'A Desperate Attempt by a Pathetic Man': NFL Exec Rips Aaron Rodgers' Steelers Signing

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It’s a full-on Football Friday under the sweltering June sun, and Aaron Roders is a Pittsburgh Steeler.

What a time to be alive.

Inside this week’s mailbag; an NFL scouting director on the Packers’ receiver who could see a robust trade market develop this spring, my sleeper quarterback to make the biggest impact this season, and a mirage off on the horizon in Las Vegas.

Let’s get after it!

What are the odds of Aaron Rodgers retiring midseason? I can’t imagine him wanting to get crushed by the AFC North defenses twice a season. Plus, only having D.K. Metcalf as the only reliable wide receiver to throw to … (

Phillip Johnson

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This union doesn’t make sense for either side, in my opinion.

Sure, in a blind taste-test, the Steelers would happily trip over themselves for a quarterback with 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

But, this isn’t Dr. Pepper unveiling its latest flavor trying to take down Coca Cola, Rodgers’ Jets production felt empty. More mirage than MVP.

After all, the Jets didn’t just fail to average 20 points per game, but only seven teams averaged fewer than New York’s 19.9 per game last season.

One league source is even more skeptical this winds up working out.

“Aaron signing there is a desperate attempt by a pathetic man to hang onto something he lost years ago,” the league source said.

Pittsburgh is hoping that Rodgers can have a longer-lasting renaissance than Russell Wilson’s October through the second week of December last season.

But, for Rodgers, is this really anything more than trying to get the Jets’ stink off his legacy? A chance to make history by beating the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 to officially record a win against all 32 teams across the NFL? Because the shine from Rodgers’ 2021 MVP is turning to rust, and Pittsburgh’s offensive line might actually be worse than the Jets’ line that allowed 40 sacks last fall.

Now, to your question …

If you asked five execs around the league, you’d probably hear a 20 percent chance he walks midseason. Rodgers is unpredictable, and he’s not built for a rebuild.

A high-ranking Jets official told me late last season that he believed Rodgers only flashed his previous upside about one-third of the time.

Is that enough to win with, in that Division?

At age 41, with hundreds of hours spent spewing conspiracy theories and venting to Pat McAfee under his belt, it can’t be an enjoyable proposition having Myles Garrett extend his hand to pick you off the ground six times per season or Nnamdi Madubuike drilling his helmet into your ribcage a few times per game being all that enjoyable.

Rodgers is just enigmatic enough and just egotistical enough to leave his teammates hanging if they’re 3-6.

But, for Rodgers, the Ayahuasca is going to have to wait.

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