Minkah Fitzpatrick calls out Steelers teammates: 'They got to earn every single blade of grass'

Steelers fans didn’t like the outcome of Thursday’s games. Well, neither did the players, especially Minkah Fitzpatrick.

In fact, the Steelers safety sounded more like a preacher obsessed with the evils of entitlement after the team lost 21-18 at home to the lowly Patriots. It was the second time in five days that the Steelers suffered a home upset at the hands of a two-loss team. And New England did it with second-team quarterback Bailey Zappe as Pittsburgh fought for a playoff spot.

Fitzpatrick is the perfect player to deliver such a message. After all, this is a safety who is playing with a broken left hand.

“In order to see the fruit, you’ve gotta toil for it,” Fitzpatrick told reporters in Steelers post-game. “I think too many people don’t want to toil for it. They just want to walk out here and think that they’re going to make plays and think that they’re going to perform at a high level. I think we need to have more people who want to work for it, not expect it to be handed to them.”

Offense, defense both played poorly

Fitzpatrick wasn’t finished. “This is the NFL. Nothing’s handed to you,” he said. “You got to earn everything. I think that dudes just think that because they’re wearing the black and gold, that they’re going to win games, and I think we need to check that mentality and make people realize that they got to earn that mentality. And they got to earn every single blade of grass, every single splash play and every single rep that they get out there. They got to earn it.”

The Steelers offense, led by backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, struggled to move the ball, especially in the first half. But you can find fault with the defense as well. The Steelers did hold the Patriots scoreless in the second half. However, this is the same team that scored a combined 13 points in their past three games headed into Thursday night.

Steelers tackle Cam Heyward says ‘everybody is accountable’

Cam Heyward, a defensive captain, also wanted accountability with his teammates.

“I think you keep guys together by being accountable. Not running from the mistakes,” Heyward told reporters. “We’ll have meetings (Friday), but I’m not someone who is going to shy away from what’s going on. I know a lot of our guys are going to think the same way.

“When we’re out there or in meetings, there is a standard, a level of play that needs to be accustomed to everybody,” Hayward said. “And when we fall short, everybody is accountable for it. Nothing more than that.”

And Hayward described the mood of the Steelers.

“Obviously players are ticked off, mad about the game,” he said. “But, you know, it’s just about being smart with your words and getting back in the lab and absorbing what’s really going on. “(You) can’t put a mask over this. This has been two ugly games that we have to be accountable for.”