Steelers' Kenny Pickett denies that he refused to be backup QB vs. Seahawks
No one in the NFL likes to be benched. But when you're the QB of a franchise, that is an even tougher pill to swallow. And while Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett has been relegated to second string, he took a moment to clear the air about an attempt to assassinate his character: Baseless Claims […]
No one in the NFL likes to be benched.
But when you're the QB of a franchise, that is an even tougher pill to swallow.
And while Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett has been relegated to second string, he took a moment to clear the air about an attempt to assassinate his character:
Baseless Claims
"I saw reports out there that I felt like were attacking my character and how I am as a person, not even getting into a player standpoint of it, Pickett told reporters on Tuesday…
"…There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback this week in terms of being a two. If I was healthy enough to play and the trainers and coaches felt like I looked good enough to play, I was going to start and play if they believed that I was not, which they believed I was not, was not going to dress and suit up for the game…
"…So whoever reported that, I don't know where it started, it's kind of crazy what people will write and put out there to try to prove their point or help their standpoint or their careers and what you guys do. But disappointed to see that without any proof or basis of it."
If you're unaware of what Pickett is referring to, there was a report on Monday from some in the Pittsburgh media that when Pickett found out he wasn't going to start against Seattle, he told the team he wouldn't play if he had to be the backup and so he was inactive.
As someone who has had personal encounters with Pickett, as well as have sources that tell me how high his character is, I found the reports to be fabricated at best.
That would be quite the card to play for a player only in his second year and without a lot of equity built up.
Sure, maybe Pickett isn't the player Pittsburgh hoped he would be to this point. But he's been lauded for his work ethic and is praised for being a gamer and warrior by his teammates, even if some will say otherwise.
I'm not sure of the situation that happened before the Seahawks game. However, I was unable to substantiate reports about his refusal when reaching out to sources.
The only people who know are Pickett and Tomlin, with anything else coming across as high school gossip in this case.
Pickett did confirm that he will backup Rudolph on Saturday against the Ravens, citing his health as a determinant in last week's decision to make him inactive.
So we'll see what comes of Week 18 and potentially beyond. But for now, Rudolph is the starter, Pickett is the backup, and anything else is just chatter.
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