For a guy looking for work Aaron Rodgers sure does make it hard for anyone wanting to hire him. The mercurial, four-time NFL MVP took to the airwaves on “The Pat McAfee Show” again yesterday and claimed that he isn’t holding anyone hostage. He may in fact be correct but his appearance once again makes the case for Steelers’ Fans that he can gladly go elsewhere.
“It’s Not About the Money”
Any time someone says this, then you immediately know that money has a lot to do with it. Rodgers claimed yesterday that he would play for $10 million. OK, then it seems a small price to pay for Omar Khan and the Steelers. Why hasn’t a deal been done? If Rodgers is willing to play for such a meager amount by NFL QB standards then this deal should have been done weeks ago.
The fact that it isn’t done, goes right back to something Rodgers said about his visit to New York to meet new Head Coach Aaron Glenn. Rodgers was first of all, quite upset that he flew across the country ON HIS OWN DIME (which he mentioned twice) only to be told the team was going in a different direction. I get Rodgers being upset that this could have easily been a phone call, but the dude is sitting on millions of dollars. A plane ticket is a drop in the bucket.
But Glenn actually did the Steelers a huge favor. According to Rodgers, the Jets’ Head Coach questioned him as to whether he really wanted to keep playing. After watching the clip and reading the excerpts, Glenn appeared to be concerned with whether Rodgers was committed. He was worried about the way things would look in front of the team if he openly questioned things the way he has reportedly done in the past.
Rodgers was offended by it – which is his right – but Glenn himself had every right to feel this way. He’s a new head coach and he needs people, especially his QB to be committed and not skipping mini-camp as Rodgers did last year.
Rodgers also threw out the possibility of retirement too. And as the great Chuck Noll once said, “As soon as you start thinking about retirement then you’re already retired.” That red flag right there is enough for me but I guess more convincing is necessary.
It is my hope that Khan and Mike Tomlin are paying attention. I don’t care what Rodgers has left in the tank, he’s just not a guy we need in this locker room or organization right now or ever.
