Ben Roethlisberger reveals what caused the Steelers coaching staff to sour their relationship with quarterback Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith didn't go out on great terms. That much was proven by the multiple reports that surfaced regarding the tension between the two parties. Well, according to Ben Roethlisberger, that is more on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arthur Smith than Wilson… Ben Roethlisberger says the Steelers wouldn't allow Russell Wilson to […]
Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith didn't go out on great terms.
That much was proven by the multiple reports that surfaced regarding the tension between the two parties.
Well, according to Ben Roethlisberger, that is more on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arthur Smith than Wilson…
Ben Roethlisberger says the Steelers wouldn't allow Russell Wilson to audible
“Arthur Smith has to understand he has to let the quarterback have some rein,” Roethlisberger said during a recent episode of his podcast. “I was told he really pulled the reins back on Russ. In the two-minute drill, he wouldn’t let Russ call his own plays. You have to let a quarterback do that stuff.”
The "report" from Ben aligns with what we have known ever since the end of the season as far as Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith. For whatever reason, Smith didn't appreciate Wilson going rogue, and so he said, watch this.
Reports surfaced during the year that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith preferred Fields over Wilson but that was never substantiated. Still, despite Wilson and Smith spending countless hours together after the typical workday watching film and publicly joking about it, a team source recently said that Wilson and Smith did not have a very good working relationship but fought through their differences as best they could. It’s unknown whether or not that relationship will weigh in on the decision moving forward from either side.
– Mark Kaboly, Pat McAfee Show Correspondent
According to several sources, Smith did not want Wilson changing plays at the line of scrimmage, like he did in Cincinnati, and deviating from the game plan. Wilson’s desire to attack with the pass and throw down the field clashed with Smith’s run-first mentality, causing philosophical friction between the two.
– Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
In the end, it's tough to tell who was right. Wilson did have a 7-game stretch where he looked like his old self and had the Steelers 10-3 and averaging over 30 points a game.
But he ended things with five straight losses and most of the staff turning their backs on him.
So the truth, as usual, likely lies somewhere in the middle, and both parties are better off with a fresh start.
