Kenny Pickett didn’t finish his Pittsburgh Steelers tenure on probably the most amicable phrases, finally requesting a commerce. The occasions that led as much as the commerce request are much less clear, however there are a number of variations of the story. Neither the Steelers nor Pickett have divulged a lot, nor ought to they, however numerous reporters endeavored to fill the gaps.
Native Steelers reporters painted in him a very destructive gentle, indicating he responded very poorly to the Russell Wilson signing. Some declare the Steelers advised him Wilson would begin, whereas others declare they advised him he would compete.
In the end, the notion emerged that Pickett ran from competitors in requesting a commerce. There’s extra to it than that, however that’s the long-lasting impression, whether or not it was ego or fragile confidence. Those that know him finest dispute these characterizations—not that you’d anticipate something totally different.
“I’d say the vast majority of these narratives had been pushed by folks. And they’re 100% BS”, Pickett’s personal quarterback coach, Tony Racioppi, advised NJ Advance Media. “I’d put his management capability towards anyone on the market”.
That doesn’t clarify why he requested the Steelers to commerce him, in fact. Pickett had already misplaced his beginning job on the finish of the 2023 season and knew he must compete. He simply thought that Mason Rudolph was going to be his challenger, not Russell Wilson. At this level, we’ll by no means know if the Steelers advised him he was not competing. Individuals are simply going to consider which model they like to consider.
The Steelers chosen Kenny Pickett within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft after he graduated with college data at Pitt. He spent a few years working contained in the UPMC Rooney Sports activities Complicated, in order that they knew fairly a bit about him. Reportedly, that’s partly why they didn’t anticipate his response to signing Wilson and led to modifications of coronary heart. Whereas he posted a successful report, the offense actually struggled, to the purpose that the Steelers felt they wanted different choices.
Racioppi mentioned that he and Pickett perceive the lengthy recreation of life within the NFL and the way it has modified. “Particularly with the quarterbacks now within the NFL, there’s a protracted street if you happen to do it proper”, he mentioned. Little doubt he’s referring to the likes of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, who received second possibilities as starters.
Proper now, Kenny Pickett is caught in an entrenched reserve place in Philadelphia behind Jalen Hurts. He is aware of he’s not going to play except there’s an damage, however evidently he felt the identical method about staying with the Steelers. However he and Racioppi noticed a clearer path on the commerce market than by staying put.
“When you get a second alternative and reap the benefits of it, you’ll be able to flip [that] into one other ten years, eight years, no matter it’s going to be”, he mentioned relating to Pickett’s future. And a part of doing it “proper” is combating the narrative that he left Pittsburgh as a petulant and dangerous teammate.
