The Pittsburgh Steelers met with Aaron Rodgers in person last week, which led many to believe that the two sides were closing in on a contract agreement. There is still no deal in place, however, and it does not sound like the Steelers have any idea when or if that might change.
Rodgers visited with the Steelers last week and spoke with head coach Mike Tomlin, owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan. Pittsburgh’s brass reportedly skipped a major event to accommodate Rodgers, but the 41-year-old remains a free agent.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rodgers still has not given the Steelers any indication of whether he intends to sign with them. Schefter said on “Get Up” Thursday morning that the Steelers are “in the dark” like everyone else.
“Well the Pittsburgh Steelers know what it’s like to be Aaron Rodgers, because they’re in the dark right now about what he’s going to do,” Schefter said, as transcribed by Thomas Goldkamp of On3. “And there are a lot of people around the league who wonder if Aaron Rodgers is even going to play. We have not heard from Aaron Rodgers himself to know one way or another.
“There are people who believe that he may not play this year. There are people who believe he’s waiting to see if something might open down the line in Minnesota with the Vikings. But nobody knows for sure what Aaron Rodgers’ gameplan is, and for the time being the Steelers are in the dark. They know what it feels like.”
Schefter made multiple references to the infamous darkness retreat that Rodgers embarked on two years ago, during which the quarterback contemplated his future.
No one seems to know why Rodgers is taking so long with his decision. The Vikings do not seem interested in him, and the New York Giants signed Russell Wilson on Tuesday. There has been talk that the former MVP could be contemplating retirement.
Another theory is that Rodgers is trying to create leverage in talks with the Steelers, but money does not seem to be an issue. Only Rodgers knows the reason for the delay, and that is just how he wants it.
