Mark Madden: No one was 'bamboozled' by Steelers' quarterback decision

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky said the media was “bamboozled a little bit” because “this was never a quarterback competition” between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

No duh, Einstein.

Except you weren’t bamboozled. Nobody ever said it was a quarterback competition, least of all Mike Tomlin. Wilson had “pole position” and was always going to start barring injury.

Everybody knew that. Orlovsky (and many others) ignored it.

Orlovsky said he would start Fields. Orlovsky must be a fan of turnovers.

Here’s who got bamboozled: those who watch ESPN’s yell-and-mug programming block weekdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Those hosting and guesting fabricated a quarterback competition when they knew none existed.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a recognized, popular brand. People want to hear about them, even if it’s fiction. This nonexistent QB competition got discussed literally every day.

Shame mostly on those who cover the Steelers on a daily basis and know better but played along BECAUSE IT’S FUN TO BE ON TV!

At least Orlovsky wasn’t drunk or stoned and didn’t use the popular euphemism for excrement frequently.

Oh, wait, I forgot: ESPN doesn’t own the show referenced, they license it, so they are in no way responsible even though they broadcast it under their logo.

What happened to ESPN, the former “worldwide leader”? The commitment to quality is dead, sacrificed at the altar of bro culture. The gym teachers are taking over.

As for the Steelers, they played a third straight nondescript exhibition game. They finished 0-3 in the preseason.

As this space previously noted, that doesn’t mean much. But it doesn’t mean nothing.

Second-year edge rusher Nick Herbig has looked good.

Is he good enough to start? Could the Steelers trade Alex Highsmith to fill one of several glaring needs?

I bet the gap between Herbig and Highsmith isn’t that big.

Is it better to have depth at edge rusher or to have a legit starter at your No. 2 wideout?

Sacks are the most overrated play in football. It’s too easy to get yardage back. Only third-down sacks matter much.

If T.J. Watt got hurt, the Steelers would be in trouble. But that applies if they have depth at edge rusher or not.

Week 1 at Atlanta looms large.

The Steelers are a three-point underdog. But if they’re a playoff team, this is the sort of game the Steelers need to win.

While the Steelers still seem light years away from Brandon Aiyuk, the Falcons got linebacker Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons on back-to-back days a couple of weeks ago. Judon made first-team All-Pro in 2022, Simmons made second-team All-Pro four of the past five years.

The Falcons have numbers collector Kirk Cousins at quarterback. He’s going to put up yards and points.

The Steelers need to beat Atlanta.

If they don’t, the excuses will fly:

• Russell Wilson needs time.

• Oppenheimer needs time.

• The offensive line needs time.

• The Khan Artist needs time to get Aiyuk.

But the Steelers don’t have time.

They’re very likely to make or miss the playoffs by a game. It’s going to get late early.