ARod Signs!

[feltdizz]

I always thought he was an upgrade over Wilson and Fields.

maybe.. I still think Fields might have been the best option in 2024.

Unless I’m mistaken the Jets defense was pretty good and they still only won like 4 games last year.

[hawaiiansteel]

maybe.. I still think Fields might have been the best option in 2024.

Arthur Smith and Rooney reportedly agreed with you, and it was all Tomlin who made the decision to stick with Russell Wilson.

[LPMAN]

Here is MY ISSUE :

We get rid of Russell Wilson because he is too arrogant & does his own thing too often. We get rid of Pickens because we say he is disruptive & a cancer. Then we bring in AROD who is both of those players attributes combined! WHAT AM I MISSING HERE??

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers sign QB Aaron Rodgers: A Grade

This signing isn’t official yet, but Aaron Rodgers informed the Steelers that he will fly to Pittsburgh tomorrow and sign before next week’s minicamp.

Rodgers signing with the Steelers can’t surprise anyone, although Terry Bradshaw is probably crying himself to sleep right now. It was always going to be either Rodgers or Kirk Cousins, as Pittsburgh’s quarterbacking situation was dismal without them. One could argue that it will still be dismal, but both Rodgers and Cousins should be much better in 2025 because they won’t be recovering from a torn Achilles. Rodgers will turn 42 before the end of 2025, so age is an obvious concern, but he will likely be 100 percent at the start of the season.

Though we don’t have official terms yet, it’s hard to imagine this signing not warranting an “A” grade. Mason Rudolph, despite how the fans feel about him, can’t lead a team to the Super Bowl. Rodgers, if healthy, can do so. And given that this is almost certainly a 1-year deal, there won’t really be any major long-term ramifications for signing Rodgers.

https://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I don't care about Rodgers. I'd be fine with or without him. All I wanted was that if the team signed him that the price tag wouldn't be too high and that there's no long-term commitment moneywise. I'm good with this number as reported.

[hawaiiansteel]

Most of Aaron Rodgers’s incentives are unrealistic

Published June 9, 2025

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/most-of-aaron-rodgerss-incentives-are-unrealistic

[NorthCoast]

DeFabo pretty much nails the Steelers QB situation with this writeup:

"By choosing Rodgers, the Steelers are taking the same gamble for a third time."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6221842/2025/06/05/aaron-rodgers-steelers-free-agent-signing/

EDIT: Looking at the last five games of the 2020 and 2024 seasons couple of things pop out. Both resulted in one win, four losses. The average opponent score in 2020 was 24.8 vs 24.6 in 2024. The average PIT score was 19.8 in 2020 vs 16.8 in 2024.
The one huge difference? Sacks. Roethlisberger was sacked 5 times in the last 5 games, Wilson was sacked a whopping 15 times! It's no wonder the Steelers had no interest in bringing the guy back.

[Northern_Blitz]

Arthur Smith and Rooney reportedly agreed with you, and it was all Tomlin who made the decision to stick with Russell Wilson.

My guess is that it was more Rooney and the purse strings.

Fields' deal is essentially a one year $30MM deal. If he stinks, they'll cut him and he'll still get the $30MM guaranteed. If he's good enough to be a starter, they'll sign him to a monster deal in the offseason.

I don't think Rooney wanted to make that bet.

FWIW, I would have preferred Fields to Rodgers too. Just because I think he can be a bridge. While Rodgers seems like a one year thing.

[NorthCoast]

My guess is that it was more Rooney and the purse strings.

Fields' deal is essentially a one year $30MM deal. If he stinks, they'll cut him and he'll still get the $30MM guaranteed. If he's good enough to be a starter, they'll sign him to a monster deal in the offseason.

I don't think Rooney wanted to make that bet.

FWIW, I would have preferred Fields to Rodgers too. Just because I think he can be a bridge. While Rodgers seems like a one year thing.

The Steelers agreed with you but Fields decided otherwise. So Rodgers was next up.

[Northern_Blitz]

The Steelers agreed with you but Fields decided otherwise. So Rodgers was next up.

Ultimately, I think it was as mutual as these things can be.

Fields (reasonably) decided that he would rather take the $30MM guaranteed.

