As a wise old veteran of sports media once told me: When in doubt, write/talk about the quarterback.

That’s always been a go-to in the Pittsburgh market. The Steelers re-upping third-stringer Mason Rudolph generated headlines, clicks and conversation. Extending backup Mitch Trubisky’s contract did the same, but more.

Both moves are mostly meaningless.

If Rudolph plays, the Steelers are in trouble. Trubisky was here, is still here and is still the backup. He just might be the backup a bit longer.

Perhaps Trubisky is betting Pickett isn’t so good or that he keeps getting concussed. (The Steelers should especially be worried about the latter.) Maybe Trubisky just likes the paycheck: Three years, $19.4 million.

The Steelers cleared cap room via Trubisky’s new deal and by cutting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. But what free agents are left to spend it on? Here’s betting they sign another mediocre inside ‘backer. Keep throwing excrement at that wall.

Say this for first-year GM Omar Khan: He’s dynamic. He keeps it moving. He has maintained a solid quarterbacks room.

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So, let’s keep discussing quarterbacks.

What would be an acceptable output for starter Kenny Pickett in 2023, his second season?

Try this on for size:

• 22 touchdowns vs. 10 interceptions.

• 233.8 yards per game.

• Passer rating of 86.8.

If those numbers seem familiar, those were Ben Roethlisberger’s stats for his final season. That’s at age 39, and not real mobile. That got the Steelers into the playoffs, albeit slaughtered by Kansas City in the wild-card round.

If those numbers seem pedestrian, they beat the heck out of ranking 33rd in passer rating and 30th in yards per game, as Pickett did in 2022.

There are some nutty projections out there for Pickett. But after seven touchdowns vs. nine interceptions last season, my stats are realistic. (You should hope.)

Pickett had two great game-winning drives at season’s end but was mostly subpar. As Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com wrote, “Pickett thrived more as a late-game fighter than efficient full-timer.”

Pickett must shake that very accurate description, although there’s nothing wrong with being a late-game fighter. Roethlisberger was.

I’d like to see Pickett throw more than one touchdown in a game. Just to see if he can. (He hasn’t.)

The number that will count most for Pickett is wins. (Duh.) Football is a team game, but the quarterback is most responsible. (Duh.) It’s not fantasy football. It’s not about stats. It’s about wins. (Duh.) Pickett has got to lead the Steelers to at least 10.

Old-school types pretend the Steelers are about defense and ball control. That includes the Steelers themselves.

That’s mostly suicide in a quick-strike, lots-of-points era. Consider the Steelers’ 35-13 loss at Philadelphia last Oct. 30: The Steelers had the ball for 34:18, but the Eagles scored four touchdowns before running a play in the red zone.

That’s today’s NFL. With good teams and good quarterbacks, anyway.

But outside of the AFC North, the Steelers don’t play many good quarterbacks. Perhaps they can prop up their outdated philosophy in enough games to make the playoffs.

Or at least go 9-8. Did you know Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season?

So, that’s it. I wrote about the quarterback. I bet you read it. Now I can go watch soccer. Si, Senor … pass the ball to Bobby and he’ll score.

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