming back. Mitch probably still thinks he can be more than a #2, so he will move on after this season.

This is just smart business. If I were the Steelers I would give Mason a two year deal. If Mitch leaves after the season, you still have an experienced backup.

And if you have Mason locked up as the potential backup QB for 2024, and injuries happen in 2023 elsewhere around the NFL and teams come sniffing around at Trubisky? Sure, if the offer is right the Steelers can trade him and get a draft pick.

The stat that is always thrown around lately, is that there were something like 69 QBs last season that started a game. Injuries happen and I am thrilled to have the Steelers with 3 QBs that give them protection against injury and also gives them ammo to make a trade. Win Win.

Lastly, somebody needs to say this and so here it is. Accusing somebody of being a racist, of saying a slur, the N-word, whatever, and then for that to be such a national headline, to be talked about and scrutinized, etc, can be devastating for a player like Mason Rudolph.

I think there are many, many teams that will not touch Rudolph at all simply because of that Garrett incident. Doesn't matter that the NFL did an investigation and can't find any evidence that backs up Garrett. Unfortunately for Rudolph, the damage is done and it will forever hang over him in the NFL.

All of this is said much more succinctly and clearly than my statement. I don't for one second think he has any stigma around him from the Browns Brawl. He is a mid level NFL guy that has shown flashes of smart play and flashes of WTF play. I am not sure the face shot he took against the Ravens did him any favors. I think the biggest stigma on him is the picture of him with no face mask on being taken off the field. I also think if Mason starts against the Jets and Patriots last season the Steelers win both of those games.

[Ice]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

Cole Kelley could come available after the spring/JV pro seasons, he has an arm for sure. The Tits may have to do something with Malik Willis with Tannehill and a new QB of the future in the fold. Neither are at this point future HOFers, but both are way more interesting options than good old Bibberty. That's without really scratching the surface. There are probably several more out there worthy of consideration.

I think I'd rather have Dobbs and a little bit of dual-threat ability than Bibbs, honestly.

[SteelerDayTrader]

And……it’s more about this teams CONSTANT aversion to rolling the dice a little

Particularly at roster spots that in reality you don’t really want on the field anyway

3rd QB

9th OL

6th WR

6th CB

5th LB


Etc etc etc

Far too often this team backs away from trying to find some upside in favor of mediocrity

[DP39]

I like Rudolph coming back. Mitch probably still thinks he can be more than a #2, so he will move on after this season.

This is just smart business. If I were the Steelers I would give Mason a two year deal. If Mitch leaves after the season, you still have an experienced backup.

And if you have Mason locked up as the potential backup QB for 2024, and injuries happen in 2023 elsewhere around the NFL and teams come sniffing around at Trubisky? Sure, if the offer is right the Steelers can trade him and get a draft pick.

Lastly, somebody needs to say this and so here it is. Accusing somebody of being a racist, of saying a slur, the N-word, whatever, and then for that to be such a national headline, to be talked about and scrutinized, etc, can be devastating for a player like Mason Rudolph.

I think there are many, many teams that will not touch Rudolph at all simply because of that Garrett incident. Doesn't matter that the NFL did an investigation and can't find any evidence that backs up Garrett. Unfortunately for Rudolph, the damage is done and it will forever hang over him in the NFL.

Well said, Scunge -- especially the bolded.

I think Mason coming back is more about Mitch than Kenny. If they keep Mitch and he has a 21 year old UDFA QB3 'pushing' him then how motivated is he really? Mason will keep Mitch on his P's & Q's, imo.

This team makes calculated moves/decisions when it comes to it's younger, developing future leaders. They want to challenge them, but not bring in someone that threatens them as they develop their leadership chops. Case in point, MT so desperately wants Najee to be a team leader -- face of the franchise -- that I doubt he'd bring in a previously proven star RB, like Zeke, Fournette, Hunt or deal for Cook, to push Naj. He'll stick with guys that aren't a threat to someone like Naj, just so he can have an easier time of establishing himself as a leader (something that's isn't natural for him).

Mitch pushes Kenny...just enough, and Mason pushes Mitch...just enough.

And, MT did the opposite for JPJ, imo. The minute he got Pat Pete, I thought to myself, a big (side)reason was for him to mentor JPJ if/when they drafted him. Give him the best possible start to his long NFL career, if you will. MT was partially preparing to do his boy, Peezy, a solid -- if it somehow worked out...and it did.

[Pabst]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

Cole Kelley could come available after the spring/JV pro seasons, he has an arm for sure. The Tits may have to do something with Malik Willis with Tannehill and a new QB of the future in the fold. Neither are at this point future HOFers, but both are way more interesting options than good old Bibberty. That's without really scratching the surface. There are probably several more out there worthy of consideration.

I think I'd rather have Dobbs and a little bit of dual-threat ability than Bibbs, honestly.

I hear you on Dobbs, but is he *that* much of an upgrade over Rudolph?

Kelley might be someone to watch for, but he couldn't even crack a practice squad last season. Could he be the next Kurt Warner? Maybe, but I'd bet the farm on the answer being "no". Even then, signing Rudolph right now does not prevent the Steelers from bringing in a guy like Kelley (or whoever) to training camp.

[Deebo]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

This won't answer your question, but I'll take this in a different direction: what happens after this season?

Trub and Mason are both likely gone next offseason. I would prefer that #3 QB (whoever that is) to at least know the offense so there's some continuity and he can assist KP.

On the scale of problems though this probably ranks like 15th on the list. So not a huge deal, but something to keep an eye on.

[Charles Demarr]

Smart move. I'd much rather have Mason on the roster than Tanner Morgan or some other bum. The lack of middle round picks this year prevented them from drafting a real developmental guy. I would imagine that's probably on the agenda for next year's draft.

[Pabst]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

This won't answer your question, but I'll take this in a different direction: what happens after this season?

Trub and Mason are both likely gone next offseason. I would prefer that #3 QB (whoever that is) to at least know the offense so there's some continuity and he can assist KP.

On the scale of problems though this probably ranks like 15th on the list. So not a huge deal, but something to keep an eye on.

They'll probably do what Kansas City, Buffalo, Cincinnati, and many others all did - go out and sign a low cost vet backup.

Mahomes was backed up by Chad Henne and Matt Moore in his first few seasons.
Josh Allen had Matt Barkley and the corpse of Derek Anderson behind him.
Burrow had Brandon Allen.
After Russel Wilson's breakout rookie season, Seattle signed Tavaris Jackson (who'd flopped in Minnesota)
The Colts signed Drew Stanton and Matt Hasselbeck to backup Andrew Luck.
When Matt Ryan was coming up, Atlanta had DJ Shockley and Chris Redman backing him up for 3 years.

Heck, remember that Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch were the backup QBs in Ben's 2nd season.


Getting vet backups for your young/developing QB is the norm in the NFL.


As mentioned in this thread, the Steelers are already trying to develop one QB so why go out and get another one?

[bradshaw2ben]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

[bradshaw2ben]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

This won't answer your question, but I'll take this in a different direction: what happens after this season?

Trub and Mason are both likely gone next offseason. I would prefer that #3 QB (whoever that is) to at least know the offense so there's some continuity and he can assist KP.

On the scale of problems though this probably ranks like 15th on the list. So not a huge deal, but something to keep an eye on.

Quinten Dormandy
Cole Kelley
Alex McGough
Kenji Baharm
Case Cookus
Kory Curtis
Fred Payton
Conner Degenhardt
Kyle Vantrease
Chase Brice
Cephus Johnson
Matt McDonald
Austin Aune
Turner Pullen
Henry Ogala