Mark Madden: Patrick Queen's contract, Juju Smith-Schuster's possible release make 'news' during NFL's silly season

It’s the silly season for the NFL, the time of invented saturation, a 24-hour news cycle when no real news exists.

Sure, the Steelers have OTAs, but those media present aren’t even allowed to report what they witness. Ergo, somebody has to say something.

They always do.

It’s often harmless and nonsensical, such as linebacker Patrick Queen telling a podcast he took less money to sign with the Steelers.

“For me, the difference was like $4 (million) or $5 million,” Queen said. “I’m really just trying to win right now, get that out the way and then get paid later.”

Queen played for Baltimore in his first four NFL seasons. He was a first-round pick in the 2020 draft. The Ravens did not pick up his fifth-year option.

Queen’s contract with the Steelers has no guarantees beyond $13.84 million for the first season.

So it’s nuts if Queen turned down more money to “win right now.” Not least because the Steelers are nowhere close to winning right now. Queen left a team that was the AFC’s top seed in last year’s playoffs and reached the AFC Championship Game.

Nobody takes less money on their second NFL contract. That deal maps out a player’s financial future.

Queen is likely fibbing to indulge a little fan-friendly showbiz. Or he really was dumb enough to take less money. Or no team better than the Steelers wanted him, and this actually is Queen’s best shot to “win right now.” If “win right now” equates to 10-7 and a first-round playoff loss.

Queen is a complementary inside linebacker, as he showed in Baltimore. He didn’t excel till Roquan Smith lined up alongside him at Baltimore’s other inside ’backer.

Queen came to Pittsburgh at that price because it was the best deal he could get.

Queen probably lied, but it’s a fun lie.

It’s akin to when T.J. Watt ended his “hold-in” in 2021 and signed a contract worth $80 million guaranteed.

Watt reportedly overruled his agents, telling them to accept the offer on the table because he wanted to play the game he loved and GO STEELERS!

What a great sacrifice Watt made, signing a contract that paid only $80 million guaranteed.

If Watt did overrule his agents, it was over nickel-dime stuff. He got the payday, then garnished it with showbiz.

Maybe someday Watt will garnish his loot by winning a playoff game. He’s 0-3 in that department, with the Steelers defense allowing 135 points in those three contests.

Those losses and conceding all those points aren’t necessarily Watt’s fault. But he was out there, too.

JuJu Smith-Schuster might get cut by New England. His potential availability should bring the carp to the spillway.

You remember Smith-Schuster. Insufferably cute, especially on social media. A decent complementary receiver. But when he was asked to be more than that, he disappeared. So did his Pizza Hut commercials.

Smith-Schuster is only 27. But he’s had a host of injury problems: knee, ankle, foot, concussions, etc.

If the Steelers recycled Smith-Schuster, he wouldn’t be the guy that left Pittsburgh after the 2021 season. He’d be the latest handful of excrement to throw at the wall, joining Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller and Quez Watkins. Splat!

But imagine the great advice Smith-Schuster could give George Pickens about establishing his brand.

Meantime, the real story of OTAs is Broderick Jones splitting reps between right and left tackle.

The Steelers drafted Jones in last year’s first round to play left tackle. That’s always been Jones’ projected position. So put him at left tackle. Have a plan. This is like the Pirates with Henry Davis.

But Dan Moore Jr. is still running with the first team at left tackle.

It’s madness. You drafted two tackles in the first round over the last two years. How is Moore still starting? And if you’re going to put Jones at left tackle and Troy Fautanu at right tackle come training camp, why waste time now?