Steelers HC Mike Tomlin finally tells the secret that everyone knew all along

Well, it was a long time coming, but on Wednesday, Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin finally put an end to the question of the offseason.

Who will start at QB come Week 1 when Pittsburgh plays the Atlanta Falcons?

His answer: Russell Wilson.

Mike Tomlin names Russell Wilson starting QB

"I thought it was appropriate to do it [Name starting QB) at this time," Coach Tomlin said on Wednesday. "Doing it earlier than this time would have put a deemphasis on the work that we were able to get done...

"...It was a difficult decision, to be honest with you, but not difficult in a negative way. The decision was difficult because of what they're capable of doing and how they have conducted themselves."

Although many in the national media thought this was an open competition, the truth is, Russell Wilson was never really threatened for his " pole position ." If not for a calf injury that sidelined him for the majority of camp, Wilson would have dominated first-team reps all summer.

There were subtle signs from HC Mike Tomlin all along. For one, he met Kenny Pickett's trade request after telling him that Russell Wilson was coming in to start .

Pittsburgh then added Justin Fields, but that was after the Wilson signing and for minimal draft compensation.

Wilson took first-team reps throughout the spring, and even when being limited with his calf, Coach Tomlin inserted him for one rep at the team's annual Friday Night Lights practice, just to start the team period in front of thousands of fans, then pulled him and had Fields play the rest of the way.

If that wasn't enough evidence, Coach Tomlin said as recently as last week before the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions that nothing had changed in terms of Russell Wilson's pole positioning.

Wilson then started the game, led the first-team offense to their first TD of the preseason, and was pulled right after.

So the writing has always been on the wall.

Now whether or not you agree with the decision is up for debate.

It's undeniable that Justin Fields brings more dynamics to the position. 10 years Wilson's junior, Fields might be the best pure running QB in the league, has a whip for an arm, and has shown to develop some of his flaws at the position .

But the fatal flaw in football is now protecting the ball, and that is one that Fields was, unfortunately, unable to shake in the preseason, as he was a part of not one, not two, but three center-qb bobbled exchanges.

So we'll see how long it lasts, but for now, Russell Wilson is your starter in Pittsburgh.