Steelers Now
UNITY TWP, Pa. – Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has no reservations about 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ workload at training camp. His reps will be monitored to some degree. That’s only natural for a veteran QB, but they won’t be holding him back.
“He’s a workaholic. I don’t have a lot of reservations about that. I think he’s hardened himself over the course of his career with his attitude toward work,” Tomlin said. “Certainly, I’m gonna limit him in some instances, but, when I do, it’s going to be more about elevating opportunities for guys like Will Howard and less about preserving him to be quite honest with you.”
Rodgers reiterated during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show in June that he wants to serve as a mentor for rookie Will Howard. Even though he’s a four-time NFL MVP and future Hall of Famer, Rodgers doesn’t want to overstep his bounds. He’s coming into the QBs room with humility.
“I pulled him aside during one of the days and said, ‘Listen, I want to help you as much as possible, but I’m not going to overstep by bounds. If you want assistance, I’m here buddy. I want to help you.’ From the playbook, from my own mistakes and things that I need to learn from. That’s where everything is gonna come from. If I can help you become a better player this year that would be an incredible achievement for me. Because No. 1, he’s a real good kid. He’s a sweet kid. And he’s had a lot of great success at the college level.
“But I was impressed by him. Obviously, he worked once the rookies came out in May. I thought he looked really sharp. He made a bunch of great throws. I think there’s definitely some things that I can help him with and some things that are different at the pro level. I’d love to help Will and set him up to be the guy for who knows how long.”
Former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini does not believe Aaron Rodgers is fully committed to the Pittsburgh Steelers. All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward couldn’t disagree more. He believes the four-time NFL MVP is all-in.
“It just felt like he has bought in, and it worked out for the best,” Heyward said on The Rich Eisen Show. “I know sometimes we live in a society where we want things now. But patience has a way of paying off. And to now see he’s a Pittsburgh Steelers and just him walking through the locker room asking questions how we do things. He’s bought in and that’s all I can ask for our quarterback. As a teammate, I’m excited to go work with him.”
During an interview with NBC Sports at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship on Sunday, Rodgers explained what he’s most excited about heading into his 21st season in the NFL. Ending his career on a positive note and...
