Most National Football League fans know all about Aaron Rodgers. His history, his antics, his mindset, and more importantly, how he likes to call the shots on his career without the interference of anyone. After a storied career in Green Bay, he was traded to the New York Jets with that organization believing given his statistical career, he would be their savior.
In just four plays opening the 2023 season, Rodgers was injured and done for the year. Last season he returned healthy and had less than a stellar season after hand picking the teammates he wanted on the team. New York’s season was a disaster, and Rodgers was the key element in the poor season the team had. So, the Jets released him this offseason and now for the first time he is a free agent. Where he lands next is completely unknown.
The fact is three teams have an interest in Aaron Rodgers. The Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants, and my team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have made the All-Pro quarterback an offer. Reportedly so have the Giants who apparently have done one better than what Pittsburgh is offering. The Vikings remain undecided with an unproven JJ McCarthy waiting in the wings.
Rodgers is uncommitted to any of the three teams and is making the Steelers, Giants, and Vikings wait on his decision. This is the game Aaron Rodgers plays. He loves the agonizing wait fans and the staff of these three teams are enduring. I’d place a bet that Rodgers is off somewhere laughing at this whole situation. It’s disgusting behavior on his part. It’s even part immature. It’s certainly unprofessional.
However, the wait is starting to rub many the wrong way. The Steelers have re-signed Mason Rudolph who they let go to free agency following the 2023 season and that may have been a huge mistake. In fact, I wanted my team to sign him back based on his performance at the end of the season and into the playoffs. But the Steelers say they are still waiting on a Rodgers decision. Even Steelers star defender and veteran Cam Heyward is over this Aaron Rodgers possibility. Heyward said he is fine with Mason Rudolph and praised him for being an outstanding teammate and positive force in the locker room.
If I was Art Rooney II and Omar Kahn, right now I’d tell Aaron Rodgers the offer is no longer valid. We are rescinding the offer. End this fiasco and tell Aaron Rodgers to go take a hike. The Steelers tried this idea last year with Russell Wilson and he too has a fine background, his with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson started well last season and tanked at the end. Aaron Rodgers does not bring with him a guarantee of success and given his age, a contract to him is simply not worth it.
So, what do the Steelers do? I would say bring Wilson back for one more season and let he and Rudolph square off in training camp and may the best man win the starting job. That or, let Mason have the job and look for the next Terry Bradshaw or Ben Roethlisberger. Also find another worthy veteran out there as his backup. If the Steelers’ 2025 season is not as successful as previous seasons and Mason Rudolph is not the answer, then either through this year or next year’s draft, work hard to find a quarterback that they believe could be a franchise type signal caller.
But for now, as a diehard Steelers fan, I think I might speak for thousands of other Black and Gold fans out there…let this Aaron Rodgers thing go! Please forget this jerk and move on. He’s playing games with you Art Rooney so don’t fall into his trap. Let the Vikings or Giants have him. He’s not worth it. Believe you me, if he ends up behind center for the New York Giants, he is going to have much less success than he would if he was in Pittsburgh or Minnesota.
