Steelers' Kenny Pickett denies rumors he refused backup role - 'This week I'm the No. 2'

Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett address reporters on Tuesday ahead of his team's NFL Week 18 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. He denies a report that he refused to serve as the backup last week at Seattle, insisting that his only two options were to start and play or be deactivated and serve as the No. 3 QB because of his injury. He also said he plans to serve as the No. 2 this week as Mason Rudolph gets the start.
For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.

[@frankfischer1281]

I applaud the Pittsburgh Gazette for helping to clear-up the false rumour that Kenny Pickett had refused backing-up Mason Rudolph as the starter for the Steelers.

[@SquatchWatcher]

I agree, but won't subscribe until they make a separate channel for STEELERS ONLY 😂 (Or just Steelers/Penguins) Most Yinzers don't need the other stuff

[@enjoyer6201]

So it’s false because he says so? Do you know how many times Mark Madden has been proven right on things that no one believes? I don’t believe this rumor either, but not because Kenny said it wasn’t true. What else is he going to say? And I still want to know why he didn’t even dress even though he was cleared to play on Thursday. Why wouldn’t you dress an emergency QB who was cleared to play? The explanation from the team is a clear lie because they dressed third QB without reps for the whole season.

[@klove5765]

False rumor my a**, it's been confirmed Pickett is a straight face liar

[@03Man11]

If I was a player, I wouldn’t answer a single question from Mark Madden ever again. The media whines when players don’t want to talk but then they do dumb crap like spread baseless rumors.

[@klove5765]

The rumor has been confirmed, can you please issue Mr.Mark Madden an apology

[@TheWayofGrace89]

Just want to say that, just as Mason waited and was ready, maybe this will let Kenny know that he is not and will not be treated specially. He must earn this right to start again, and maybe it will happen, I think it will happen, but he will learn a lot from being replaced. Guys who go and ball out do not get replaced, so this is his wake up call. All the best luck to Mason and him, and let’s go Steelers.

[@Walkerhomesbaby]

U definitely right because if big ben was injured and was cleared to play they dnt give a damn how good of a Qb u was u out.

[@isaiahmusa3474]

Welp good thing its Kenny his play does not equate to that of a starter in the NFL he a practice squad guy

[@josephdonovan9125]

The media/ reporters love drama

[@Steelerr]

That’s how they strive. They lie and twist the truth for personal and financial gain.

[@NathanCline12-21]

The corporate press is the enemy of the people

[@DTB1995]

They wouldn't exist if there wasn't any

[@mikeyt3784]

It was a true story. Mark Madden has no reputation as being an unethical journalist. There's absolutely no reason for him to lie about it. But Pickett has every reason to lie about it, since it would make him look bad. Stop defending this dude. Not only is he one of the worst QB's ever through his first 24 starts, but then this, too? If he didn't go to Pitt they never even would have drafted him. He had one good year. He's already, what, 24, 25?

[@NathanCline12-21]

@@mikeyt3784 you sound vaxxed

[@scottyjordan3036]

If they pick him over MASON because of money or whatever. They'er CRAZY. Mason is the guy.

[@georgeschubert9652]

JOE FLACO HAS MORE TD PASSES IN HIS 4 GAMES WITH THE BROWNS, THAN DOES PICKETT IN HIS CAREER. UNFCKINGBELIEVABLE.

[@candiedear]

Someone definitely coached him on this interview to clean up the mess from his interview last week. Last weeks interview made me look at him differently. Mason is so humble and Kenny is very NOT

[@DAKMusic079]

Huh? Lmao

[@mikeyt3784]

The funniest part is that the story was true. No reason for Mark Madden to lie about it. He has no reputation as an unethical journalist. But Pickett has every reason to lie that it didn't happen. It's really weird how the fans still defend this dude. One of the worst QB's ever in his first 24 starts (statistically and eye test) yet the yinzers till think he has potential.

[@drumagus2258]

have you ever met mason? lol.

[@Grsz11]

​@@mikeyt3784Madden has every reason to make shit up. He's not a journalist, he doesn't have access. He's a glorified podcast host. His entire shtick is being obnoxious.

[@mikeyt3784]

@@Grsz11 he writes a sports column, he's a journalist lol. Pathetic you think he lied and your man Kenny is still perfect.

[@Dee-nonamnamrson8718]

Kenny should sit and learn for a while and work out the kinks like mason did.

