PATRIOTS' REBUILD = STEELERS' EMBARRASSMENT

Here's an excerpt from my latest TribLive.com column:

As one of the NFL’s historic dynasties and biggest brand names, the Steelers should be embarrassed by one of their peers in that regard:

New England lost Tom Brady in 2020, had four losing seasons in the next five, Bill Belichick left in 2024, the Patriots drafted Drake Maye that year and now have a franchise quarterback and are in the AFC Championship game.

During the same span, the Steelers kept having no losing seasons and lost four wild-card playoff games.

The Patriots rebuilt practically overnight.

The Steelers treaded sludge.

Losing big and drafting high guarantees nothing.

But it provides a better chance to get the quarterback every team craves. New England drafted Maye third overall after going 4-13 in 2023.

The quarterbacks in the conference championship games were picked first overall, third overall, third overall and 12th overall. (But Denver’s Bo Nix got hurt.)

To read more, click HERE.

The Patriots went 7-9 in 2020, then drafted Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with the 15th pick in the subsequent draft. Jones didn't pan out and is now a backup with San Francisco.

So the Patriots drafted Maye out of North Carolina in 2024. If at first you don't succeed...

The Steelers drafted Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th pick in 2022. Pickett was unimaginably bad, and also truculent. He's been with three teams since. The Steelers have recycled washed-up fossils at QB.

The Patriots fixed it. The Steelers have jerry-rigged. Used duct tape.