Enough Already: The Rodgers Talk is Tired
I’m tired of the Rodgers talk. Not of the Steelers. Not of Rodgers himself. But of everybody complaining about it. Fans, media, social media trolls, podcasts, you name it. The whole cycle is exhausting.
Look, everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you want Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, cool. If you don’t, that’s fine too. But let’s stop pretending we know what is really happening behind closed doors. None of us, myself included, know what the decision-makers inside that building know. They are the ones watching the tape, making the calls, and having the conversations that actually matter.
For all we know, Rodgers has already given his word. Maybe the paperwork is done and the timing is just about finding the right moment. Maybe he is committed and will sign once everything is aligned. The point is, we do not know.
If Rodgers does not sign, the backup plan is already in the building. Whether it is the truth or not, the Steelers have expressed confidence in Mason Rudolph to be the starter for the 2025 season if Rodgers chooses not to come. There is really no need to rush a decision. If the Steelers set a deadline of mandatory minicamp for Rodgers to sign and he decides to join the team after that deadline passes, do you really think they would say, “No thanks, Aaron, the deadline has passed and we are good with Mason”? I don’t.
There is no need for a hard deadline. That said, I do believe the team should ask for an unofficial decision by a certain point, just to make plans, especially since they will be bringing four quarterbacks to camp. But there does not need to be pen to paper by some arbitrary date.
I expect Rodgers to be a Steeler. That is my stance.
And yes, I do think Aaron should be at OTAs. That is my preference, and I am sure it is the team’s preference too. It would help build chemistry, timing, and trust. It would show leadership. Those little things matter in big games. But let’s not pretend he needs April or May reps to prove he can still sling it. It is not the end of the world if he misses these early workouts. Once he steps on that field and starts throwing, people will remember what we are talking about. That arm talent is still rare, still elite, and it still gives Pittsburgh the best chance to win.
And for me, that is all I care about. Winning. Give me the best option at quarterback. Period. And right now, that is Aaron Rodgers.
As of the writing of this article, Aaron Rodgers is not a Pittsburgh Steeler and Mason Rudolph is QB1. So all the focus should not be on a player who is not even on the roster yet. Get excited about Kaleb Johnson, DK Metcalf, Darius Slay, Derrick Harmon, and others. There are so many storylines that deserve your attention. Do not let the Aaron Rodgers situation consume you.
Even though it is just football in shorts, FOOTBALL IS BACK.
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Stay Blessed and Stay Positive… “Here We Go”
If AAron isn’t going to work on the little things that matter in big games, what’s the point in signing him? Roll with MR2.
Kind of an odd column, Chris. There is a silver lining; the AARod talk will pass, just like the 1988 season did. I can’t really suggest staying away from social media. Hang in there.
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Btw, I disagree with many of your opinions above, I’m glad you agree that I can. Facts and optics are hard to avoid.
It’s kind of weird to have an article (talk) complaining about how much talk there is, esp since the article is likely to generate talk.
But since it’s here — I’ll reaffirm my stance that I don’t want the 25th best quarterback in the NFL (by performance) *last year* whose decline is largely due to age (and narcissism) back yet another year older. It’s a *terrible* idea.
And don’t give me the BS about how I don’t what’s going on behind closed doors. You are correct, I do not. But I have eyes. I have watched football. If the consensus from the decision makers behind closed doors is that the Steelers need AARod, then we need new decision makers behind those doors.
Rodgers is done. Finished. Time to move on. Find another solution or roll with Rudolph.
Agree w/above.
I guess it depends on where you are getting the rankings. Are you going by QBR, QB Rating, EPA, etc. QBR has Rudolph ahead of Rodgers. QB Rating he is behind, and he is also behind in EPA.
The bottom line is there is likely no stat that clearly shows that either of these QB’s will elevate your team.
It really makes no sense, but I would like to see Howard if he shows in camp that he can compete. I don’t know if he will be able to show that he is an NFL QB but what the hell. They have played with Trubisky, Rudolph, Pickett, Fields, and Wlson so how much worse could it be. I know that is a bad statement, but you can always go back to Rudolph.