The Steelers (not unreasonably IMO) decided that was too much to pay him.

I think Fields would be better than Rodgers in the medium term. But for next year, they will probably be similar. And Rodgers might even be better in the run heavy but throw quickly kind of offense that I think we want to run. I think the issue with Fields is that the Jets (or other teams) will ask him to do too much because he's so good at running it. But I don't think he can do that AND not give too many games away with turnovers. So I think you turn him lose and risk him giving games away, or you put him in a straight jacket like we did...but he holds the ball a long time.

There's more upside with Fields, but I don't think either of these guys is much in the way of a medium term option. But I would be more excited about the (slim) possibility of a future with Fields.

OTOH, here's an optimistic take on Rodgers. I think he'll give us similar seasons we've seen around here. Hoping to be around average offensively. Defensive help. Win enough games to make the playoffs or at least compete for a spot down to the wire. But be a heavy underdog in the WC round. Maybe lightning is more likely to strike with Rodgers under center? Who knows...

Ultimately, I think the end result is basically the same with either of these guys. Maybe even Mason wouldn't be all that far off? Tomlin is very good at setting a high floor with below average QBs. And there are just too many elite QBs in the conference to be excited about the playoffs without one IMO.

[NorthCoast]

Rodgers stood in front of a gaggle of reporters, eager to hear why he joined the team now and what intrigued him about the organization. As one would expect from someone whose Netflix documentary labels him an enigma, his explanation of why he’s still at it isn’t one many would expect.

“I think that’s what it is. I don’t need it,” Rodgers said when asked why he still wants to play. “For my ego, I don’t need it — to keep playing. A lot of decisions that I’ve made over my career and life from strictly the ego, even if they turn out well, they’re always unfulfilling. But the decisions made from the soul are pretty fulfilling. This was a decision that was best for my soul, and I felt like being here with Coach (Tomlin) and the guys they got here and the opportunity here was the best for me.”

This doesn't sound like a guy that felt jilted by the Vikings or wanted to play elsewhere and only came here as a last hurrah.

[WindyCitySteel]

let’s see how many fall in line now and say they like rodgers

“I think he’s just misunderstood"

[WindyCitySteel]

Here is MY ISSUE :

We get rid of Russell Wilson because he is too arrogant & does his own thing too often. We get rid of Pickens because we say he is disruptive & a cancer. Then we bring in AROD who is both of those players attributes combined! WHAT AM I MISSING HERE??

If you listen to the insiders that come onto 93.7 The Fan, you’ll hear plenty of anecdotal evidence that Pickens’ teammates were through with him. I think that’s a totally different animal. Rodgers is reportedly a good teammate, although he does clash with the coaching staff on the offense.

Russ’s crime was changing plays and scoring 44 points vs. the Bengals, once they handcuffed him and he lost his only receiving threat, the offense predictably stalled.

[LPMAN]

If you listen to the insiders that come onto 93.7 The Fan, you’ll hear plenty of anecdotal evidence that Pickens’ teammates were through with him. I think that’s a totally different animal. Rodgers is reportedly a good teammate, although he does clash with the coaching staff on the offense.

Russ’s crime was changing plays and scoring 44 points vs. the Bengals, once they handcuffed him and he lost his only receiving threat, the offense predictably stalled.

Rodgers when things go wrong throw his own players under the bus. So if Pickens was such a bad teammate which i disageree with. Rodgers surely will be. I think all those Pittsburgh sports outlets just parrot whatever the organization tells them to.

They said that about Blount as well that teammates said either he had to go or them....after they Cut Blount i don't recall any Steelers players having a bad word to say about him. Other thern he wanted some carries.

[Northern_Blitz]

If you listen to the insiders that come onto 93.7 The Fan, you’ll hear plenty of anecdotal evidence that Pickens’ teammates were through with him. I think that’s a totally different animal. Rodgers is reportedly a good teammate, although he does clash with the coaching staff on the offense.

Russ’s crime was changing plays and scoring 44 points vs. the Bengals, once they handcuffed him and he lost his only receiving threat, the offense predictably stalled.

I think Russ's crime was the fumble in the Rats game.

That's the turning point of the season IMO.