PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – What makes Aaron Rodgers different than the other half dozen Steelers quarterbacks we’ve seen since Ben Roethlisberger is he is comfortable with who he is. He can share a joke, take a joke and yell at his teammates all being the same person.
It was on display Wednesday afternoon as Rodgers met with reporters a day before the team leaves for a game overseas. Rodgers was asked this question, ‘I know this is a business trip, but what are you looking forward to about going over to Ireland?’
“Guinness,” Rodgers said with a smile. “Guinness on tap is my favorite beer in the world, and I don't really drink beer.”
Seconds before that answer head coach Mike Tomlin had come into the clubhouse and joined the crowd of reporters listening in on questions to his first year, future Hall of Fame quarterback.
“You said a team that drinks together wins together. Have you tried to incorporate that more?”
That was the next question to Rodgers. There was a pause, he put his hand to cap.
“I’m not going to tell you that,” Rodgers said with a brief acknowledgement to his head coach watching.
It’s that personality that he’s brought to the offense. It was just a brief comment, but it symbolized how quickly he’s won over the room.
Within the same interview Wednesday, he would say he’s got to play better and while encouraging receiver Calvin Austin, admitted his touchdown pass to the Steelers receiver wasn’t good enough. It should have been two feet closer to him.
Rodgers has just said what’s on his mind, careful to not single a person out, although he’s done that on the practice field and you’ve even seen it in games where he will raise his voice when something isn’t right.
A student of the game, Rodgers also understands not only is this the first ever regular season game in Ireland and what that means for the NFL, he knows the impact to the Rooney family.
“We want to represent the team and the Rooney legacy well,” Rodgers said.
Despite so much concern when he finally signed, he has represented the team and Rooney’s well. There are still 14 games including the matchup with the Vikings Sunday, but its hard to envision these first couple of months going smoother with the legendary quarterback.