New report proves Steelers' plan for QB Kenny Pickett backfired before it could even start
When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded former starting QB Kenny Pickett, many were caught offguard. Sure the team signed Rusell Wilson, but the now infamous word "compete," never happened when it comes to Wilson and Pickett. But according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, that was Pittsburgh's intent precisely: Steelers Hoped Wilson Would "Push" Pickett One team […]
When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded former starting QB Kenny Pickett, many were caught offguard.
Sure the team signed Rusell Wilson, but the now infamous word "compete," never happened when it comes to Wilson and Pickett.
But according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, that was Pittsburgh's intent precisely:
Steelers Hoped Wilson Would "Push" Pickett
One team source said that adding Wilson ‘would have been a benefit to Kenny,’ and the pursuit of Wilson would ‘kick Kenny into gear’ and reignite the competitive fire that had made him so attractive to Pittsburgh in the draft evaluation process. Instead, it did the opposite.
-Brooke Pryor, ESPN
Pryor's phrasing of "it did the opposite" seems to point to the fact that she believes Kenny Pickett asked for a trade because he didn't want to compete, despite the well-reported opposite.
As sources told myself, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, and others, Pickett was more than happy to compete, but he was told that was off the table and Russell was going to be the starter.
So at this point, the story is all he said, she said. Pittsburgh had a plan in place, and someone, either Pickett or Tomlin changed the direction of that plan with one of their own.
And the truth is, it would be hard to blame either side given what's transpired on offense over the past two seasons, making a clean split teh best option for all parties.
