There’s an article at ESPN.com with this headline: “JuJu Smith-Schuster: Steelers receiver by day, dog dad 24/7.” It’s a lengthy piece (video, too!) about JuJu and his French bulldog. It is such a cute story. Simply delightful.
JuJu’s on pace to catch just 64 balls and has had a bunch of drops, but so what? He’s living his best life, his brand is strong, and his dog has a girlfriend. (I hear she’s a bitch.)
The story has hard-hitting questions like, “How did you decide to pick Boujee as the dog’s name?” Roll over, Frank Deford, and tell Dick Schaap the news.
There’s a de facto companion piece at sportingnews.com that “breaks down JuJu Smith-Schuster’s struggles without Antonio Brown.”
It’s a list of excuses for JuJu not having a great season. Let me count the ways:
*JuJu is now getting top coverage attention.
*JuJu is not playing with Ben Roethlisberger.
*JuJu is playing with Mason Rudolph.
*JuJu gets no help from a consistent No. 2 (or No. 3) receiver.
*JuJu gets no help from a good running game.
JuJu’s drops aren’t mentioned. Sidebars like “being shadowed” by Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey are plentiful, though. JuJu is a “special young talent”; that’s made clear. He “has great hands and runs smooth routes.”
Oh, to be young and have no accountability demanded. CLANG! CLANG!