Broderick Jones was one of many large tales of the day for the Pittsburgh Steelers of their Week 2 sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos.
Main as much as the sport, it turned obvious that Troy Fautanu could be getting the beginning nod, after which stories surfaced that indicated there could be a rotation at proper sort out between Fautanu and Jones.
Jones entered the sport on the third offensive sequence and hamstrung an in any other case strong drive with three penalties over the span of six performs. He was pulled from the sport and didn’t return on offense as a part of the rotation.
However it was after the sport that he made headlines for among the feedback he made to reporters.
“If not beginning, I actually don’t really feel like I needs to be taking part in,” Jones stated through KDKA’s Further Level after the sport. “It’s actually not an enormous issue for me.”
With out context, that doesn’t sound nice from Jones. There have been already narratives swirling from the native media that urged Jones appeared disinterested at instances all through the preseason. Pat McAfee Present’s Mark Kaboly even claimed he heard Jones was disinterested within the week main as much as the Broncos sport after studying he wouldn’t be the starter.
Jones additionally stated after the sport in a separate clip posted by The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo that “defenders flop, refs throw flags.”
Mike Tomlin was requested about these postgame feedback on Tuesday.
“I didn’t hear that. I don’t know below what circumstances he stated that” Tomlin stated throughout his Tuesday press convention in a video posted on the Steelers’ YouTube web page. “Oftentimes, guys are simply making an attempt to reply questions appropriately and transfer on with their day. So I don’t put a complete lot of stake in a few of these emotional issues which can be stated by guys after video games in an effort to be skilled and reply questions of media varieties such as you.”
It’s straightforward to take a look at these conditions from the surface, particularly after poor performances on the sector, and solidify narratives about gamers. Generally, they’re deserved, however plenty of the time, they don’t seem to be.
Jones has each proper to really feel somewhat disappointment. For those who take a look at the remainder of his postgame feedback, he was important of himself and stated plenty of the suitable issues by way of having a next-play mentality.
Tomlin referred to as Jones a rising younger chief of the offensive line group after the 2023 season. He confirmed a few of that all through coaching camp, working with guys like Darnell Washington after apply and instructing them issues in move safety.
There’ll at all times be plenty of media chatter and noise a few participant after a poor efficiency, particularly after they had been benched as a former first-round draft decide. However you will need to preserve context. As Tomlin stated, gamers say emotional issues after video games. It’s an emotional sport. The truth that Tomlin hadn’t even heard Jones’ feedback reveals how little this trumped-up media narrative means.
Tomlin stated he’s going to present Jones alternatives to beat his Week 2 struggles. His response to the adversity may assist form him into a greater participant or dig him additional right into a gap. He’s nonetheless only a 23-year-old former first-round decide who has lower than a full season of begins below his belt. There’s nonetheless loads of time for him to show issues round and put all of this behind him.
