James Harrison isn’t guaranteeing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season with Aaron Rodgers ends in failure. However he actually sees the chance. In what might be a boom-or-bust 12 months, Harrison warns the 12 months might go south in a rush.
“I feel they’ll make it work in the event that they profitable,” Harrison started saying to co-host T.J. Housmandzadeh on Thursday evening’s episode of NightCap. “If they begin dropping and it’s wanting like they ain’t gonna make above .500, I feel it will get actual ugly, actual quick. To the purpose of they could simply be like, ‘you already know what, let’s let this dude go midseason. For Aaron, let’s simply get him outta right here and put one in all these different quarterbacks in.’”
Head coach since 2007, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers have but to complete under .500. The final such 12 months occurred greater than twenty years in the past when Pittsburgh completed 6-10 in 2003, main the franchise to draft QB Ben Roethlisberger the next 12 months.
The chances of Pittsburgh struggling that a lot below Rodgers appears unlikely. Even in Tomlin’s worst years, the Steelers have proven a knack to rally. An 0-4 begin in 2012 and 2023 led to 8-8 completed. Shedding Roethlisberger six quarters into 2019 didn’t cease Pittsburgh from being within the playoff hunt late within the season. And 2022, the primary season with out Roethlisberger, bottomed out at 2-6 earlier than a late-year surge.
Nonetheless, the Steelers received’t be insulated from struggles and there’s a lot to show. The offense has been below-average or worse for four-straight seasons. A lot is driving on a younger offensive line to develop. Turning 42 earlier than the season ends, Rodgers is a query mark. And Pittsburgh performs in a rough-and-tumble AFC North and troublesome convention. Each mistake and each mishap below Rodgers can be examined ten-fold. A smaller media market received’t defend Rodgers from the nationwide microscope. How the crew handles that continues to be to be seen.
James Harrison was adamant Mike Tomlin would win any energy battle with Rodgers, unable to see a situation wherein Tomlin is fired by 12 months’s finish. The “different quarterbacks” Pittsburgh might flip to are veteran Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard. Rudolph is well-liked within the locker room and been with the crew each step of the offseason. Howard has gained loads of buzz this spring, even from Rodgers himself.
In equity, shortly after making these feedback, Harrison debated with Houshmandzadeh over the Steelers’ playoff probabilities. Harrison made the case for why Pittsburgh could make the postseason, citing the crew’s protection, whereas Houshmandzadeh cited the Bengals’ offense placing them excessive.
Each agreed outcomes will drive the narrative of the Steelers’ season.
“It covers up all, all of the BS,” Harrison mentioned of the advantages profitable brings. “It covers up all of the BS. It covers all of the stuff within the locker [room].”
Odds are, Rodgers will end out the 12 months as Pittsburgh’s quarterback. Pundits floated the identical suggestion about Russell Wilson, whispering if he might be launched if outcomes didn’t observe. As an alternative, Tomlin caught with Wilson to the bitter finish of a five-game dropping streak and Wild Card exit.
The query isn’t over if Rodgers will end out the 12 months with the Steelers however what the top of the season appears to be like like. Extra of the identical, a aggressive crew unable to recover from the hump, or a 12 months that shifts in both course. Pittsburgh getting a lot better or a lot worse. Both means, James Harrison received’t be share about sharing his opinion.
