Last week, former Pittsburgh Steeler Charlie Batch suggested that the hold-up surrounding Aaron Rodgers re-signing in Pittsburgh may be about his salary, more so than his desire to continue playing.
“This decision is coming down to money,” Batch said on “The Snap Count” podcast with fellow ex-Steeler Trai Essex. “The Steelers would like him to come back, yes. But it’s not going to be at the ($14 million) number. I’m sure Aaron, at some point — and I have not spoken to him, but — I’m sure his representatives want something closer to $30 (million). And you hope that, somewhere, you meet in the middle.”
Rodgers made $14.1 million during 2025 in Pittsburgh. Most have been assuming that if Rodgers returns, he’ll play for roughly that amount again this year, since prior to his agreement in Pittsburgh, he claimed money wasn’t much of a factor at all.
But if the delay before putting pen to paper is about dollars and cents, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X has an issue with that.
“If it is about money, then, boy, what a hypocrite and a phony,” Madden said, based on Rodgers’ comments last year. “I would have told him to take the hike long ago.”
Madden made the comments during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. He also panned the Steelers for waiting this long — for a second consecutive season — before requiring Rodgers to give them a decision.
“If they have to pay him $30 million? It’s not my money. I don’t care, but it is just absurd that we’re still waiting for an answer,” Madden said. “It’s just unbelievable that it’s almost April and the Steelers have lowered themselves to still waiting for an answer.”
More sports
• Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin practice as Penguins prepare for Islanders
• Replacement officials, kickoffs and other rule changes will be discussed at NFL’s annual meeting
• Mark Madden: All the tools, but no toolbox; Pirates’ biggest problem might be Oneil Cruz
The lack of intriguing quarterback options in free agency or the draft has allowed Rodgers to take his time with the process, since the Steelers haven’t seemed inclined to sign another QB. Also, the draft pool of talent at that position seems thin after Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza probably goes No. 1 overall to Las Vegas.
But Madden still finds it distasteful that the Steelers have gone this long waiting for a 42-year-old quarterback who led the 22nd-ranked pass attack in football a year ago.
Especially given how the team usually deals with aging stars.
“They ran off (Troy) Polamalu. They ran off Hines (Ward). They ran off Ben (Roethlisberger). They cut Franco (Harris),” Madden recited. “But they let a guy — who has been here 10 minutes and is really washed up, past his prime — walk all over them for a second straight offseason.”
Also during the podcast, Madden and I discuss the Penguins’ loss to Dallas, their goaltending and injury issues, the Pirates’ start in New York, Oneil Cruz’s mishaps and NFL Draft logistics in Pittsburgh.