Stephen A. Smith had some Stephen A. Smith advice for Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson Thursday morning on ESPN’s First Take.
“You stunk last year,” Smith said. “You were paid $37.8 million to go away. The Denver Broncos were willing to eat nearly $38 million to get rid of you. You’re sitting there fighting for a starting job with Justin Fields. You ain’t fighting for no starting job with Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson or somebody.”
Wilson, signed by the Steelers in March after two seasons in Denver, is a nine-time Pro Bowler with a Super Bowl ring who wears the Walter Payton Man of the Year logo on his jersey after earning the prestigious honor in 2020. However, since guiding the Seahawks to a division title during that 2020 season, he’s just 17-27 (.386) as a starter.
“And he’s sitting there with some smile on his face,” Smith ranted. “You ain’t Aaron Rodgers. You got to show up. You’re wearing the black and gold now; you’re a Steeler. I said it last year and I’ll say it again: The only good thing you brought to Denver was Ciara. That was it. You need to stop it, all of this smiling and getting along and all this stuff; I don’t want to hear that stuff from him. Too cool for school. You’re fighting for your career. Act like it, Russell Wilson. Act like it.”
Slowed in recent weeks by a calf injury, Wilson has helped Fields as an extra set of eyes and ears. And that injury is forcing head coach Mike Tomlin to contemplate starting assignments and playing time. It’s certainly not music to anyone’s ears in Pittsburgh.
“And he’s up there smiling,” Smith continued, “with his beautiful wife next to him, acting like he’s about to go to a Taylor Swift concert or something. No. You’re competing for your job.”
Pittsburgh closes the preseason Saturday afternoon at Detroit before opening the regular season Sept. 8 at Atlanta. Don’t be surprised to if both Wilson and Fields see playing time in the same game at some point.