2nd paragraph says it all. That’s why I say bring in former Pro Bowl QB Tyler Huntley. Not Carson Wentz, though. Ed Carmichael may be repetitious, but I agree with him in that the preseason is too short. Guys like Howard could benefit greatly with added reps.
True, and I don’t even remember where I read the number (the Athletic?), so take 25th with a grain of salt. Bottom line, though, is that AARod was not a good quarterback last year, so saying “…right now, that [the best option at quarterback] is Aaron Rodgers.” is an unsupported claim.
Was AARod slightly better than Rudolph last year? By some measures, yes. But for Rudolph, another year could make him better, and we’ve seen him play well recently-in Pittsburgh. With every year that passes AARod is getting worse. I cannot remember the last time I saw Rodgers play well for more than a half.
Either player could outperform the other next year, and it wouldn’t really be a surprise, so to base your entire argument on the assertion that AARod would make the Steelers better – on the field — is debatable.
Meanwhile, the whole “will he or won’t he?” and leaving the door open apparently indefinitely is already making the Steelers worse off the field, a situation that I don’t see improving if he does say yes.
I go back to the comment that Cam was pressured to walk back — “If he doesn’t want to be here, we don’t want him.” And I stand by it.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s I didn’t like the Idea of Aaron Rodgers starting as the Steelers starting quarterback because I saw what Aaron Rodgers did to the New York Jets and they are still cleaning up the mess and Aaron Rodgers only cares about Aaron Rodgers and all the sports media groups and Steelers haters with their rat poison saying that Aaron Rodgers can get the Steelers to the super bowl that’s what they said Russell Wilson suppose to do they are all idiots and I’m also glad that Terry Bradshaw and the Steelers said no! that Aaron Rodgers can wear Terry Bradshaw’s number 12 and Terry Bradshaw also said the Steelers are a fool waiting and trying to sign Aaron Rodgers I’m happy with Mason Rudolph he doesn’t bring any drama
If they set a deadline, and Rodgers decides to make his decision after said deadline, they certainly should say no thanks. Assuming that the deadline wouldn’t simply be arbitrary, there would be a perceived need to have a decision by that date, then they should stick to that. If they let AARod, or any player, ignore team rules and put themselves ahead of the team, they are asking for trouble.
Personally, I think they should avoid the Christmas rush and say “No thanks” right now.
Yes.
This article seems to state that, “Rodgers is the best option and can show up whenever he wants”. Tangibly, that may well be the case. Unfortunately for the Steelers, however, intangibles matter too and they shouldn’t be minimized.
Right now, most of the team is working together, conversing, laughing together, getting mad at one another, eating together, hanging out together, and generally creating or building relationships that may well last a lifetime. Yet the presumed leader of the bunch, the person who might as well have “foster the aforementioned relationships” in his job description, not only isn’t there, it’s not known if he ever will be. Does anyone think that the players are going through their drills with no regard to Aaron Rodgers whatsoever? Of course not, they are thinking about who will really being playing QB during every drill. Cam Heyward’s “You either want to be a Steeler or you don’t” spoke volumes. I guess Can should just shut up and take it, though, right?
I said before on this site and I will say it again, Aaron Rodgers is the first “Steeler” who caused such drama for the team…………without actually being a Steeler. Screw him.
Agree.
If he was on this team last season, and they’re running back the entire group of receivers, I wouldn’t mind his not taking reps with the team right now as much; however, I still think it’s a terrible look for a “leader” to skip this work.
He’s going to be learning a new system, with all new teammates – he most definitely needs reps right now. I am of the opinion that his getting those reps right now is so important that he would already be eliminated from my roster construction.
Pssst, hey Art, he does not want to play for the Steelers and you look ridiculous.
GFY Aaron.
Mostly agree, JoeB. Art II, or both Tomlin & Art II, and AARod will do things his way. The latter likely could affect Smith.
Agree about the GFY Aaron. He’s too egotistical and way past his prime.