The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t set a deadline for Aaron Rodgers. However that doesn’t imply they’re avoiding taking a look at their calendar. In keeping with NFL insider and Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer, an necessary date is upcoming for the Steelers’ future with Rodgers.
“There’s an necessary checkpoint developing, not less than from the Steelers’ standpoint,” Breer mentioned on his SI podcast with co-host Connor Orr. “And that’s the veteran minicamp…I feel we’re coming into a essential stage. We’re not on the essential date but, however we’re coming into a essential stage. And I do suppose Tomlin, Arthur Smith, Omar Khan, it might be useful for all these guys to have him there for that. So not less than they will kinda create a baseline heading into the summer time.”
Following subsequent week’s second set of OTAs, Pittsburgh will maintain a three-day obligatory minicamp June 10-12. Gamers below contract who skip out are topic to fines. In fact, with Rodgers unsigned, he can’t be punished and has no obligation to attend. However it might imply lacking the whole spring classes, essential time previous that may have Rodgers and his teammates enjoying catch-up come coaching camp.
Breer additionally believes Rodgers isn’t attending OTAs to forestall the media from making a narrative about it and gamers being requested about his absence. In fact, that was the No. 1 storyline at observe this week and a subject each participant was requested about, making Breer’s level moot.
What appears probably is that Aaron Rodgers merely doesn’t wish to attend offseason exercises. Or, as a minimum, present as much as as few as doable. Taking part in the “I haven’t signed” card will likely be Rodgers’ rationale for why he didn’t attend, a straightforward and handy reply to deflect criticism.
“I’ll convey guys to California in July earlier than coaching camp to get them prepared,” Breer mentioned of what Rodgers might do to make up for misplaced time. “There are methods round this.”
Rodgers has hinted he’ll signal with Pittsburgh, providing his strongest affirmation throughout a latest live performance by which he referenced the Steelers’ street journey to Chicago. He additionally denied having curiosity within the New Orleans Saints, which could possibly be considered as a sign to Pittsburgh he isn’t contemplating different alternatives.
Breer doesn’t point out what would occur if Rodgers doesn’t attend and didn’t push the notion Pittsburgh would not pursue him. Naturally, that creates the apparent query. If there’s no consequence or payoff to this “essential stage,” then how is it essential within the first place? If the Steelers are content material ready into July, there’s no incentive for Rodgers to determine. It makes Breer’s phrases hole and empty and the story much less compelling than he makes an attempt to current it.
