Mark Madden's Hot Take: Mitchell Trubisky is better option than Jameis Winston for Steelers

The Steelers’ quarterback debate has hit new heights — or lows, if you’ve got the proper perspective — with the re-introduction of Jameis Winston as the flavor du jour.

God, I hate re-runs.

Winston, most recently of New Orleans, will be a free agent March 16. The hype is thick like stench over a slaughterhouse.

The Penguins host Carolina on Sunday in a battle of the Metro Division’s top two teams. It’s the first meeting of the Penguins and Hurricanes this season, but … QUARTERBACK!

The Penguins are tied for first place, and Sidney Crosby just scored career goal No. 500. But attention paid is minimal, because … QUARTERBACK!

Ex-Steeler Bruce Gradkowski says Winston “has the upside to win you a Super Bowl.”

That’s a QB who went 6-14 lifetime talking about a QB who threw 30 interceptions in 2019.

Even in that rancid context, connecting Winston to a Super Bowl victory is lunacy. Tampa Bay won a Super Bowl as soon as Winston stopped being their starter.

Another ex-Steeler, offensive lineman Trai Essex, came up with a better plan: “Sign Mitchell Trubisky to a one-year, prove-it deal and see if any of that (Josh) Allen magic wore off on him.” Trubisky was Allen’s backup in Buffalo this past season.

Continued Essex, “If (Trubisky) doesn’t pan out, it doesn’t hurt the cap, and we can keep it moving and draft a QB (next year) in a better class. If it does, we have our QB of the future with the benefit of tending to the other needs on the team in (this year’s) draft.”

I’m buying what Essex is selling. Make him the new GM.

Trubisky would come cheap. He is a former No. 2 overall pick but is only 27. He got Chicago to the playoffs in two of his four years there, rarefied air for the Bears. (Winston, 28, has steered his team into the postseason just once in seven NFL seasons.)

Sign Trubisky, and have him compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins. It sounds like a healthy situation.

Winston is 33-44 as a starter. Trubisky is 29-21.

Winston has thrown 135 touchdowns and 91 interceptions. Trubisky has thrown 64 TDs and 38 picks.

Winston’s completion percentage is 61.2 and his passer rating 87.8. Trubisky’s marks stand at 64.1 and 87.0.

Trubisky has performed better, however marginally.

The worst thing that could happen to those working the Winston angle would be if Winston actually came to Pittsburgh. He is a better subject from a distance than up close.

But with this topic, you don’t have to be right. You just need to talk about it. QUARTERBACK!

Any quarterback who is good enough won’t join the Steelers. Any quarterback that does won’t be good enough. That’s reality.