I mean, unless you're Mike Tomlin, it's hard not to like the guy

Not gonna lie, I was actually really curious about what Mason thought when he heard the crowd chanting his name, and then, to my surprise, I actually found someone who asked. Honestly, I found Mason's response to be very mature, articulate, and measured. He's obviously not Pittsburgh's next great QB, but even still, I find it incredibly hard not to root for the guy. He has taken on the appearance of the classic, almost archetypal underdog figure, and videos like this only serve to demonstrate that the wears it well.

 

As for the content of the video:

I kinda figured Mason would avoid taking a hard tact with his answer, but he still said more than I thought he would...and it wasn't a bad thing. I'm sure that he was probably far more touched by hearing the crowd calling out his name than he'll ever say outloud. My hope I'd that, if by some miracle MR does somehow get one last chance to play this year, that he can remember the love he was given and use it as a catalyst for greatness. Sometimes the most difficult thing about being thrown into something that you're not fully prepared for is that feeling like no one is on your side, but that isn't the case right now. Granted, that might change rather quickly if Mason should walk in and do even worse than Mitch... but, for right now, he's got a lot of people on his side, and I hope he makes the best of it, should the opportunity arise. Even if he has no future here, I'd love it if some fresh tape this year would land him on a team who would have better opportunities, even if only as a QB2.

 

How come not one of the other 31 teams did not try to sign him when he was a free agent last year? Not one.

 

Well it’s because he’s not any good. Mitch is so bad though the crowd actually would rather see anyone with a pulse.

 

It’s a herd mentality in nfl. Not one team signed Kurt Warner at one time either. They also passed on James Harrison for a while too. Many such examples.

 

Mason is a good guy. Good guys are not always the best QB.
Apparently, he has slapped someone's mom. He hasn't had to wash his uniform all year.

 

I will happily stipulate that he is a nice guy, though he is 28 years old and he has been in the league since 2018, so I would hope he was capable of demonstrating some maturity. Some of the immature idiots on the team could use a lesson in maturity. That doesn't mean Rudolph should be playing, though I wouldn't be shocked to see him Saturday if we see another first half from Trubisky like last week's.

 

What does that have to do with the topic

 

i think this is our last chance at a win this season. Indy seems to be the only team on the schedule that we can beat. I dont see us taking down Cincy again now that they know what Browning can do. We were fortunate in that we were able to play him in his first start. Seattle on the road looks like a beat down. Then we have Baltimore on the road, If Baltimore is playing for the #1 seed, we get the proverbial butt whoppin. With all this in mind, if we can beat Indy, lose to to cincy and lose to Seattle....that puts us at 8-8, if Baltimore has the 1 seed wrapped up, Tomlin may continue his meaningless streak. If they dont, well I cant see us being any better than 8-9 and potentially 7-10. I know this is about Mason Rudolph, so let me get to my point...if we are eliminated from contention say after Cincy, I would love for the Steelers to let Mason put something on film, let him audition for another team or possibly show that he may in fact be the best QB on the team.....and if he is, wouldnt that be another mistake by Tomlin personnel wise yet again???

 

I like nice guys to win. Trubisky has always been arrogant and something about him rubs me the wrong way. In my movie scenario, I would like Trubisky to get benched for whatever reason and Mason to come in and lead us to playoff wins. The stadium sound guy plays ‘Rudolph the red rose reindeer’ after his game winning TD in relief. Yes that is win plural. Tomlin then retires on a high.

 

Up in peanut heaven at three rivers was a lady with a real nasally voice who constantly yelled to put Hanratty in we all figured it was his mother

20 years later she did it again and the entire section busted up laughing

 

Terry Hanratty was a legend in Butler during his HS days and then when he led Notre Dame to the national championship in 1966 we all thought that he was going to be the next Johnny Unitas. Even after bombing out with the Steelers, I thought that when he went to Tampa Bay that he would get a second chance to become a great QB. He was just one of those good college QB's that just didn't have the talent to take that next step in the NFL.

 

The fans that I was sitting around were chanting that. Also Fire Tomlin.

What else did you expect him to say?

If "Sing Along with Mitch" throws a few picks I feel we will see Mason. Then if he throws picks and struggles we will see McSorley

 

Probably the same reason most teams aren't interested in most other backups. I just look at all these other backups having huge games and our backup is a steaming pile of horse ****. Could it be much worse to throw Rudolph in there? Why not give him a shot and see what happens. Our QB play can hardly get worse.

For whatever reason, Trubisky is Tomlin's guy. He's always liked him. God I hate Tomlin

 

I was actually thinking this. Not if but when Mitch is benched and Rudolph also is terrible, I wouldn't be surprised to see Trace McSorley get the start in a couple of weeks.

 

By all accounts, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky are both great teammates and great for the locker room.... The problem is that neither player has proven great on the field

 

I'm hoping Mitch stubs his big toe on first play Saturday and we ride with Mason. Does it matter at this point?

