Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
Has anybody heard from Aaron Rodgers?
Apart from Pat McAfee, that’s.
Does anybody have an thought if Rodgers will play in 2025? It was not so far as it has been as completely absent. But there is no such thing as a doubt that he’ll play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Or … I ought to say that there’s a bit I doubt it is going to play for the Steelers?
At one level, it appeared the one one that didn’t know that Aaron Rodgers would play for the Steelers was Aaron Rodgers. Even Russell Wilson appeared uninterested in ready for Rodgers. He selected the New York Giants, a a lot much less fascinating touchdown level, somewhat than hoping that Rodgers wouldn’t land in Pittsburgh. Wilson in all probability thought of what all of us thought: that Rodgers on the Steelers was inevitable. It actually seemed like this. Mostly it nonetheless looks like this.
But proper now, Rodgers just isn’t but a Steeler.
Suitably, Rodgers appears snug as a free agent.
And since Pittsburgh has no different authentic preliminary quarterback within the roster – and with the NFL draft of 2025 which rapidly approaches – you may guess that there’s a rising sense of discomfort in that constructing. The Steelers would by no means admit it. Because then they need to have admitted that Rodgers deceived them.
After all, we noticed it earlier than.
Rodgers did this on Jets only a few years in the past. When New York had agreed to cope with an alternate with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers resisted the transaction. In the meantime, the jets have been signing free brokers from the needs of Rodgers’ needs: Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb and Marcedes Lewis receivers. They have been avoiding all of the quarterbacks available on the market. They have been continuing as if Rodgers was on their listing although he was completely not.
Like jets, Steelers are blocked in Rodgers’s Purgatory. But fortuitously for Pittsburgh, it isn’t precisely the identical. The Steelers didn’t make the error of reconstructing their group within the picture of Rodgers. Their strikes, resembling commerce for the DK Metcalf receiver, would profit any quarterback. It just isn’t a call based mostly on having Rodgers.
This is the excellent news. Pittsburgh continues to be constructed to host virtually any quarterback within the NFL. The Steelers confirmed that final 12 months, with victories underneath Justin Fields and Wilson – and with radically completely different sport plans for each to style.
The unhealthy information for the Steelers is that this will likely not go as everybody expects. Rodgers is irregular. It is a fragile creature, to place it effectively. And it’s – if nothing else – mercurial. He might one way or the other persuade the Vikings of Minnesota to deliver him. He might additionally retire to Costa Rica to start out “Aaronhuasca: a withdrawal from darkness and a white lotus resort”. At this level, the Steelers should hope that the story is repeating, with Rodgers that blocks however indicators.
Why does it occur if it withdraws?
Steelers have choices. But they don’t seem to be massive and even good – choices.
Obviously, Pittsburgh had extra veteran decisions on the inauguration of Free Agency when Wilson, Fields, Geno Smith (through Commercio), Sam Darnold and even Daniel Jones have been accessible. If Rodgers falls, the Steelers could need to discover the buying and selling for the cousins of Falcons QB Kirk and/or the drafting of a quarterback within the spherical 1. With cousins, it might in all probability not use a lot by way of compensation for the selection of the challenge, however it is going to in all probability imply an awesome success of the wage cap. Pittsburgh is in good well being sufficient to know easy methods to receive the swollen contract of cousins based mostly on its $ 31 million within the PAC house. But solely as a result of it’s attainable, it does not imply it is clever.
If Rodgers didn’t make his determination earlier than the primary day of the draft, Pittsburgh might enter the way in which of despair. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are the cleanest QB prospects on this class, and due to this fact there is no such thing as a consensus on who’s one of the best of the following stage. This is, partly, as a result of the scouts don’t really feel that that is the strongest quarterback class. Everyone expects Ward to go to number one to the Titans. But then, if the Steelers take a look at the Sanders, there could also be issues. The giants, who’ve the selection n. 3, they’re main him to go to this week, which has created much more thriller on the place the Colorado’s QB might land. If it goes among the many first three, then Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shaugh can be one of the best choices. But they appear to style for the event that will profit for a while as a backup.
Would Steelers be higher with Shedeur Sanders or Aaron Rodgers?
He is de facto disordered for Pittsburgh, who doesn’t select till twenty first place total.
This is the explanation why the Steelers might as soon as once more return to the cousins.
Pittsburgh can’t actually afford to attend for Rodgers as soon as the titans are on the clock. The Steelers will in all probability need to set strikes to repair a sign caliber sign name. And then they go on with or with out Rodgers.
And, by the way in which, it might be okay. It might really be one of the best factor for Pittsburgh. There is a manner wherein Pittsburgh comes out of this case with 10 wins with cousins or Sanders or one other rookie. It’s Mike Tomlin. This is what he does.
But it appeared that the Steelers pushed for Rodgers as a result of they’re uninterested in solely 10 wins. Pittsburgh wished extra. He wished to be a contender. I do not even suppose Rodgers will put them in that place. But this appears to be what the Steelers suppose. Apparently, they suppose Rodgers is well worth the headache.
We acknowledge the more than likely consequence: Rodgers will announce his determination this week or the following. And he’s simply ready for the appropriate time to announce: when he will get the utmost consideration. Perhaps he’s making an attempt to timer with the launch of an infusion model of Ayahuasca. I have no idea.
This is what Steelers can count on from Rodgers: a pile of nonsense.
And I’m sorry to let you know, Pittsburgh, that is solely the start.
As I clarified abundantly, it isn’t but within the staff. Imagine what’s going to occur whether it is.
Before becoming a member of Fox Sports as a journalist and editorialist of the NFL, Henry McKenna spent seven years to cowl the Patriots for USA Today Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow it on Twitter a @HENRYCMKENNA.
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