"Aaron Rodgers: Sorry For The Wait, Help Is On The Way"

NFL OTAs are officially underway as teams have started implementing 
new schemes, pre-snap counts, all the fixings in making your team 
better. For Pittsburgh, it feels they're behind a tad bit. After three months 
of speculation, future hall of fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers has 
arrived. It's not by shock or surprise, more like the inevitable was bound 
to happen.

Rodgers' delay drew ire from media pundits in if he really cared about 
playing football or make rounds on his press tour in dropping hints. 
Even Steelers great Terry Bradshaw threw his two cents into the fray on 
a this signing a couple weeks ago. How and why did the Pittsburgh 
Steelers, a historical franchise lower their standards? Allow me to break 
it down in simple terms.

Pittsburgh is one of those franchises in regard to having a great defense 
as they did back in the 1970s. A solid quarterback who can win games 
and let their defense play physical. This was made the Steelers great; 
but this version still believes it can do that and then some. IF this were 
an era where guys could replicate past success.

Rodgers' signing isn't too much of a risk; roughly $13 million dollars with 
incentives based on playing. It's a very high risk far as locker room and 
culture aspects. Yes, we know he's a multiple time league MVP and 
Super Bowl winning quarterback. His playoff success has been little to 
be desired since that lone title in 2010. Peak Rodgers was 2019-2021 
when his former team Green Bay was still trying to breakthrough with a 
very small window.

We all know his exodus from Green Bay was filled with controversy and 
questioning if he was serious about winning championships. Arriving in 
New York in 2023, high expectations only to see him go down four plays 
in and end with the worst injury in sports: tearing his achilles. From 
there, the experiment never really took flight with the Jets. 

His reputation has took a hit over the last few years; dabbling in
conspiracy theories, belittling the media, and taking more emphasis on
his own schedule versus being a great leader and focused on football.
Those are the limitations which will hinder Pittsburgh as the season
progresses. Can Rodgers make this work with head coach Mike Tomlin?

It's more of a Hail Mary play for Tomlin, whose job security steams on
this upcoming season. His tenure has been successful, but only two
Super Bowl appearances. One lone championship in 2008 and that's all.
Credit, he's on a streak of non-losing seasons and fans have grew tired
of just being that. What is the standard in Pittsburgh? This notion has
grew tired and overhyped year after year. An organization who is the
standard of excellence has become a laughing stock.

Rodgers' personality isn't quite doable for some players; as we've seen
him bring in guys he's played or former assistants who've been
connected. This won't fly in the steel city because he won't have much
say over Tomlin. A team that plays well in October and November, loses
steam in December once a playoff berth arrives; losing close games
and limp into postseason play. Only to flame out in the wild card round.

Pittsburgh could've kept Russell Wilson, but elected to let him walk.
Decent season, but bringing in Rodgers at age 41 is something of a
"what did we just sign up for?" Yes, an aging quarterback beyond his
prime and still trying to fulfill happiness in a locker room. In hindsight, if

this were say 2019 or 2020 when he was still elite, it would make sense.
But what do I know?

Steelers fans accepted the fact Rodgers was going to be their
quarterback in 2025 prior to the signing. If truth be told, passing on
Sheduer Sanders will come back to haunt Pittsburgh. After years of
neglecting drafting a heir to Big Ben, it's still irks fans another franchise
quarterback hasn't fell into their laps. Remember in 2019, they traded a
first round pick to Miami for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and lost out on
drafting one of the five best quarterbacks in 2020. It's simple mistakes
which you look back and say: "if we'd been smart, you know those
young studs in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, those guys have
panned out really well and we've yet to draft the heir to Big Ben."

Mike Tomlin's future rides on this season with Aaron Rodgers as his
quarterback. In a very tough division which features Joe Burrow, Lamar
Jackson, and Shedeur Sanders, Pittsburgh will have to score more
points in defeating their divisional rivals. Defenses are pretty good for all
parties, but a makeshift offensive line in Pittsburgh will be battle tested
early.

With a week one showdown in MetLife Stadium, Rodgers will make his
return and play the team who dumped him. Storyline central as these
two teams will be in the trenches seeing who'll prevail. Former Steelers
quarterback Justin Fields let it be known about his experience with
Pittsburgh this offseason. Prepare yourselves for a defensive slugfest
and whichever quarterback can get the win.

For this season to be successful for Pittsburgh, here's what needs to
happen:

Win a playoff game for the first time since 2016; the last win was a road
divisional round game versus Kansas City. (pre-Patrick Mahomes). They
haven't advanced into round two during that span. Fans remember that
45-42 divisional playoff loss to Jacksonville in 2017; which the defense
couldn't stop Blake Bortles from completing passes. A Jags team who
overachieved and embarrassed the Steelers at home.

Fans have seen playoff losses and no reason to believe it'll change with
Aaron Rodgers. If they start 2-5 and rumblings become tense, Tomlin
will be coaching for his job. With a second place schedule and brutal
AFC North, a fast start and cushion needs to be their best odds. With
crucial matchups with Indianapolis, Los Angeles Chargers, which can
decide their playoff fate based on tiebreakers, Pittsburgh must win one
or both games.

I know it's early and mid-June but those two games will be very crucial if
seeding boils down to those three teams come late December. When
the cold winter games become frigid, this will make or break Pittsburgh.
The keys to their playoff hopes are in the hands of Aaron Rodgers.