[@mattburton3233]

mason aint going to be around next year. somebody is going to pay him. and good for him! if our coaches can't see how good he has been then another team will benefit.

[@Dee-nonamnamrson8718]

@mattburton3233 I don't know, he's a loyal dude. If they will give him a fair shot at qb1 and a lucrative contract, I bet he stays.

[@vehnashur2771]

​@nonamnamrson8718 Honestly, I think business decisions will be made. They will stick with Kenny no matter what. I imagine, in this current league, Mason might get too expensive. It really depends on this Saturday I guess.

[@Dee-nonamnamrson8718]

@@vehnashur2771 Too expensive? He just signed a 1 year extension for the league minimum. I bet he comes relatively cheap with a starting job.

[@chrisrobinson8339]

​@@vehnashur2771 Kenny stinks. Mason is our only hope right now. I don't want to see 16 points per game Kenny.

[@mintdragon9548]

Who is the background is yelling "AHHH! Go get 'em bro". lol

[@sleepinglady2778]

Didnt believe this story because for one, he is under contract so he cant refuse to play. Also, ive had high ankle sprains, its not something you rush. It takes time and rehab to build back the strength of those lateral ligaments so they can hold up and not give out easily. Kenny will be back. Mason is doing his job well. No need to rush him back out there.

[@jrharrison6066]

Yea but after madden multiple sources put it out there. I mean i wanna believe it didnt happen, but picketts first interview where he said that he didn’t learn a thing by sitting back and watching makes me wonder. He hasn’t done shit all year so kind of the wrong answer

[@enjoyer6201]

So the team decided to go into a game with playoff implications without dressing an emergency quarterback even though the quarterback who is normally the starter was cleared on Thursday to play. Right. I’m not saying the rumors are true, but something else is going on or the team is incredibly stupid.

[@sweetchildofnine6677]

I hear the background dude too clearly lol

[@Swiggs999]

We don't want him having the ball

[@bikeracerdude]

Perhaps all the reports of him not being a "team player" are just click bait.

[@ajf4461]

Only an idiot would believe kp8 TOLD Tomlin he wouldn't play as backup

[@am9542]

I believe this man.

[@jrharrison6066]

Well, whatever the truth is, the team and tomlin know the truth and thats all that matters, as far as character goes. But the better qb is starting vs baltimore this week. We got this!!! Goo dolphins!

[@battistimo]

This is MM’s doing.

[@levidiaz3074]

"Unfortunately ... Injuries are a part of the game."

[@johns363]

Kenny needs to get used to the idea of being a backup.

[@javiermori1710]

Just like many others said at time but Pickett was bit of reach 1st round pick. Think wholeheartedly the organization did not want a possible Marino situation again and pass on Pickett and have him turn into a HOF player.

[@benjaminperez7328]

The team KNEW/KNOWS that Pickett couldn’t carry Marino’s jock in a goalie bag. The front office hyped Pickett up by dropping Marino’s name to SUCKER IN DUMBA** YINZERS WHO REMEMBER & STILL BI*CH ABOUT 1983. IT WAS A SLIMY, CALCULATED MOVE TO APPEAL TO THE RUBES AND MARKS OF STEELER NATION. NO OTHER NFL TEAM WOULD HAVE TAKEN PICKETT IN THE FIRST ROUND. NONE.

[@griseldagrinders4022]

one of the reasons no one likes fat madden

[@jasonr8464]

Ok wait. I dont think team "nothing to see here" has a very consistent story. Tomlin was directly asked in his press conference yesterday "why not just have him in uniform as the emergency guy?" ...and then went on to essentially say well it's an unlikely event anyway and he didn't get many reps through the week so it would be speculating for me to have him in that role. This answer in combination with him, you know, not wearing one of those uniform thingies, leads me to believe he was NOT in fact the emergency qb AFTER being medically cleared. KP now says he was the emergency qb, just without uni, which seems very odd and makes Tomlins answer completely misleading and even more impressively bizarre than it already was. Further, in this interview KP refuses to answer the question "so you never had any say over whether you wanted to be the 2", because he did have a say. If the honest answer was "no it was a team decision," then why not just say that instead of offering some evasive bs answer that makes no sense.

