Steelers Now
Stephen A. Smith came to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ defense over criticism that he was off base for announcing on the Pat McAfee Show that this season will likely be his last one.
“They used every excuse to get at [Rodgers],” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “It has been very, very annoying — and it has been a bit intrusive. Dare I say, even in this day and age, where every little excuse that you could find to get at him, people have gotten at him.
“I like the idea: ‘Listen, this is it. I’m out after this, and you won’t see me.’ He’s basically telling the world, ‘Kiss his a–.’ And I have no problem with it whatsoever, because I think half the world deserves to hear that from him — because I think not enough appreciation has been thrown in his direction. This brother was not good. He was great.”
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks forward to seeing the “last glimpse of greatness” from the four-time NFL MVP.
“If we’re going to take [Rodgers] for his word on that — that this is it — then you’re going to get to see one of the greatest of all time play one more season,” Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast. “I think every week is gonna be must-see TV in a sense. … Fans of football are going to be coming out, whether it’s at home, on the road — because you want to get a glimpse of greatness one last time. I think that’ll be cool.”
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott also had no problem with Rodgers declaring that this season likely will be the final one.
Scott thinks Aaron 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...