 

If Watt and Highsmith are out, they aren't beating anybody. If they play anything like they did the last two games, they aren't beating anybody. If they get back to their level from the last time they played the Bengals, they can win any of those games, but I don't think that is going to happen.

 

Sometimes when he threw the ball it would go end over end

I remember people calling it the Polish spiral

 

If you ever wanted to see what could go wrong to start an NFL career look at Mason Rudolph.
But hey he' still getting some money as 3rd string so don't feel too bad, he's making more than most people out there in America.

1. Get drafted.. Have the starting QB, hate the pick, and dismiss you the whole time until he retires.
2. Franchise Guy gets hurt, you get your shot. Starts so so.. then you get a Concussion, against the most hated Rival Ravens, you get your facemask removed, you look like a Bobble head, and then the medical cart breaks down on the field and it can't even cart you off.
3. Some guy comes in named Duck Hodges and everyone falls in love with the duck. Duck wins a few, but then the Pop gun arm Duck falls to back to reality and then your back in.
4. You struggle a bit.
5. You go play Browns team on a short week Thursday night game. Your playing with 3rd-7th string WRs on a short week on the road in a short week prime time game.
6. All hell breaks lose, you lose your cool, get mad at the Browns star player, get bashed in the head by your own helmet, by a black greek god named Myles Garrett.
7. Your teammates come to your aid.
8. In effort to save the Greek God Myles season, he calls you a racist, and said you said a racist term. No evidence ever found.. but congrats your now a labeled racist.
9. Head coach has to come to your aid, and say no way are you a racist, because at this point no one is gonna believe you.
10. Since you got bashed in the head with your helmet, your lost to the Browns, and you look weak to the Steelers fan base. So therefore you are no good, your terrible etc. because your weak. You should of punched Greek God Myles with your fist and hit him back 20 feet like your the Terminator. You get no respect from this Steelers fan base.
11. It looks like your time is done, as starter returns next year goes 11-0 to start the year. Goes to show you how bad you really were. Did you know your a racist and got your head smashed in by Greek God Myles. Team goes to playoffs and loses at home to same team you lost to the year before. Even though in a meaningless final week you almost beat the same team at their house.
12. You get into a game against a win less lions team, and are basically told the night before you got to play tomorrow. Ben has Covid your playing.
13. Lions game plan.. this team is winless.. game plan is to have you throw it 50 times today in a poor weather game. Great idea.
14. Game doesn't go super well, but play not good enough to win but not bad enough to lose it. So its a...
15. TIE, the TE fumbles the ball when your in FG range to win it. So... falls on you.. its a TIE its your fault!!! Ben would of never led us to a TIE this game.
16. Starter retries goes off into the Sunset.
17. Sign a former bust Free Agent QB to be starter, draft, 1st round QB.
18. Why? Because your not any good your weak.. You get to ride the pine an throw footballs on scout team.
19. No one in the NFL wants you in FA, you circle back around, because hey why not, your better than some FA rookie from Minnesota who got into the 4th QT of games in pre-season
20. Fans cheer your name because former bust QB and maybe future bust QB are hurt.... Any questions??

 

Their offense is strong even without the pretty boy. They let Crappy Zappe look like Tommy Zappe

 

Yes. Why are you so focused on making excuses for a Mason Rudolph?

He didn't just struggle a little. He played poorly enough to lose his job to Hodges even after returning from the concussion. I have been critical of him, but I didn't think he looked weak at all when Garrett smashed him with his own helmet. Even without his helmet, he refused to back down against Myles Garrett. I was impressed by his toughness and I never bought into the racist narrative. My only problem with Rudolph that day is that he played poorly up to that moment.

He was a big reason why they tied that game against the Lions. He struggled most of the day against a winless opponent. That fumble at the end was as much his fault as anybody's. He threw to Freiermuth at the line of scrimmage with two defenders right there. He actually had to fight through a defender to try to get out of bounds and stop the clock. All Rudolph had to do there was throw the ball away, but instead, he put his rookie tight end in an impossible situation.

 

Rudolph actually looked better than Ben, when he first stepped on the field. His play before he was knocked unconscious was pretty good. Brain can play horrible tricks on the body in order to save itself from trauma. He should have taken the whole season off, but he went back too quickly and surrounding cast didn't help him much. After he came back, he played poorly and probably played too tight. When he came back, Duck was playing lights out and had become everyone favorite for that brief period of time. It was just bad juju for Mason. Anybody that has played sports competitively knows what can happen if you lose confidence and get too tight. It's a small chance that he can regain that pre injury form that he showed for game and a half. Trubinsky is a known commodity and Pickett doesn't really do anything well. Rudolph had a much better career at college than Pickett against arguably better competition. He threw for 92 touchdown and 26 interception and 159.7 rating in college vs Kenny Pickett 81 Touchdown 31 interception and 136.3 rating. If by small chance he discovers that form, by playing loose now that he doesnt have anything to lose, it could solve the qb problems possibly. He probably has the best arm and accuracy of all three. I think he deserves another shot.