Steel City finds itself caught in the QB1 loop of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. It would be safe to say that the Steelers Nation needs a new season ASAP. Even after head coach Mike Tomlin gave his two cents on the whole situation at the start of August, there seem to be some who would love to differ. And let’s just say, Mike Schlereth is one who is hard on Russ’ case as he believes the 35-year-old is “regressing”. According to Mark, “We are watching a future Hall of Famer play his way out of Hall of Fame.”

The Steelers QB1 situation was a hot topic of discussion on The Stinkin Truth podcast, on August 20th. When Mark’s co-host Mike Evans posed ‘THE’ question, the Broncos legend did not skip a beat and replied, “Who would I go with? There’s not even a question in my mind. I’d go with Justin Fields,” of course he would.

See, he has made it pretty clear from his stance in the past that he is not in with Team Russ and he has his reasons. Unlike Wilson, Mark had it pretty smooth in Denver. So, you can expect his fealty to lie with his team. And this loyalty was on full display in early August. “If you think Sean Payton sabotaged Russell Wilson,” he fired off on X, “then you’re a moron.” Ouch. But ‘why?’ you may ask since that’s what the headlines were back in March. Well, Payton was reportedly trying to rework Wilson’s contract during a bye week to salvage things.

“I did reach out to Russ’ agent in good faith and create an attempt to adjust his contract,” Payton said, per NFL.com. “We couldn’t get a deal done, moved on with our season, didn’t come up again.” Yet, Wilson stuck to his guns, which led to Denver releasing him and setting the stage for Steelers. But here’s where Mark Schelereth’s Hall of Fame remark enters. And before you read between the lines, just read everything. You might see something from Mark’s perspective that his words might have missed.

For starters, it’s not just him, many NFL analysts are skeptical about Wilson’s comeback. Sure, he’s 35 now, and expecting him to play like he did in his prime is like hoping for a Hail Mary in the final seconds. But 365scoress’ Scott Kacsmar puts it best: “It could be a good fit. But if it’s a disaster, he’s going to get benched for Justin Fields and may never start in the NFL again. Just like Donovan McNabb after he left the Eagles in 2010.” A stark reminder that McNabb’s fall from grace is a cautionary tale, and Wilson’s path could follow a similar trajectory if he doesn’t bounce back.

McNabb’s career seemed destined for Canton, but after leaving Philly, the grass wasn’t greener. He struggled with Washington and Minnesota, eventually losing his starter role and being shown the exit. It’s a storyline that echoes Russell Wilson’s journey. Despite a Super Bowl XLVIII ring and a solid 2023 season with 26 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions, Denver cut Wilson loose. Now, he’s in a QB1 battle with Fields. But being benched after contract disputes? That’s a tough pill to swallow. If he can’t find his groove in Pittsburgh, he might block his own path to Canton. Only time will tell if this change of scenery will be a game-changer or just another false start.

But hold on! Mark Schlereth didn’t stop there. He flipped the script, claiming it wasn’t Payton who undermined Wilson. Instead, it was Wilson who was off his game. With dominoes falling fast, it’s anyone’s guess what’s next for Mr. Clutch!

Has Rusell Wilson created problems for himself?

Mark Schlereth threw a game-changing interception of his own on his podcast, revealing how quarterbacks have been throwing wrenches into Sean Payton’s game plans. Schlereth’s analysis comes in following the Broncos’ 8-9 season. He painted a vivid picture of Payton’s sideline struggle: “You think about how that affects you as a play-caller,” he said. “You go okay, we got the two high safety that I look we’re running belly week, right? And I can pretty much guarantee on second down seven, we’re going to get about four yards on this play.”

But things go awry when quarterbacks ignore the playbook and make audibles that turn the gridiron into a minefield. And supposedly that’s what Russell Wilson did. Schlereth elaborated, “Now, I’ve got my third down and three lists, I’m looking at it, and all of a sudden your quarterback checks to a fade and throws it versus a cover 2. You can’t throw the fade versus the cover 2. And it gets batted down incomplete. Now you’re in third and seven instead of third and three where you expected to be.” So, the result of it? Payton scrambling to call plays on the fly and burning precious timeouts.

This quarterback conundrum isn’t just a bad call—it’s a recurring nightmare. Schlereth echoed Payton’s frustrations, highlighting how the synergy Payton enjoyed with Drew Brees was missing with Russell Wilson. An AP article from December 2023 noted Payton’s wariness of Wilson’s play-calling, revealing missed opportunities and a tough adjustment period. Wilson’s performance, with 45 sacks and 10 fumbles, missed the mark, like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

No wonder he packed the bags and set course for Pittsburgh. But even then, how can Russell Wilson prove his point with the 2024 season on the horizon? Because, let’s be honest, the stakes are high with all the preseason chatter. Here’s the big question: Will Rusell Wilson start week 1 or is Justin Fields all set? Let us know!

Check out our exclusive podcast with Chris Gronkowski on the latest episode of the Dual Threat Show with BG12!