{"id":171570,"date":"2026-04-21T06:20:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T06:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/171570\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T06:20:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T06:20:19","slug":"aaron-rodgers-act-is-tired-but-pittsburgh-steelers-share-blame-opinion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/171570\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Rodgers’ act is tired, but Pittsburgh Steelers share blame | Opinion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Easy as it is to fault Aaron Rodgers<\/a> for the most insufferable soap opera in NFL history, the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> deserve equal billing in the latest episode.<\/p>\n

Rodgers is never going to act in someone else\u2019s best interest, and he\u2019s always going to find a way to stay in the spotlight. This offseason is no different. Having already left the Steelers<\/a> in limbo during free agency over his intentions to either play in 2026 or retire, he seems set to do it again<\/a> for this week\u2019s NFL draft.<\/p>\n

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No big deal. It\u2019s just the most important position on Pittsburgh\u2019s roster, and every personnel move the Steelers make or, in this case don\u2019t make, is amplified because they\u2019re hosting this year\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s vintage Rodgers<\/a>, as predictable as it is tiresome.<\/p>\n

Steelers chose another offseason of Aaron Rodgers speculation<\/p>\n

But the Steelers are not helpless here. They could have called Rodgers\u2019 bluff weeks ago and given him a deadline. They could have pursued Kirk Cousins<\/a> or Kyler Murray<\/a> in free agency. Heck, they could have set the tone with Rodgers by showing some backbone last season, when he hemmed and hawed for months until finally signing a contract in June<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Instead, they\u2019re letting Rodgers do what he does. Control the narrative regardless of the impact on anyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a decision is coming soon,\u201d Steelers owner Art Rooney II told ESPN\u2019s Brooke Pryor<\/a> at the NFL\u2019s annual meeting last month. \u201cI would say by the draft I would expect an answer.”<\/p>\n

Yet here we are.<\/p>\n

Steelers don’t have great QB options beyond Aaron Rodgers’ return<\/p>\n

It is, of course, Rodgers\u2019 prerogative to take the time he needs to make his decision. Sit with his feelings, have his chakras read, whatever it is he does that gives him clarity. Or maybe, similar to last year, he and the Steelers have an understanding and he\u2019ll re-sign when those annoying offseason workouts are over.<\/p>\n

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That wouldn\u2019t be a surprise, given Rodgers’ history with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy<\/a>. McCarthy was Rodgers\u2019 first NFL coach, and the two won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have not talked to (Rodgers),\u201d Rooney said at the annual meeting. \u201c(McCarthy) has been in contact with him pretty regularly.”<\/p>\n

But nothing is ever done until it\u2019s actually done, and we\u2019re not talking about the backup kicker here.<\/p>\n

If Rodgers doesn\u2019t re-up, Pittsburgh\u2019s choices are to hope Will Howard<\/a> turns out to be as good as a certain other sixth-round QB from a Big Ten school or hope Mason Rudolph<\/a> turns out to be more than a career backup.<\/p>\n

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Not great options, either one of them.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

New Orleans Saints<\/p>\n

Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saints and Chris Olave #12 celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the Carolina Panthers in the game at Bank of America Stadium on November 09, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

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1 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

New Orleans Saints<\/p>\n

Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saints and Chris Olave #12 celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the Carolina Panthers in the game at Bank of America Stadium on November 09, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

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2 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

Washington Commanders<\/p>\n

Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders celebrates with Jayden Daniels #5 after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ford Field on January 18, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan.<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

New York Giants<\/p>\n

Jaxson Dart #6 and Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants celebrate after Skattebo carried the ball into the endzone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on October 09, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans<\/p>\n

Head coach Brian Callahan talks with Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 05, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona.<\/p>\n

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5 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

Cleveland Browns<\/p>\n

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns reacts to a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n

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6 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

Dallas Cowboys<\/p>\n

Dak Prescott #4 and CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate after their touchdown connection against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on November 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.<\/p>\n

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7 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders<\/p>\n

Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after a missed field goal during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 07, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

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8 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins<\/p>\n

De’Von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins rushes for yards against Brandin Echols #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter of the game at Acrisure Stadium on December 15, 2025, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

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9 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

Kansas City Chiefs<\/p>\n

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Andy Reid interact against the New York Giants during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on September 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

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10 \/ 10<\/p>\n

The 10 NFL teams with the most at stake in the 2026 draft<\/p>\n

New York Jets<\/p>\n

Head coach Aaron Glenn of the New York Jets looks on during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between New York Jets and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on August 09, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

Aaron Rodgers’ best days are behind him<\/p>\n

And say Rodgers does decide he wants to play this season. Apologies to Steelers fans, but he\u2019s not going to pull off a Tom Brady<\/a> and take Pittsburgh to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Rodgers is still a better QB than many, and his mind and experience was enough to overcome his physical limitations last year and get the Steelers to the playoffs. Pittsburgh also could do worse than having Howard learn behind Rodgers for a second year.<\/p>\n

But at 42, the four-time MVP\u2019s best years are behind him. Rodgers doesn\u2019t have the mobility that once made him so dangerous, and his stats last year were good, not great. His last throw in Pittsburgh\u2019s loss to the Houston Texans<\/a> in the wild-card game was an interception<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Even if Rodgers takes the Steelers to the playoffs again, then what? Another offseason of \u201cwill he or won\u2019t he\u201d? Another season of kicking the proverbial can down the road? <\/p>\n

At best, Rodgers is a Band-Aid. Just as Russell Wilson<\/a> was intended to be.<\/p>\n

The Steelers should have done what Rodgers\u2019 old team did: Draft their franchise QB\u2019s replacement while they still had him. But they didn\u2019t do that. So here they sit, willing hostages to the whims of an aging quarterback.<\/p>\n

It’s a circus, and the Steelers were happy to pay the admission.<\/p>\n

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pittsburgh Steelers willing hostages in Aaron Rodgers drama<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Easy as it is to fault Aaron Rodgers for the most insufferable soap opera in NFL history, the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":171571,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3269,6516,30475,4985,22365,1418,73,75,74,1833,11823,5031,39813],"class_list":["post-171570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-aaron-rodgers","tag-houston-texans","tag-kirk-cousins","tag-kyler-murray","tag-mason-rudolph","tag-nfl","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-russell-wilson","tag-tom-brady","tag-will-howard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171570"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171570\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}