For ateamthathasn’twonaplayoffgamesince2016,thePittsburghSteelersappearwillingtoentertaintheprospectofaformersixth-rounddraftpickwhohasneverthrownanNFLpasstobetheirquarterbackthisfall.
The key word in that sentence is “appear.”
DuringtwomediainterviewsessionsattheNFLScoutingCombine in Indianapolis onTuesday,generalmanagerOmarKhansaidquarterbackWillHoward’snamesooften,IthoughtIwaslisteningtosportstalkradioinColumbuscirca2024.
Atonepoint,KhanwasaskedabouttheQBtalentintheupcomingNFLdraft,andhebroughttheanswerrightbacktoHoward.
“Therearesomegoodplayershere.It’searly.Wehavetogothroughtheprocess,”Khanreplied.“Iwillsaythat … Ishouldhavementioned,youknow,we’reexcitedtoworkwithWill.”
Actually,Omar,youhadjustcoveredthatinthepreviousresponse,butwho’skeepingtrack?Pleasegoon.
“Coach(Mike)McCarthy,he’stalkedabouthowmuchhelikedWillcomingout.HeandIhavespentsometimewatchinghispracticetape,”Khancontinued.“Obviously,wedidn’thavetheabilitytowatchhimingames,whichwouldhavebeengood.Hegothurtinthepreseason.Butwewatchedallthepracticetapeand(have)seentheprogressionandsomeexcitingstufftosee.”
IactuallygiveKhancreditforreadingtheroom.TheSteelersfan basedesperatelywantstogetexcitedaboutHoward.“He’sgonnabeourTomBradyn’at,youknow!”ThisisKhantossingredmeattothelions.It’sausefulbufferofhypetobuildupifAaronRodgersdecidestoretire.
It’salsoausefulbufferofhypetobuildupifRodgersdecidestoreturn.HeandMcCarthycansellthe“tutorandpupil”narrativeforayearandsmoothoveranyroughedgesforthoseinthepublicwhodon’twantRodgersbackforasecondseason.
KhanisalsosmartenoughtoknowthatifhepumpsHoward’stiresnow,andiftheSteelersdosignordraftanewQBthisspring,theTerribleToweltwirlerswillwhipthemselvesintoafrenzyaboutthatguyjustasmuch,andHowardcansimplygobacktobeingananonymoussixth-rounderagain.
StillwithouteverhavingtothrowanNFLpass.
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Keepinmind,we’vegottenthisactfromKhan in Indy beforeduringinterviews at the Scouting Combine.Ayearago,hewaswaxingpositiveaboutthefutureofGeorgePickensinPittsburgh.Healsosaidhe’d“liketosign”eitherRussellWilsonorJustinFields.
NoneofthosethreemenremainedontheSteelersrosterbyMother’sDay.
Atthe2024 gathering,Khansaidthathehad“fullfaith”inKennyPickett.Afewweekslater,PickettwasaPhiladelphiaEagle.
So,whenitcomestoHoward,I’mnottakingKhan’swordswithagrainofsalt. … I’mgrabbingthewholeshaker.
NoneofthisistocondemnHoward.NoramIevenburyingtheideaofgivinghimalookasthestarterunderagoodQBcoachlikeMcCarthy.
SeeingHowardboomorbustwouldatleastbemoreinterestingthanwatchingRodgerscomebackinanefforttosoakonemore10-8,one-and-done-in-the-playoffsseasonoutofthisoverly glorifiedstreakofnon-losingcampaigns.
I’mjustsayingthereappearstobeamethodtoKhan’smessaging.
Let’sincludeonemoremediaexchangewithKhanfromTuesday.Hewasaskedhowhevaluesquarterbackstartsincollegeversusrawpotential.Inotherwords,whatkindofimportanceisplacedoncollege-levelseasoningandexperienceversusavastskillsetandanuntestedceiling?
“Youcan’thidefromproduction,”Khansaid.“So,whenaguyproduces,that’scertainly(important),and(if)he’sdoneitatahighleveloratabigschool,that’s … andwinning,winningisimportant.So,youcan’tdenyanyofthat.”
AreporterpointedoutthatKhanjustdescribedHoward.
“IlikeWillalot,”Khanreplied.
Weknow,Omar.Wegetit.
JustlikewegotitwithPickens,Pickett,FieldsandWilsonduringthe pasttwo years at this time.We’llseehowmuchyoulikehimifRodgersdecideshewantstoreturn.
Orifashrewdtrade/veteranfree-agentsigningpresentsitself.
Or if aworthyQBisonthe draft boardatNo.21with500,000fans assembled in PittsburghscreamingforyoutotakehiminApril.