Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Russell Wilson has no business on a blocking sled

Quarterback Russell Wilson missed the first three days of Steelers practice because he tweaked his calf pushing a blocking sled during a conditioning test.

What’s gained by making a 35-year-old QB push a blocking sled? How much blocking will Wilson have to do?

What would Ben Roethlisberger have said had he been asked to do that? I bet he would have emphatically declined.

Sure, Wilson could have strained his calf some other way. (That’s what Steelers stooges are bleating.)

But he didn’t. This injury occurred via the totally unnecessary act of a quarterback pushing a blocking sled.

What if it turns out to be nagging? What if it triggers a succession of nickel-dime hurts? (That happens with aging players.)

Making Wilson push a blocking sled is abject stupidity on the part of Phil Matusz, the Steelers’ new strength and conditioning coach. It’s not a stretch to say Matusz should be fired for such idiocy.

Head coach Mike Tomlin is no less of a nitwit for allowing it to happen.

Wilson is no genius for doing it. The starting quarterback can overrule the strength coach.

But, of course, I’m wrong and the Steelers are right. The Steelers are always right.

They will keep telling themselves that. You’ll keep agreeing. No matter how many years in a row the Steelers don’t win a playoff game.

Meantime, it gives ESPN’s yell-and-grimace shows more ammunition to keep imagining a quarterback battle in Pittsburgh.

“Justin Fields got first-team reps in the first practice. He led them out of the huddle. They heard his cadence. It’s a huge deal!”

Uh…no, it’s not. Unless Wilson has to keep pushing that blocking sled.