Football Footnotes: Latest interview shows JuJu Smith-Schuster still doesn't grasp mistake of 'Browns is the Browns' quote
May 10—With the draft over and training camp still a few months away, we are in a down cycle for news surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL.
But since the league is the Goliath that it is — and with the Steelers' constant ability to find their way into headlines — it's not exactly hard to find news.
"Breakfast With Benz" usually gives you "Football Footnotes" on Fridays. But since we took an early weekend last week, quite a few stacked up while we were gone. So here's a rare Monday edition.
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STEELERS
JuJu Smith-Schuster recently admitted that his "Browns is the Browns" comments motivated Cleveland during the 2020 AFC Wild Card game.
On ProFootballTalk last week, the Steelers wide receiver was asked how much he thought that was the case.
"Probably a lot, honestly," Smith-Schuster replied. "I'm not gonna lie to you."
Yet even with that candor, Smith-Schuster shows he still just doesn't get it.
"At the end of the day, I said what I said. And I don't take anything back," Smith-Schuster added. "They did come out there and whoop our (backsides), and it is what it is. ... I think by me saying that, it says that a lot of people care what I say, and my voice, and my opinion."
No, JuJu. The Browns don't care about your voice or opinion. They only care that you were dismissive of them and their chances. If you didn't specifically say that about them, no one in Cleveland really would've given a darn what you had to say about anything.
As far as you not wanting to take anything back, of course you are going to say that. Because it's way too late to do so.
All in all, Smith-Schuster's latest comments prove he's still under the impression that there's no such thing as bad press. And if people are talking about you, then your brand is just getting expanded.
The only thing I want JuJu to expand this year is his yards-per-catch average. I don't care at all about his brand development.
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RAVENS
In his first Zoom interview with the Baltimore Ravens, Alejandro Villanueva raised some eyebrows. The ex-Steelers tackle admitted the chance to play against his former franchise two times a year added to his desire to sign in Baltimore.
He also threw a mild jab at Smith-Schuster with his dart about wide receivers "making the Tik Toks."
As an aside, isn't that the most beautiful "old man yelling at clouds" way imaginable to phrase that thought? "Making the Tik Toks."
Regardless, Villanueva did make a good point about Baltimore's commitment to running the ball over the last few years, as opposed to Pittsburgh's aversion to doing so.
I'm not sure what Villanueva is really going to bring as a blocker in Baltimore in 2021. But he's already bringing even more spice to the Ravens-Steelers rivalry.
I'll sign up for that all day.
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PACKERS
At the core of what Terry Bradshaw was saying during a recent rebuke of Aaron Rodgers, he was right.
The Green Bay quarterback looks spoiled, petulant and threatened by recently drafted backup Jordan Love.
But Bradshaw is also coming off as massively hypocritical. I mean, with a straight face, how does Bradshaw rip someone else for holding grudges??!!
He's had an on-again, off-again, self-created, dirty-divorce type of relationship with the Steelers franchise — and the city of Pittsburgh — that frankly, should've been put to rest forever when Chuck Noll died.
If it needed to exist at all in the first place.
And when it comes to knocking Rodgers' footwork, well ...
For as great as Bradshaw was, his touchdown-to-interception ratio was only 212:210. Check out Terry's footwork on some of those bad throws back in the day. He wasn't exactly textbook all the time either.
And he was hardly the emotional rock he is demanding that Rodgers should be.
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FALCONS
If you look at a lot of the odds boards, Atlanta's Kyle Pitts is among the favorites to win NFL Rookie of the Year.
But I wouldn't bet on that.
For as good as I think Pitts is, that's a tough award for a tight end to win, especially with other targets like Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley around to soak up catches.
Particularly in the red zone.
Also, unless Pitts rounds into form as a blocker, he may not be on the field quite as much in his first year for first-down or second-and-short snaps as he will be later in his career.
Arguing if Pitts is going to end up being the best offensive player in the draft is a different question than if he wins Rookie of the Year.
The safer bet for that award may be the Steelers' Najee Harris because of all the touches he'll get. Or one of the receivers in the first three rounds. Or whichever QB you think is the best fit on his new roster and the most cable ready to win.
It might be smarter money to place your cash there instead of on Pitts despite his massive talent.
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JAGUARS
I walked away from the draft loving most of the players the Jacksonville Jaguars got.
Obviously, former Clemson teammates Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne are elite draft picks, who are likely to feel comfortable in Urban Meyer's offense.
Not only did they get Lawrence a familiar back to help him in his first year, but Stanford's Walker Little is a huge tackle and I think Ohio State tight end Luke Farrell and Georgia Tech wide receiver Jalen Camp were really good value picks late.
Plus, on defense, Syracuse safety Andre Cisco and Georgia corner Tyson Campbell should bring athleticism and playmaking in the secondary.
I don't really understand the Etienne pick with running back James Robinson on the roster already. But Etienne could be an upgrade in terms of upside, and maybe Meyer feels Robinson already had the best year he's ever going to have. Perhaps a trade is in the works.
If not, then, yes, that pick is a head scratcher. But talent-wise, I like what the Jags have done overall in their first steps on their long climb back toward relevance.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
