*Rumblings, Musings, Opinions*
Notebook Buzz: 
Mason Rudolph could go on a Nick Foles run and lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a deep playoff run and even a miraculous scenario of winning the Super Bowl like Foles did in Philadelphia and the sense around the Pittsburgh Steelers organization is it still will not matter: From Mike Tomlin to many others with significant power at Steelers headquarters they look at Rudolph as just one of those fluke hot hand situations that backups around the league provide from time to time. The view of Rudolph from those who call the shots is not changing in that he’s looked at as a true backup long-term…………
But do the main power brokers in the organization truly believe in Kenny Pickett as the long-term answer? Apparently, it doesn’t matter. Owner Art Rooney II is said to be so dead set on Kenny Pickett being the consensus starting quarterback in 2024, if Rudolph keeps winning it will increase the likelihood of the Steelers letting Rudolph walk in free agency and it won’t be because of money (the Steelers are not afraid to spend $8-$10 million on a backup as evidenced with the Mitch Trubisky situation). Let’s say the Steelers win two rounds and go out in the AFC Title Game. With basically an order expected to be coming down on Tomlin and Omar Khan from their boss that Pickett is the starter in 2024 no matter what, bringing back Rudolph and not giving him a legitimate chance to compete for the starting job will be a major headache the Steelers will likely feel isn’t worth it…………
— T.J. Watt is a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer if he walked away from football today and the NFL’s sack leader in this view is tracking to become the greatest linebacker in Steelers history. It’s still something, though, as great as Watt is, the Steelers have yet to win a playoff game during his career and if Pittsburgh upsets Buffalo, it will be without Watt on the field………. Could we be looking at Cam Heyward’s final game ever as a Pittsburgh Steeler? Turning 35 years old next season, saving $16 million in cap space and $16 million in actual cash will surely be enticing to the Steelers when it comes to a decision on Heyward……..
— Mike Tomlin keeps thing close to the vest but at the end of the day those in that building believe Tomlin playing the Sean McVay game of sending signals he may take some time away and has to think about his future is nothing more than some annoyance with his To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Wild Card Weekend Buzz: The shocker of the weekend so far was the Houston Texans steamrolling the Cleveland Browns. C.J. Stroud is special, this was pretty much a pick’em game, but how the Texans did what they wanted on offense at every opportunity was stunning against that Browns defense……..The demise of the Kansas City Chiefs was an exaggeration. They’re going to be a tough out to put away Sunday’s Picks: Cowboys over Packers; Rams upset Lions……..
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As the Canucks were in town this week, the amount of trade talks between the two clubs last February and into early March was something else. Pittsburgh kicked tires on Brock Boeser at various points but eventually had cold feet on Boeser…….. there was the hail Mary play for JT Miller on deadline day that involved four teams, Pittsburgh – Vancouver – Anaheim – Mystery Team -. Are the Penguins a better team today with Miller than Erik Karlsson? But nothing was more fascinating than how close the Penguins old regime feels they came to acquiring To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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The Penguins went into Christmas break a bit concerned about what Evgeni Malkin they were going to get in the second half of the season as the tape leading into the break showed a player possibly breaking down. Malkin to his credit has had some bounce back games over the last 10-12 days and at this stage of Malkin’s career there’s just going to be ebbs and flows of strong weeks and poor weeks. What’s been a good sign in year two of a four-year contract is he still has those moments in games where he can tilt the ice but let’s not kid ourselves, this is not a player that can truly carry a line anymore. The Penguins, though, getting two solid years out the Malkin contract was no sure thing…………………. The power of Sidney Crosby. Just look at Bryan Rust in the third period of the Carolina game after he got some reps with Crosby. Everybody’s game is just jumping another level next to 87……….
— Facts: The Penguins coaching staff would be ecstatic at the prospect of re-acquiring To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
