Since the beginning of last season, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner have fumbled away five wins. That's five times their fumbles have directly cost the Steelers a victory. Five times in 21 games.
Smith-Schuster has done it twice, most recently yesterday at Heinz Field vs. Baltimore.
Conner has done it three times, most recently Sept. 22 at San Francisco.
Their miscues kept the Steelers out of the playoffs last season.
This year, the Steelers are 1-4 instead of 3-2.
Smith-Schuster is lit. He brings sunshine with him wherever he goes, it's been said. I don't care.
Conner is a Pitt product and a cancer survivor. I don't care.
Your No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 running back simply can't cost you victories on a regular basis. It's unacceptable.
Were those fumbles the lone factor in the Steelers not winning? No.
Were they the primary factor? Absolutely.
Smith-Schuster and Conner are nice kids, except they're not kids.
Maybe ask the media that covers them every day how nice they really are.
Remember when Pittsburgh used to value winning? Now all you've got to do to be a superstar athlete in this town is hug somebody.
Let's be Pittsburgh again. Not Littsburgh. Make athletes earn your admiration through excellence, not PR.
Memo to Smith-Schuster and Conner: Hold on to the friggin' football.
Courtesy of Getty Images.