There are some NFL groups you simply anticipate to reek of desperation of their want to get higher. The Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn’t be considered one of them. We’re nearly three months right into a back-and-forth saga with Aaron Rodgers which has led to one of many league’s proudest, most storied groups flip right into a fawning teenager with a crush.
It was unhappy earlier than, but it surely’s even worse now Terry Bradshaw is on the wagon of slamming his former group for his or her desperation on the subject of Rodgers.
“That’s a joke. That to me is only a joke,” Bradshaw mentioned. “What are you going to do? Carry him in for one yr, are you kidding me? That man wants to remain in California. Go someplace and chew on bark and whisper to the gods on the market.”
Bradshaw is true, properly, sort of. We will admire wanting Rodgers to vanish into the California wilderness to eat bark with out taking a shot at a non-Judeo-Christian religions. However, Bradshaw’s frustrations echo every little thing that’s been improper with this whole course of for Pittsburgh, specifically that they’re so determined it’s dragging every little thing down.
The Steelers woeful quarterback issues are one of many best unforced errors within the NFL. Drafting Kenny Pickett was definitely unhealthy, however following that up by buying and selling for Justin Fields and signing Russell Wilson, watching them each play completely tremendous soccer — then letting each stroll in free company is past the pale. This was a franchise that had two birds within the hand, and allow them to each go to chase the one within the bush, one which’s listening to audio recordings of penguin orgies on a Microsoft Zune.
Desperation by Pittsburgh has led to Rodgers’ favourite factor in your entire world: Being within the headlines. As a lot as Rodgers likes to faux he hates being the focus, he completely loves getting on a Zoom name with Pat McAfee each week and get requested about his future, whereas A.J. Hawk sits frozen, exhibiting as a lot emotion as Olmec the stone statue in Legends of the Hidden Temple. Rodgers is a person who lives for this, and dominating the NFL information cycle on the slowest a part of the calendar play precisely into his fingers. This can be a man who enjoys breaking issues for enjoyable, like a bored home cat batting a vase off a shelf. He desires to see issues break into items, then the second you take a look at him for appearing up he’ll flip his head as if nothing ever occurred.
The Steelers are higher than this, or at the least they need to be. This franchise ought to have GM Omar Khan entrance and middle saying the group has little interest in Rodgers. Shut this complete stupidity down. It doesn’t assist when group president Artwork Rooney II is making it so clear the group is determined for Rodgers to return their calls.
#Steelers president Artwork Rooney II — who mentioned April 1 that the Steelers will wait “not without end, however a short while longer” for Aaron Rodgers — delivered an analogous line on his manner out of Wednesday’s homeowners conferences.
“A short time longer. I’ll say the identical factor,” he mentioned.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) Might 22, 2025
We’re speaking concerning the beginning quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers right here, not haggling on Fb market over the worth of a used air fryer. Neglect the legacy for a second, this can be a rattling back-to-back playoff group. All the purpose Rodgers received’t commit is as a result of he’s scared. He’s terrified about exhibiting the world what he already is aware of: He simply doesn’t have it anymore. With the Jets he may wave it off as points with the offensive line, accidents to Breece Corridor — overlook that he hand picked your entire offense round him, it was at all times going to be their fault.
In Pittsburgh he can’t do this. Rodgers doesn’t have these arguments to fall again on, as a result of this group made it to the playoffs with a Fields/Wilson tandem a yr in the past. If he can’t at the least meet that stage of success it is going to be an abject failure, an indictment on his legacy, and show that he isn’t Tom Brady or Matthew Stafford who can win a hoop because the lacking piece, however somewhat that he limped into obscurity like Joe Montana in a Chiefs’ jersey.
There’s a really clear path ahead for the Steelers if they’ve the center to take it: Make a rattling take care of Atlanta for Kirk Cousins. When you’re this determined to get a veteran QB who may be an improve, would possibly as properly get a man with a sufficiently big arm left to reap the benefits of D.Okay. Metcalf. Lest we overlook that previous to getting injured in Week 10, Cousins had thrown 17 touchdowns and solely 7 interceptions. He was taking part in rattling good soccer and led Atlanta to a 6-3 document.
Pittsburgh has $28M in efficient cap area, Cousins has a $40M cap determine. Make a deal, have the Falcons eat half a piece of the cash this season to get below the cap, and increase, performed. No extra hand wringing, no extra desperation, no extra oxygen within the room for Rodgers to swallow.
That’s what the Steelers ought to do, however there’s no signal they are going to. As a substitute they’ll preserve saying their prayers each night time that Aaron would possibly name tomorrow. The most important challenge isn’t that Pittsburgh doesn’t have a quarterback, it’s that they lack a backbone.
