A few days ago, Adam Thielen was, at his own request, waived by the Minnesota Vikings in the middle of what could potentially be his final season in the NFL. Thielen was quickly claimed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and on Sunday, he made his debut with his new team in a classic AFC North battle against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Steelers got the win, but it wasn't because of anything Thielen did, as he only managed to haul in one pass for a whopping four yards.
However, one would've thought he had 15 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns with the way he spoke about his debut with Pittsburgh following Sunday's contest.
"I got my love for the game back being out there and being able to play the game that I love."
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Adam Thielen apparently rediscovers love of football after quitting on the Minnesota Vikings
Did Thielen really say he got his "love for the game back" after a contest in which he caught one pass for four yards while on the field for less than 50 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps?
Yes, he sure did.
This is the same guy who, back in August, begged the Carolina Panthers to trade him to the Vikings so he could finish his NFL career where it all started back in Minnesota. The Vikings gave up multiple future draft picks to bring him back to the Twin Cities, and this is how he repays them?
Minnesota also didn't have to waive Thielen a few days ago. But they were nice enough to fulfill that request too, and at his first opportunity, he's talking about how he's rediscovered his love of the game after his debut with a Pittsburgh team that isn't even a lock to make the playoffs this season.
Returning to the Vikings was never about Thielen finishing his football career in Minnesota. He knew his snaps were going to be cut in Carolina, so he wanted out, and then the same thing happened after a few months with the Vikings.
Oh, how silly of Minnesota to not want to give a ton of snaps to a wide receiver who had a 16.7 percent drop rate this season when wore their uniform.
How silly of the Vikings to want younger, faster, and more reliable receivers like Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor to get more snaps than a 35-year-old pass-catcher with one foot already in the retirement home.
Like every pro athlete, Thielen's a competitor, and he wants to get on the field. That's completely fine, but he needs to take a step back and read the room because he's not the Pro Bowl version of Adam Thielen anymore. He's not even the 2024 version of Adam Thielen anymore.
Minnesota didn't give him snaps for a reason, and it probably isn't going to take very long for Pittsburgh to do the same thing. So what's going to happen if the Steelers don't give Thielen enough snaps to make him happy in a week or two?
Is he going to quit on another team?