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Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky wait for a drill to begin during OTAs, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
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Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Does a Mason Rudolph return mean the end for Mitch Trubisky?

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Joe Starkey’s mailbag: Does a Mason Rudolph return mean the end for Mitch Trubisky?

Welcome to Joe Starkey’s mailbag, where the Post-Gazette columnist and 93.7 The Fan radio host answers your questions about sports, life, Lee Lacy and everything in between. If you want to ask Joe a question, tweet him @JoeStarkey1 or email him at jstarkey@post-gazette.com. On to the questions ...

Barry Sherry, @TrekRef: Is the Mitchell Trubisky Train about to leave the station? Who is QB2 on September 10?

Adam, @ak100892: Mason Rudolph back with the Steelers. ... There were some experts on this app who said teams were going to sign him to let him compete for starting reps! Where are those people today Joe?! Were they high out of their mind when they wrote that nonsense?? (Love Mason as a backup, btw)

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Starkey: Lots to unpack here, gentlemen, and keep in mind that Rudolph’s return is not official as of this writing, though it’s headed fast in that direction.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) runs with the ball on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, at Heinz Field. The Seattle Seahawks beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-26.
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And that’s mighty interesting, isn’t it? We kept hearing about how Rudolph would never return, so hurt were his feelings. I could never figure out why his feelings would be so hurt. The writing on the wall before last season was larger than the Empire State Building. The Steelers had a first-round pick and a fairly prominent free agent who was installed as the starter the second he arrived. If Rudolph and his reps actually believed they were entering a legit competition, they were out of their minds.

Also, I couldn’t care less that Rudolph apparently had a nice summer throwing to third stringers. He deserved nothing, and he got nothing — except a nice paycheck for wearing a ball cap.

And, as it turned out, none of the other 31 teams wanted him — certainly not to compete for a starting job and not even as a backup. So he’ll likely return for a million bucks or so, I would imagine, as the No. 3 quarterback. It’s kind of sad, actually, but it’s good work if you can find it.

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It’s a decent insurance policy for the Steelers, in case of injuries, although I’m not exactly enamored with the idea of Rudolph playing under any circumstances. Not a single one of the 32 NFL teams wanted him as a primary backup, after all.

As to the question of whether he’ll replace Trubisky? I don’t see it — not this year, anyway. Trubisky is an excellent, if expensive, insurance policy at $8 million. But even with all three of these guys under contract, the Steelers aren’t spending all that much at the quarterback position with Kenny Pickett still on his rookie deal.

Could I see Rudolph as the backup next season, after Trubisky’s deal expires? Sure.

Would that be a good move?

Pittsburgh Steelers College Scout Mark Gorscak trains at Heinz Field during the 2021 Steelers Camp, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 in Pittsburgh, PA.
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Not really, no.


Bob Engler, @baengler12: Oh, wise one, BC said Henry Davis needs more reps behind the plate, but his last three games were two in right field and one at DH. Does he know what’s going on?

Starkey: I would hope BC (Ben Cherington) knows what’s going on, BE, and he left the distinct impression the other day that both Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez would stay in the minors for a while as they learn the catching trade. However, as you point out here, Davis is playing other positions, as is Rodriguez. The plan, I believe, is for the two to split catching duties in the majors but to keep their bats in play on a daily basis. I like that plan. People don’t catch 130 games anymore.

In the meantime, I’d love to see Davis’ bat here right now. I think he could catch some, learn under Austin Hedges or Jason Delay and help this anemic lineup. I just don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon.


Bobby, @BuStA607: Does Henry Davis skip AAA for the majors?

Starkey: Entirely possibly, Dr. Bob. He’s only in Double-A so that he can have his own staff, while Rodriguez gets his own at Triple-A. Not your typical Double-A guy.


Caleb D, @Calebmd01: Even though Keller is under team control for a couple more years, do you think they should sign him to a contract extension now? I feel like his price tag is only to go up from here.

DAVE FOSSICK, @dman586: Will the Pirates sign Keller while they can still get him for a reasonable amount or is it already too late?

