Friday Football Footnotes: Von Miller dismisses Kenny Pickett's 'underdog' quote; Bart Scott pans Steelers drafting Pickett
In this week’s edition of “Friday Football Footnotes,” a member of the Buffalo Bills takes exception to something said by Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
A former rival of the Steelers pans the franchise’s decision to draft Pickett instead of addressing the offensive line.
Plus, Le’Veon Bell isn’t done with boxing, while one Green Bay Packer is definitely done with the idea of the NFL in England.
That was quick
It didn’t take long for a quote by Kenny Pickett to get the attention of an opponent.
Why that opponent is put off by what Pickett said is beyond me, though.
The Steelers rookie quarterback is going to be making his first start in Buffalo this week. He was asked to give his thoughts on doing so as a 14-point underdog to the Bills.
“Everyone thinks we’re underdogs. But we don’t,” Pickett replied.
That hardly seems inflammatory to me. What else should he say? “Yeah, we are 14-point underdogs and deserve to be because we stink and they’re great. We don’t have a chance. Why are we even going?”
I mean, well, I might say that.
In fact, I’m pretty sure I said exactly that on the radio a few times this week. But Pickett can’t say that. As a rookie QB, he has to project some sense of confidence — whether he really means it or not.
Bills veteran linebacker Von Miller sees it a different way.
“Who thinks you’re underdogs, Bud?” Miller said. “Nobody said, what? Stop it Kenny! Don’t try to get crazy on us, man. Just come in and play the game. Why is he looking at the spread? Nobody looks at the spread of the game. Nobody’s looking at none of that. We’re just getting ready to play the Steelers.”
Actually, Von, just about every gambling outlet in America has said that. Since the NFL merger in 1970, the Steelers have never been a 14-point underdog. It’s news. Lots of people are talking about it.
You may be getting ready to play the Steelers and aren’t considering yourself as a massive favorite. But millions of people who gamble do.
“Don’t try to get fake mad,” Miller continued. “Don’t try to get crazy on us, man. Nobody thinks you’re underdogs Kenny.”
Von Miller on Kenny Pickett thinking the Steelers are underdogs: Nobody thinks that Kenny
The Steelers are currently 14 point underdogs @BSSportsbook
pic.twitter.com/uIRJKfAG3I— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 6, 2022
Hmmm. I dunno. I’m pretty sure someone is getting fake mad in this conversation. But I don’t think it’s Pickett.
We are not done
Meanwhile, former Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott is ripping the Steelers’ decision to draft Pickett in the first place.
Even after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger.
On Thursday’s edition of ESPN’s “Get Up” Scott said, “Sometimes it is about bad picks. It’s rare for the Steelers, (but) bad picking in Kenny Pickett happened because they could’ve got an upgrade.”
It’s Scott’s belief that the Steelers had their priorities out of line on draft night.
“They don’t have a good offensive line. I think they reached for Kenny Pickett, and I don’t think they should have reached for Kenny Pickett,” Scott said. “Everyone knew it was going to be a reset year. Losing a great, Hall of Fame quarterback, there is always a reset year. For them thinking that getting a quarterback at pick 20 and Mitch Trubisky was going to be the answer there? And not being in a position to take one of these quarterbacks (next) year? What are you going to do if you are sitting at fourth and CJ Stroud, Bryce Young or one of these guys is there?”
"I think they reached for Kenny Pickett and I think they shouldn't have reached for Kenny Pickett."
—@BartScott57 on the Steelers' struggles pic.twitter.com/AxezpSuFlA
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 6, 2022
Scott added that Pickett is already “close to his ceiling” and there is not much room for him to grow and get better.
Yet, after the loss to the Cleveland Browns, Scott said the Steelers should start Pickett in advance of the Jets game. So he must not be all that bad. Right, Bart?
Scott also said (via SteelersWire) that he is unimpressed with Najee Harris, claiming, “He’s not Saquon Barkley. … I don’t see special when I see him.”
Based on this season, that has been true. Harris has only 202 rushing yards on 58 carries in four games.
More Steelers
• Kenny Pickett quickly shows more tendency to run than Steelers QB predecessors
• Steelers searching for right mix of healthy defensive players to face Josh Allen, Bills
• Matt Canada will ‘tweak’ Steelers offense with Kenny Pickett, but no major changes
Adjusting our eye level
The sports gambling outlet BetOnLine.ag has updated NFL win-totals for every team. The closing pre season win totals were on Sept. 8. Twelve different win totals for teams went up from their original close. Fifteen win totals went down from their original close. Four team totals are unchanged. The Miami Dolphins came off the board because of the injury to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The Steelers were among three teams that had the biggest drop. At the start of the season, the Steelers over-under win total was at 7½. It is now down to 5½. The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders are the only other teams to have projections drop by two wins.
The Steelers and Commanders are 1-3. The Colts are 2-2-1. Washington’s new total is 6. The Colts are at 7½.
The 4-0 Philadelphia Eagles had the biggest jump. The total has moved from 9½ to 13½.
More boxing for Bell
Le’Veon Bell’s boxing venture wasn’t a one-and-done experience.
Last month, the former Steeler knocked out fellow former Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson in an exhibition.
Le’Veon Bell knocks out Adrian Peterson pic.twitter.com/kG3oSbJg4d
— 唐丹鸿 (@CathyMa57426480) October 1, 2022
Now Bell is going to make his pro boxing debut. According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, Bell will square off against MMA star and former UFC fighter Uriah Hall. It will be part of “Most Valuable Promotions’” Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva event on Oct. 29 in Phoenix at Desert Diamond Arena. The card can be seen on Showtime pay per view.
Via MMA Junkie, Hall is 38. He retired from MMA in October after a nine-year, 19-fight career in the UFC. His last fight was a loss on July 2 at UFC 276.
(Not so) Jolly ol’ England
The Green Bay Packers and New York Giants are playing in England on Sunday morning. At least one Green Bay Packer is … well … less than thrilled about that.
Rasul Douglas played in London with the Eagles in 2018. And let’s just say his experience was less than enjoyable.
“It (expletive) (stunk),” Douglas said via PackersNews.com. “You don’t get to do nothing over there. You just (expletive) get on a plane, get over there and (expletive) practice, and then you play a game. You get back on a plane and travel (expletive) eight hours somewhere else.”
Oh my, Rasul! That’s hardly the Queen’s English!
Douglas complained about jet lag as well, something he said he couldn’t shake until kickoff.
“I don’t take anything caffeine-wise. I don’t drink coffee. I don’t drink energizer boosts. I don’t drink anything to boost my system to where it’s supposed to be. I always like my mind to get me there,” he said. “During a game, that’s always adrenaline. As soon as you get out of that tunnel, you put that jersey on, you’re getting ready and preparing and see the fans, that just boosts you up.”
The last time the Steelers were in England it was 2013. They lost to the Minnesota Vikings 34-27 to fall to 0-4.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.