Getting to know all of his teammates, Rodgers will miss special camp

How Aaron Rodgers has gone about getting to know the Steelers

LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Everyone had an impression or opinion about Aaron Rodgers when he signed with the Steelers. What we’ve found, and it’s only training camp and they haven’t played a game, is something much different than most would have anticipated.

He, and we’ve been told this from his teammates and coaches, has been down to earth and approachable, not polarizing or opinionated. He’s more jokester and wanting to know everyone instead of being the smartest one in the room.

The 41-year-old has made an intentional point to go around and talk to his new teammates, from the All Pro’s to the undrafted rookies.

“I like to grab somebody new and have a quick chat with them,” Rodgers said. “There are so many times where I feel like the expectation is the leader has to be at the front of the line. Sometimes to lead properly you have to serve, and serving sometimes involves being at the back. Sometimes when you are at the back, you can get a good idea of what is going on, getting close to the team.”

He admits he feels trepidation from some players at the beginning in talking to him. He says it’s up to him to break the ice with them and he’s noted a couple of times its harder here because there are no names on the backs of the jerseys to get to learn teammates’ names.

“Some of that is going and sitting next to them at lunch,” Rodgers said. “They kinda go ‘what are you doing here’. ‘Having lunch, what are you doing here’?”

“I don’t need to do be out front the entire time when I’m here. I want to make connections with the guys. Those are the conversations I want to have.”

“The night times at the dorms when you are talking football, talking life, playing cards, whatever it is. Playing video games, I forgot how to play video games, but I had to remember just to connect with those guys. I definitely will miss those times.”

And that’s what makes him a little said to be leaving St. Vincent College, his first time here, but likely his last training camp in a profession where he’s spent more than half of his life.

“Mike (Tomlin) talks about it being things you can’t measure,” Rodgers said about being at St. Vincent College. “(Monday) we had a home run derby here, (I’m) ragging on Christian Kuntz making errors on the hot corner. It’s those moments that you love. As much as I’m looking forward to my bed. I will miss this experience because it’s really special to make this walk down the hill every day and see the fans in the crowd, even when it’s a hot day.

“It’s pretty special.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: Ben Tenuta/93.7 The Fan