Daily News & Links: Steelers Irked by QB Talk, Mason Rudolph a Must-Sign?

Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links from the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL and around the Sports Now Group.

? NFL insider Aditi Kinkhabwala said on 93.7 The Fan that that she talked to four members of the Pittsburgh Steelers staff at the NFL Combine who are “so charged” and “angered” by the Kenny Pickett chatter. Kinkhabwala claims the coaches are taking it very personally that fans and media want to dump him for another QB.

? Former NFL tight end and current host of The Fan Morning Show, Dorin Dickerson, finds Aditi Kinkhabwala’s report hard to believe.

“I have never ever heard a coach/coaches admit to the media that they are angry at the media and fans ?,” Dickerson wrote on X.

? Former Steelers free safety Ryan Clark didn’t hold back when a fan claimed that he wasn’t as critical of Kenny Pickett when he had him on his Pivot Podcast last year.

“Bruh I don’t duck. I was very positive about him this offseason and now you have another year of play. If he turns it around I’ll absolutely be positive because the film says I should be. As of this year Mason Rudolph was a better QB. That’s a problem when the 3rd guy outplays #1,” Clark wrote on X.

? Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has the most 500+ passing yard games (4) in NFL history (playoffs included). He also has the most 450+ yard games (8).

? Garrett Podell of CBS Sports thinks Mason Rudolph is a player that the Steelers can’t afford to lose in free agency this offseason.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers offense functioned way better with Rudolph under center than 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. Rudolph only started three regular season games, but in his small sample size, he and the Steelers offense were way more efficient,” Podell wrote.

He completed 74.6 percent of his passes, averaged 10.1 passing yards per attempt and had a 120.4 passer rating. All of those metrics ranked as best in the NFL among quarterbacks with 70 or more passing attempts in starts in 2023. Pickett’s lackluster play — 13 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 career games and the lowest touchdown percentage in NFL history (1.8%, minimum 500 pass attempts) — makes it such that they need a backup quarterback they trust. Rudolph can be that guy.

? Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports thinks the Steelers have the worst crop of free agents in the entire league.

“The Steelers have no starters that are free agents, unless Rudolph is considered a starter after finishing the season as the starting quarterback. Rudolph should have a market and the Steelers don’t have a lot of cap space. Pittsburgh doesn’t have much to work with in retaining their own free agents,” Kerr wrote.

? Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rupp agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $14.5 million to stay in Buffalo, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

? The late great Franco Harris was born on this day in 1950.

”When Franco arrived, we became the Pittsburgh Steelers. Franco brought the Steelers out of the dark ages,” Joe Greene said in Franco Harris’ A Football Life episode.

? Happy Birthday to former Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann, born on March 7, 1952 in Alcoa, Tennessee. Recognized as one of the most acrobatic catchers of the football ever, Swann tallied 336 receptions for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns over nine seasons in Pittsburgh. Swann, who had a knack of coming up huge in big games, was named MVP in Super Bowl X. Swann was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

? Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander, who’s set to become a free agent next week, is using an Anti-Gravity treadmill during his rehab for his Achilles tear, working with one of the top physical therapists in the country in Dr. Sharif Tabbah.

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Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt falls to Georgia Tech in ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, ending Verdi’s first season.

West Virginia Sports Now: Jesse Edwards says West Virginia Players asked Bob Huggins to come out for Senior Night.

Nittany Sports Now: ‘He hits them, and they stay hit’: Penn State commit Alex Tatsch’s coaches break down his game.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds kick off a new season this week, when they travel to the Land of Enchantment to take on New Mexico United FC on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET kickoff).