Mark Madden: Kenny Pickett ‘refused’ to back up Mason Rudolph vs. Seahawks
There’s trouble brewing in the quarterback room of the Pittsburgh Steelers. That is, if you believe Pittsburgh media personality Mark Madden.
Madden posted on X this afternoon that he “just got told [Kenny] Pickett 100 percent refused to be the backup” to Mason Rudolph in the Steelers’ game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17
That makes sense as to why Pickett was inactive, leaving Mitch Trubisky as Mason Rudolph‘s backup in the Steelers’ win over Seattle.
Adding to the intrigue, Madden said the Steelers writers know that Pickett refused but won’t write about it.
In an appearance on The Fan Morning Show today, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly intimated the same thing.
“I’m very, very highly skeptical that it was 100 percent Mike Tomlin’s decision that Kenny Pickett did not dress yesterday,” Kaboly said.
Kaboly said if he knew without question that Pickett refused to back up Rudolph, it would’ve been “on The Athletic website right now.”
“There are some things you know and some things you can write, and there are some things you know you can’t write,” he said.
If what Madden stated is true, Pickett needs to take a good, hard look at himself. He’s not earned the right to have this entitled stance, nor has he earned the right to step back in as a starter over Rudolph — who’s played the best ball of his career.
Madden just opened a whole can of worms that will certainly cause a distraction as the Steelers prepare for the regular-season finale with a playoff berth at stake.
Just got told that Pickett 100 percent refused to be the backup. That the Steelers writers know that but won't write it.
— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) January 1, 2024
