Lol, Alex Smith is nowhere near a franchise QB. Manning was at the end but clearly had some time left and Brees was thought to potentially have a career-threatening injury and thank goodness he didn’t. Either way, these guys weren’t available when the Steelers needed a franchise QB.
Also, by this logic the Steelers better throw everything they have to bring in Rodgers next year after Ben retires or else Tomlin must not even be trying.
Sure it’s easy to laugh it off, because you have hindsight. Obviously those were QBs after Cowher left, but there were all kinds of QBs from 95 to 2000 that Cowher could have pinned for when they became FA or even trade for. Some were excellent game managers and top rated in the league during those times. Rich Gannon was one. He could have been recruited when left KC to OAK. Although, Stewart was still there. Kerry Collins after Beuerline won the job. Plummer, Brad Johnson even Mark Brunell all possibles during that time frame. A heck of a lot better than Graham who I‘d guess wasn’t even in the top 30 list of QBs before signing with PIT playing FOR the starting job. so to paint it on someone’s forehead, Cowher, regardless to when he got Ben, before did not prioritize QBs in his scheme. Even when Ben showed up, he wasn’t the showcase of the offense, the Bus and Willie Parker were.
I’m not trying to get into a pissing contest Fan, but your last sentence has less sense about logic even as a joke than disseminating your position on the topic.