Starkey: It’s getting late early out there, Dr. Fossick, as Yogi Berra once said. Keller’s price rises with every start, especially the ones where he pitches shutout ball for seven innings and strikes out 13 while walking none (reaching all of those milestones at once was a first in Pirates history, I might add).

Having said that, I believe the Pirates are serious in their pursuit of Keller and will get something done. He’s really the only guy they need to sign at the moment. The others are too old or too young for such talk (Oneil Cruz would be next on the list, but the Pirates would be wise to see how he looks upon his return from a major injury).

The Pirates just signed Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds to deals totaling $176 million. Why wouldn’t they be serious in pursuing Keller? He looks like a must-sign to me, as the centerpiece of their rotation moving forward. But yes, the sooner the better. This guy could be the NL starter in the All-Star Game.


Yinzersaurus, @jbfrompgh: During the Pens 16-year playoff streak, they made the Cup finals 4 times. Which of the remaining 12 teams could’ve/should’ve had a similar run?

Starkey: Great question, and a few spring to mind, Dr. Yinzer. I think of the Iginla team — the “All-In” team — that got swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference finals. That group seemed to lose its rhythm after a ridiculously long break between series. I’m not one who buys into the Iginla-experiment-was-a-failure idea. He had 12 points in 15 playoff games.

But the team I’m convinced would have won it all if not for injuries was the 2010-11 group. They were a year removed from winning the Cup. They were young, rested, hungry and mega talented. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were at the height of their powers — but both sustained season-ending injuries. The Penguins still took Tampa Bay to seven games in the first round. That team was primed to win it all.


Reed Meggelton, @meg_ree: Boy, is there a more exciting final four in NHL history than Dallas-Vegas and Florida-Carolina? What a great way to grow the sport!

Starkey: I sense sarcasm, Dr. Meggelton, and you’re not wrong. This is a disastrous Final Four — although I’m sure Gary Bettman is happy that his southern belt teams are in there, plus Vegas. The truth of the matter is it could be Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid and MacKinnon and it wouldn’t matter: All other major sports and even some minor ones would outdraw the NHL.


Tim McAloon., @tjmcaloonsr: Breakfast ball on the first drive or ?

Starkey: I’m not a big fan of the breakfast ball, Dr. Loon, but I can’t say I’ve never taken one.


Birthday Stranger, @HandsomeStrangr: You stop at a gas station/convenient store at the start of a road trip. You grab a bag of your favorite chips to go. When you open the bag, would you rather find every chip to be equally seasoned or half of the chips with no seasoning and the other half with double seasoning?

Starkey: Even seasoning, Dr. Stranger. Even seasoning.


Frank Garland, @fpgarland: Dylan Crews or Paul Skenes — and why?

Starkey: You are referring to the prospective top two picks in the MLB draft, Dr. Garland. Both are from LSU. Crews is a dynamic-hitting outfielder. Skenes is the staff ace. I go for pitching — especially when I hear these kinds of things from MLB.com: “(Skenes) is the best college pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg in 2009 and a potential No. 1 overall pick on the mound.” 

I’ll take the 6-6 guy who throws 100 mph.


Mark Lazerus, @MarkLazerus: What’s the deal with Karl Malden?

Starkey: He was a nice man, an American hero and wonderful actor who portrayed Herb Brooks in the movie “Miracle on Ice.”

Also, “Streets of San Francisco.” And “On the Waterfront.”


J P, @JoeyPicksIt: Greetings Joe. If you could play a round of golf with any sports star, living or dead, who would it be?

Starkey: Probably Charles Barkley, Dr. Picks. He’s pretty funny — and I might be better than him!


Ezera Lenk, @ezlenk: Ask Shelty — any consideration to start Keller Friday on his regular four day rest with the team’s two off days?

Starkey: I will do that, Dr. Lenk, and thank you for the suggestion.

Thank you, kiddies. Also, send me questions (tweet @JoeStarkey1 or email at jstarkey@post-gazette.com). And subscribe to our FREE daily all-sports newsletter, PG Sports Feed. @sportseditors

First Published: May 16, 2023, 1:48 p.m.

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