[@sachioshaffer3432]

just to be clear there is a difference between emergency and back up qb i think that what you’re confusing because pickett was designated the emergency qb for that game but not the back up

[@jasonr8464]

@@sachioshaffer3432 Not confused. I typed that out kinda quick the other day so maybe wasn't as clear as i tried to be, but not sure what part you are referring to.

[@sachioshaffer3432]

@@jasonr8464 he was a non dressed emergency qb which was made clear during the broadcast you are making it seem like that was made up after the fact. when it was clearly stated before the game that he was the emergency quarterback behind the back up

[@pgmrealestate]

All the chatter in the background completely disrespectful

[@quick5595]

They don't gaf about pickett

[@ROBSwank-pm1vd]

Total cluck bait n nonsense .. Reporters have zero class or shame !!

[@jethrosimpson5952]

He just had screws put in his ankle, so I thought it was doubtful he returned this season but I did see him throwing the ball, so its possible

[@A_Minus007]

Kenny had surgery on his ankle. Its obvious that they dont want to risk rushing him back before he's 100% with the playoffs looming. Kenny is the backup as a break glass situation until he's fully healthy. If the playoffs werent at risk Kenny would still be inactive

[@alexn4336]

Tomlin doesn't win playoff games anyways so they decided to rest him the rest of the season anyways 😂😂😂💀💀💀

[@josephpineda6408]

I think you would be a great backup QB Kenny

[@biz8888]

Whole thing has been a clickbait shit show. Steelers fans and media have been pretty shitty about Pickett and the situation with his injury.

[@americanassassin001]

True that. Everyone is forgetting that the only reason we are contending for a playoff spot is because of Pickett. 7-3 for the season and 6 of those were Matt Canada at the helm of the offense. Clearly the fans and the people who say he is a bust don't know ball and have never played the game at any position. I want KP8 back out there at 100% but even if he is at 90% I say sit down chill out be the 2 and get to 100% and then ball out and prove all the people who doubted you wrong.

[@mikeyt3784]

@@americanassassin001 they started 7-3 because the defense was scoring a TD a game lol. Pickett is literally one of the worst QB's ever through this many starts. What the flying F are you talking about? Yinzer moron lol.

[@BST-lm4po]

Pickett has thrown 1 TD in his last 7 games!! He didn't win those games, the Defense did!

[@Bean-vj1lf]

@@americanassassin001😂😂😂😂😂

[@andrewodom6158]

I could see him saying it..but i don't believe that he did...he is the golden boy...as you know

[@frankmaraschino]

They should do these pressers somewhere else. Can’t hear shit over guys in the background clowning

[@georgeschubert9652]

There's a reason why Rudolph was 3rd string with a clipboard on the sidelines for almost 3 seasons... just saying.

[@klove5765]

The Mark Madden story has been confirmed and therefore he has been vindicated

[@peterfaulks1093]

This didn’t age well lmfao. Kick rocks buddy 👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾

[@prideofalion]

Kenny Pickett and a 3rd round pick for Justin Fields

[@benjaminperez7328]

NO

[@DTB1995]

Fields is just as bad if not worse than Pickett

[@prideofalion]

@@DTB1995 Fields is gonna be the biggest name (probably) available in the off season . And he'sinfinitely better than Pickett. And probably the best the Steelers can hope for with another mid round draft position.

[@benjaminperez7328]

@@DTB1995 The fools who want Fields are the same idiots who want Leftwich as OC and for the same reason.

[@mc1993]

How about No. How about we draft a Center from Oregon and the Tackle from Notre Dame and build an O-Line.

[@GotjoK3s]

Yea I would like Kenny gone please. He is not a Pittsburgh steeler!!!

[@luckyv23]

That's what they get for benching kp. Buffalo wins by blowout 😂

[@darobode6265]

Kenny=🚮

[@chadbarcavage4265]

Qb1

[@darrinconston3816]

Kenny pickett 🗑

[@leapingcatproductions1777]

Someone shouldve asked "Hey Kenny, let me squeeze the ankle to see if its healed"

[@chrisrobinson8339]

You definitely can't do that.

[@ronniedudley2697]

TRADEKENNY FOR A 7TH ROUND DRAFT PIKETT❤😂

[@jessedeeeeee]

pickens

[@Marco1973est]

The Steelers fans and org. do not need HERO's - Only need WINNERS, who can bring home CHAMPIONSHIPS. Simple.

[@DveMcGuire]

CFL QB