Due to circumstances beyond our control, “U mad, bro?” is posting a day early this week.

Actually, who am I kidding? It’s totally within my control.

But with conflicts, partial vacation days, Pittsburgh Steelers press conferences, podcasts, public appearances, radio shows, the Pirates’ schedule and other considerations, our weekly point-counterpoint with readers needed to post a day early.

Key word: Early.

Not late. Early.

So you have nothing to be mad about. Except what you’re already mad about. So just be mad in this week’s “U mad, bro?”

Let’s start with Hugh. He wants Mason Rudolph to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026. In fact, he thinks Rudolph should’ve gotten that job a long time ago.

“If Tomlin had been willing to use Mason from the start of a season — he did get the Steelers to the title game, in case you forgot — they would not have been in trouble with the guy from Pitt (Kenny Pickett) and elsewhere. And both Howard and Allar could be much more successful than a soon to be 43 year old guy who had a really shaky 2025, though the media did not notice.”

What?! Mason Rudolph never started an AFC title game for the Steelers. He started one playoff game in Buffalo and lost.

And I’m not sure why you are coming at me for a lack of Aaron Rodgers ’ criticism. I frequently point out Rodgers’ flaws, including his 1-6 record against playoff teams last year.

I don’t think Rodgers has much left in the tank. But your presumption that any of those three QBs in 2026 is a better option than Rodgers for this specific Steelers’ season is a ridiculous leap of faith.

Chad has some views on the Steelers’ season outlook.

Having an awful year isn’t tanking if it happens organically. If they have an awful year in Year 1 of a new coaching staff and Year 43 of Rodgers’ existence, that feels pretty organic to me.

I’m not rooting for a bad season. I’m not hoping it happens. But I could deal with it should that be the case.

I don’t like to artificially force a rebuild. That wouldn’t be what this is. That’s what the 2016 Pirates were.

But I also don’t like artificially keeping a non-losing season streak alive just to placate the egos of the owner and the front office.

That’s what the 2026 Steelers may prove to be.

SteelerCAR1 has an issue with a snarky retweet I posted regarding Adam Schefter’s interpretation of Rodgers’ return to the Steelers.

As I’ve heard it said in the days of my youth, past performance is not indicative of future results.

Or something like that.

The last time a Steelers team repeated as an AFC North champion was 2017. And they didn’t win a playoff game that year.

What they did in 2025 doesn’t mean they’ll move “forward” this year. “Forward” means a playoff win, as a division champ. As a wild card. Whatever.

Nothing else is “forward.”

This fellow is chiming in on that same topic.

Well, technically, that would be backward, but you seem to get the point.

Here is someone referring to “Madden Monday” for this week.

My friend, there have been a bunch of nights lately where I could say the same thing about the Pirates.

Finally, let’s end with this guy. He is a fan of my work.

That’s probably true. I exhaust myself every day.

But if I tucker you out, you should probably unfollow me and catch a break. That might be best for everyone involved.

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