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- As of right now, Mason Rudolph is considered the starter for the Steelers, but there is a lot left to play out.
- In the meantime, Rudolph is feeding off of the haters who are saying that he should not be the guy.
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After Ben Roethlisberger retired from football at the end of the 2021 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers do not know who is going to be their starting quarterback for the first time since 2004. Mason Rudolph thinks that he has a real shot.
Rudolph, who was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, has been the team’s No. 2 quarterback on and off for the last four years. He has played in 17 games and made 10 starts in Big Ben’s absence and now he wants the role to himself.
The 26-year-old, who might be best known for his altercation with Myles Garrett, recently spoke with the Jim Rome Show about the opportunity. He is excited.
“Every year, yeah, am I preparing like a starter? Yes, but you know when you get back to camp there’s a Hall of Famer there who is the starter. So I am excited. I know it’s an opportunity having a chance to be the starting quarterback. That’s all you can ask for.”
However, Rudolph knows that it won’t be easy.
Whether through free agency, a trade, or the NFL Draft, Pittsburgh is going to add new faces to its quarterback room this offseason. Head coach Mike Tomlin has said that the team is keeping its options open at the position and that he would like to add a mobile quarterback.
Rudolph is ready.
“There’s always going to be competition. No matter if we draft somebody or being (a veteran) in, I’m never going to shy away from that and that’s an obvious component. We know (the front office) is going to add to the room. So I am excited to compete and looking forward to the opportunity to play.”
Despite his optimistic outlook on the possibility of taking over for Roethlisberger, there have been a lot of people saying that Rudolph is not the answer. In fact, the overwhelming consensus is that the former Oklahoma State Cowboy should continue to be the backup and should never be thrust into the starting role by choice.
Rudolph says that he doesn’t care. He says that he feeds off of the negativity.
“Shoot, I totally understand the barbershop talk. You’re playing one of the most highly-scrutinized positions in all of sports, and it come with the dinner. I get that. I never understand the guys who invite it and then cry wolf at the end. I totally understand (being criticized) and I enjoy it. And I think I’ve got lot of prove, and that motivates me.”
If Rudolph does win the starting job for the fall, Steelers fans will be overwhelmingly disappointed. He is set out to prove them wrong.