I watched the entirety of the Aaron Rodgers interview on “The Pat McAfee Show.” God help me, I did.
It was wall-to-wall horse manure.
Rodgers presented himself as a victim. He isn’t, not in any small way.
Rodgers hasn’t been “slandered,” as he said. He doesn’t know what that word means. He’s been discussed, certainly, as he invites constantly. Like attention junkies do.
Rodgers bemoaned his personal problems. So surprising that a selfish narcissist would have personal problems.
Rodgers left the door open to play but not particularly for the Steelers.
Rodgers mostly sounded like he might retire. That was the vibe.
Here’s an Easter egg: Rodgers said he’d play for $10 million, which he wouldn’t. If he quits, that’s not exposed as a lie.
Rodgers said he wasn’t holding anybody hostage. Which is exactly what you say to a hostage negotiator when you’re holding somebody hostage. (I stole that from an X post.)
Since that wasn’t exactly Mike Wallace conducting the interview — or even Gene Okerlund — it wasn’t too probing. Rodgers had clearly laid down ground rules.
Despite his denials, here’s betting Rodgers is still holding out for Minnesota. Or any legit contender whose quarterback gets hurt during training camp or early in the season.
Related:
• Aaron Rodgers dealing with personal issues, not holding Steelers or 'anyone hostage' as he decides future
• Tim Benz: Of all the Steelers' QB options, this idea is the worst of the bunch
• Mark Madden: With Deion sure to interfere, Steelers should steer clear of Shedeur Sanders
Rodgers reportedly said that he’d be willing to mentor second-year QB J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. That’s a laugh. He’d sabotage McCarthy like the Black Tom explosion.
The Vikings are right to stick with McCarthy despite his surgically repaired knee. Rodgers would demolish their culture. It speaks volumes that Minnesota’s elite wideouts — Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison — have kept mum on this and appear OK with the choice of McCarthy.
Rodgers didn’t mention the Steelers a lot. No secret agreement seems in place.
Rodgers very likely doesn’t know what he’s going to do. But as long as he can martyr himself to the cause, he’s willing to talk. But only to McAfee. Who pays him.
Rodgers continues to look like Rodgers.
The Steelers continue to look weak.
If Rodgers does ultimately join the Steelers, his lack of true commitment has already been shown.
If he misses OTAs and minicamp, it’s a bad look and almost guarantees that Rodgers starts poorly. Witness last season with the Jets, when Rodgers skipped minicamp to go to Egypt, then didn’t find a groove or cohesion with his weapons till midseason.
It’s a different team. Different playbook. Different offensive coordinator. Different weapons. It’s a complicated game. Even with his football IQ, Rodgers can’t wing it.
Mason Rudolph is a better option. He’s signed. He’s preparing.
Rudolph might go 5-12, but that’s what would be best for the Steelers. The 2026 draft is drunk with quality quarterbacks. It’s in Pittsburgh. Get your QB then.
But the Steelers might panic-draft a lesser option this year: Jaxson Dart or Shedeur Sanders.
It’s Rodgers’ life and career. He can take as long as he wants to decide. But the Steelers can walk away, and should.
But Mike Tomlin will wait forever if he has to. He’s just aching for that headline: “Hall of Fame quarterback joins Hall of Fame coach in Pittsburgh.”
Rodgers isn’t the only attention junkie in this equation.
So do the Steelers wait for Rodgers? Do they go with Rudolph? Do they panic-draft a quarterback with the 21st pick?
The Steelers will do whatever’s worst. It’s that kind of organization now.
Tomlin doesn’t know how to handle the quarterback position. The most important position in sports.
He inherited a Hall of Fame QB in Ben Roethlisberger. That’s the foundation of Tomlin’s success.
But since Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, Tomlin has mangled quarterback.
He drafted Kenny Pickett in 2022’s first-round when no other team would have. The damage from that is far from swept up.
He benched Rudolph for Duck Hodges. You don’t bench anybody for Duck Hodges.
Tomlin simply doesn’t know what he’s doing at quarterback.
Dan Rooney would have handled this differently.
Chuck Noll would have handled this differently.
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Bill Cowher would have handled this differently.
A franchise that played hardball with Franco Harris, Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward won’t stop kissing the ring of a washed-up 41-year-old neuroses-ridden narcissist who hasn’t yet played one snap for the team and will never embrace the logo.
What has happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers?