Remember when Aaron Rodgers was the undisputed king of Green Bay, slinging passes and racking up MVP titles like it was nothing? Yeah, well, that era’s faded faster than a TikTok trend. Now, he’s a free agent, and the Steelers have been tossed into the mix. It’s like watching a once-iconic band trying to find a new lead singer—will it work, or is it just wishful thinking?
But let’s be real—frustration is growing in Steel City. The reason’s pretty basic: the NFL world is waiting for an answer from Rodgers, but the 41-year-old QB is silent like he’s John Krasinski in A Quiet Place. Whether he’s waiting for a call from Minnesota or considering retirement, we’ve no clue. BUT! The Raiders‘ All-Pro Maxx Crosby predicted how this Rodgers-Steelers saga would conclude.
“I’ve been saying it,” Crosby said while appearing on The Rush Podcast recently. “The fact that he’s not with Davante [Adams], and that he’s not very familiar with Pittsburgh. I don’t know. I feel like he retires. He’s about 42 now.” Well, if we’re being really honest, then there’s nothing new in this. Because, at this point, half of the NFL world is predicting the same thing.
However, we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. At first, The Athletic reported that Rodgers would consider retirement if the Vikings wouldn’t sign him. Well, here we are. Secondly, the Giants have already signed Jameis Winston and had their eyes on Russell Wilson rather than waiting for Rodgers. Despite that, the four-time MVP visited the Steelers’ facility, which turned out to be a six-hour-long meeting with Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith. The kicker?
Well, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the meeting was set by Rodgers and not the Steelers. Now that’s a Shutter Island level plot twist. “Aaron basically invited himself on a visit late last week,” Pelissero said on the Jim Rome Show. “He was in the building for several hours, he watched tape with the coaches. This deal has been in place contract-wise for weeks. They’ve discussed parameters. This is not going to be a financial issue at all for Aaron Rodgers. If it gets done, it’s going to be a 1-year deal.”
Honestly, this whole situation is straight-up baffling. I mean, the man invited himself, set up a meeting with the Steelers’ coaches and owners, and yet… no deal? Like, what are we even doing here? Pittsburgh needs a QB. Rodgers needs a team—especially since he’s got zero interest in Cleveland. And after all that? He visits, heads back home, and ghosts them. Absolutely diabolical.
That means only one thing, folks. Even though the rumor mill was buzzing that Rodgers would hang up his cleats rather than play one more season, the man arranged a meeting with the Steelers for a deal—at least, that’s what he made us all believe. Sure, the contract terms are not finalized yet, but one thing’s for sure: whether Rodgers is desperate to join Pittsburgh or not, this Rodgers-Steelers saga isn’t done yet. Not so easily. Until he responds or calls it quits.
Because on the flip side, the Pittsburgh team is sticking with their offer for Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers’ pursuit is still up in the air
A lot has changed since the start of the free agency and in the time being. At the beginning of the free agency, Pittsburgh reportedly offered a contract to Rodgers. Fast forward and as we’re about to turn the calendar to April, there’s still no update on a deal between the parties. To top that off, during his recent visit to the Steelers’ facility, the franchise has reportedly offered a contract close to the previous one.
Translation? Mike Tomlin and his crew aren’t raising the contract terms for Rodgers. See it this way: at the start of the free agency, the 41-year-old veteran QB was on negotiation terms with the Vikings and the Giants as well. Now that the Vikings are moving ahead with J.J. McCarthy as their starting QB and the Big Blue has already signed a couple of vets, there’s still no raise in contract terms. That’s something worth noting.
But let’s not kid ourselves—at this point in his career (with a sweet career earning of $380M), Rodgers is surely looking for the right fit instead of a high payday—of course, if he’s not considering calling it a career. But why hasn’t a deal gone down yet? Well, according to NFL Insider, James Palmer, people in the Steelers organization are curious about how the team’s O-line would work under Rodgers.
“What’s fascinating, and talking to people in that building, is how is this gonna go down if he does get there?” Palmer said on Wednesday on Bleacher Report’s YouTube. “Is this gonna be Aaron’s offense? Is this gonna be Arthur Smith’s offense? Both of them are very firm and very hard-headed. I don’t think Arthur’s gonna back down to him by any stretch, and maybe that’s what Aaron needs.” He’s not wrong, though.
Because if Pittsburgh’s last season has taught us anything, then it’s a rocky relationship between Smith and Wilson. And Mike Tomlin surely doesn’t want that. After all, it’s been years since they’ve had a potential signal caller on their team. And to top that off, they’re still chasing that seventh Lombardi.
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