Aaron Rodgers is operating out of groups with beginning quarterback openings.
The Seattle Seahawks scooped up Sam Darnold, and the Las Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith.
The New York Jets — Rodgers’ former employer — opted for Justin Fields.
Humorous to suppose that Darnold and Smith had been as soon as flops with the Jets. It appears we are able to put Rodgers in that class, too, as a result of his 5-12 file with the crew final season and the brand new brass deciding to half methods.
Not going to carry Rodgers accountable for 2023, when he tore his Achilles on the fourth snap of the season. However final season’s ineptitude is all his.
It appears ages in the past that Rodgers was the NFL MVP in each 2020 and 2021. However abilities can rapidly diminish whenever you flip 39, 40 and now 41.
In case you signal Rodgers, you may’t count on his four-time league MVP type. Nor must you dream of getting the man who threw for 40 or extra touchdowns on three events.
It’s a must to settle for a lesser type and hope Rodgers’ persona matches in along with your crew. His character wasn’t all the time spectacular with the Jets.
So rumors that the Pittsburgh Steelers have curiosity in Rodgers seize your consideration actual fast.
The Steelers have a coach in Mike Tomlin who’s getting into his nineteenth season operating the crew.
For probably the most half, Tomlin’s strategies are very good, and he has been extremely profitable with a 183-107-2 regular-season file.
He’s a no-nonsense coach, a stickler for particulars, and he expects issues to be carried out his method.
Rodgers doesn’t all the time fall in keeping with that. Consider all of the occasions he criticized the Jets throughout his brief tenure.
Now image Tomlin’s head spinning round like an amusement experience if Rodgers rips the Pittsburgh offense on some TV present.
However right here is Tomlin’s dilemma — he has misplaced six straight playoff video games, starting with a setback to the New England Patriots within the 2016 season AFC Championship Recreation.
Final season’s Steelers had been 10-3 earlier than collapsing with Russell Wilson operating the present. They misplaced their closing 4 regular-season video games after which had been eradicated by the Baltimore Ravens within the AFC wild-card sport.
Wilson (16) and the aforementioned Fields (5) mixed for 21 landing passes. A wholesome and motivated Rodgers ought to be capable to exceed that output.
All eight of Tomlin’s playoff victories got here when he had a top-notch quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. So you may see the necessity for a quarterback like Rodgers, because the playoff victory drought is eight seasons previous.
There was scuttlebutt that the New York Giants could possibly be an possibility for Rodgers.
That might be juicy for the oldsters in Gotham, to have Rodgers enjoying in the identical stadium as final season.
The Giants have the No. 3 decide within the NFL draft, and so they may choose their quarterback of the longer term and have Rodgers be their man this season. Or they might not decide a quarterback in any respect and possibly Rodgers commits to enjoying two seasons.
Miami’s Cam Ward figures to be gone when the Giants decide, however it’s potential that Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders will likely be accessible at No. 3.
Sanders has his personal angle points, and he occurs to have thrown 503 fewer NFL landing passes than Rodgers.
New York coach Brian Daboll doubtless wants a quarterback who can win video games after final season’s 3-14 debacle.
The group made the appropriate name by ending the Daniel Jones period, however there isn’t a bona fide starter at present on the squad.
Rodgers may stroll proper in because the starter and mainly name his pictures about quite a lot of issues, with Daboll’s future unclear.
The Minnesota Vikings charge as a slim possibility after Darnold’s departure. Their resolution revolves across the well being of final yr’s first-round draft selection, J.J. McCarthy.
If the Vikings are offered McCarthy will likely be wholesome — and, um, that he’s able to play properly — then they haven’t any want for Rodgers.
But when they’ve doubts, they might place a name to Rodgers and pitch being a one-year rental.
The one different possibility is for Rodgers to retire. No one sees that occuring, as Rodgers seems motivated to have a greater season earlier than he hangs up the cleats.
