Oh boy, how stressful do you think it would be if you were a Baltimore Ravens fan right now with no quarterback plan, after trading for and extending DK Metcalf for five years, $150 million, waiting to be saved by a 41-year-old has-been who’d probably rather retire than spend a season with your team? Sounds like a nightmare, probably.
Fortunately for the Ravens faithful, they don't know what that's like—Lamar Jackson isn’t going anywhere. Meanwhile, since the start of free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been sitting around twiddling their thumbs, hoping Aaron Rodgers blesses them with his presence. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it seems like Rodgers is already rubbing his potential future teammates the wrong way.
You hate to see it...
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward is already tired of Rodgers’ antics. While Pittsburgh sits in quarterback limbo, Rodgers is dragging his feet and making it clear he’d rather be in Minnesota or on a beach somewhere. That’s not exactly going over well in the Steelers’ locker room. We're here for it.
Aaron Rodgers has already ostracized himself from the Steelers locker room
If Rodgers thinks teams are going to roll out the red carpet and beg for his services, he might want to avoid Pittsburgh. Cam Heyward isn’t interested in playing games. When asked about recruiting Rodgers on the Not Just Football podcast, the longtime Steelers captain made his stance clear:
“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap. Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. It’s simple. That’s the pitch.”
That’s about as blunt as it gets. The Steelers, to their credit, aren’t a franchise that typically gives into the demands of one player. But here they are, waiting on Rodgers while he sits around hoping the Vikings come calling. Per The Athletic, Minnesota is Rodgers’ preferred destination, and if they pass on him, he might just retire instead of settling for Pittsburgh or the New York Giants.
More Mike Tomlin, Steelers news:
Rodgers has always found a way to rub people the wrong way, but this was quick. He's not even on the team yet. He's hasn't even made Pittsburgh bring in Nathaniel Hackett, Davante Adams, or Allen Lazard yet. This is record time.
Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation is already embarrassing enough. They benched Justin Fields for Russell Wilson, only to get bounced out of the playoffs by the Ravens in embarrassing fashion.
Now, they’re waiting on Rodgers, who clearly has no actual interest in playing there. If he turns them down, what’s left? Re-signing Wilson? Jameis Winston? Drafting a guy in the late first round who won’t be ready? They signed career-backup Mason Rudolph this free agency, so maybe he's the next guy up... either way? Uninspiring.
I mean, this is hilarious. At this point, why even bring him in? It'd only make the situation worse. I guess that's what happens when desperation is at an all-time high. Again, couldn't even imagine what it'd be like if that were the Ravens' situation. Best of luck.