Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made an eye-opening statement after Sunday’s embarrassing 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Rodgers was asked how to get more production in the passing game. He replied, “When there’s film sessions. Everyone shows up. When I check to a route, you do the right route. Jonnu [Smith] and I weren’t on the same page. I checked to his in-breaker and he ran an out-breaker. Jonnu is a true professional, so I’m sure he’s sick about that.”
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms thinks Rodgers publicly calling out his receivers was uncalled for.
“I don’t think that was necessary,” Simms said on NBC’s Pro Football Talk. “Fire Tomlin was going on in the stands. That wasn’t the time to bring that. I don’t like some of his antics on the field. I don’t think it speaks to leadership. He loves to yell at everybody else. Never yells at himself. There’s no anger shown when he makes a mistake. It’s kind of unraveling in Pittsburgh.”
Rodgers also said it was a terrible practice week.
“I thought we had a better preparation week and a poor practice week… I’m not sure if it was cold weather or what it was, but it wasn’t our best week of practice,” Rodgers said.
While Simms blasted Rodgers for yelling at everyone else, the four-time NFL MVP admitted that he threw a bad pass on a go route to Roman Wilson that fell incomplete in the first quarter. He called it a “shitty” pass. He knows he has to play better, as well. Everyone needs to be accountable.
“I believe in the coaching staff. I believe in Mike Tomlin. That’s why I came here,” Rodgers said. “Players need to take accountability. Myself included. I will. And I will continue to. I’ve got to play better.”
Rodgers completed 10 of 21 passes for 117 yards (47.6%), no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 65.0 in Sunday’s loss to Buffalo. Rodgers’ completion percentage was a season low. His 117 yards were also the lowest in a game this season that he played in all four quarters.
The Steelers led at halftime, but had one of the worst quarters of football in recent memory in the third period, yielding 13 points and all the momentum in what became a 26-7 Bills victory.
The disaster started on the first offensive play of the second quarter, when Rodgers ran a play-action pass, and was sacked by Joey Bosa. Rodgers fumbled, Buffalo cornerback Christian Benford recovered and returned it for a touchdown.
Rodgers left the game and went into the medical tent on the Pittsburgh sideline, while being treated for a cut across his nose. Mason Rudolph replaced him for a series, which ended in a Rudolph INT.
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former NFL QB Blasts Aaron Rodgers’ Leadership: ‘He Loves to Yell at Everybody Else’
