Steelers Now
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott had no problem with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers declaring on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday that this season likely will be the final one for the future Hall of Famer.
Scott thinks Rodgers should be celebrated during his swan song.
“I think he deserves an opportunity to be celebrated, to tell everybody, ‘Hey, this is my last year.’ What happened in New York, that narrative, he can’t go out that way,” Scott said Scott said on ESPN’s Get Up. “He just wants to come out and be who he is and representative of who he is and an organization that he’s always admired. And I think he deserves the opportunity to go out that way. He’s one of the best to ever do it. He leaves us desiring more. I think he’s underappreciated.”
Unlike Scott, former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex questioned Rodgers’ decision to reveal the news publicly this early. It could lead to friction down the road.
“Gonna be honest…not a fan of A Rod announcing this could be his last season before camp even starts,” Essex wrote on X. “With that mindset, how will he react when things get inevitably tough? Will he have the intestinal fortitude to fight and persevere or will he just be like meh, a few more months left until it’s over? Also, it’s not like JB, who was an established Steelers legend, wasn’t asked to carry the team and had teammates who were vested in sending him out on the highest of notes. I don’t get the point of announcing it now at all. No upside and will no doubt be brought up when/if there is bad play.”
Much like he did during his introductory meeting with the media at the Steelers’ mandatory minicamp, Rodgers said nothing is tethering him to the game.
“I didn’t need this. I didn’t need it all,” Rodgers said. “I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anybody (and) don’t have any chip on my shoulder that I need to hold on to. I don’t want the attention. I know that’s a narrative out there. When this is all done … you won’t see me. I won’t be in the public.”
Rodgers is on the verge of breaking several NFL milestones in his 21st season. He needs just 1,337 passing yards to surpass Ben Roethlisberger for the fifth-most all-time, and needs six passing touchdowns to surpass Brett Favre for fourth-most all-time.
The significant milestones could have played a part in Rodgers making one last run. But the main thing seems to be that he didn’t want to leave on a bad note, as his two-year tenure with the New York Jets was an absolute disaster. He also gets a chance to play for a historic franchise and a future Hall of Fame head coach in Mike Tomlin.
Brendan Howe contributed reporting for this story.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: [Ex-Ravens Player Hopes Aaron Rodgers is Celebrated...
