PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – While all signs seem to point to Aaron Rodgers signing with the Steelers, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio isn’t so sure. The veteran NFL reporter even believes there is an agreement in place, but then added.
“If he wanted to be in Pittsburgh, he would already be in Pittsburgh,” Florio told the PM Team Wednesday afternoon.
Florio said Rodgers being seen throwing with Steelers receiver DK Metcalf on Saturday in California is a good sign, but doesn’t mean that it will definitely happen. Florio said the hold up is the Minnesota Vikings. Their general manager said last week their door isn’t shut on Rodgers.
“It sounds like we are going to do this, but until it’s done, it’s not done,” Florio told Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller on 93.7 The Fan. “The longer this takes, the greater the chance he’s decided to make the bet on JJ McCarthy face-planting in the off-season program. Or the Vikings seeing him perform and comparing in their minds what it would look like to have Aaron Rodgers there.”
There is the thought from Florio that the Vikings and their coaching staff are just using all of this as a way to motivate McCarthy, the 2024 first-round pick who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Florio said he had another NFL general manager tell him that Rodgers wants to go to Minnesota rather than the Steelers, that’s why he’s waiting to sign.
“(Steelers President) Art (Rooney) already articulated some of the concerns that the fans have,” Florio said about Rooney’s comments at the owner’s meetings Tuesday. “The guy is already a reject from the Jets, why are we bending a knee for him? Why are we waiting for a guy who we’ve opened the door and he’s yet to run through it?”
“We make our conclusions based on the facts we have to us. He hasn’t signed for some reason. It’s not just, I think, I want everybody to talk about me and speculate as to why I haven’t signed with the Steelers yet. So, I’m going to wait because the longer I wait, the more they will talk about me. I don’t think he’s that juvenile when it comes to his desire for attention.”