Although Steelers confidence re: Aaron Rodgers has emerged, the allure of a Vikings landing spot persists. Minnesota is standing down on Rodgers for the time being. The team intends to give J.J. McCarthy the first crack at starter reps during its offseason program.
This places Rodgers in a bit of a bind, and it also could stall the Steelers and Giants and potentially force one or both teams to blink as this holding pattern continues. Rodgers has gone as far as, per ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert, informing the Vikings they are his preferred destination.
Rodgers, 41, has been careful not to rule out teams; doing so would decrease his leverage. He views the Giants as a viable option, even though New York’s offer — one believed to be the best the future Hall of Famer has received this offseason — is unlikely to produce a deal. The Steelers hosted Rodgers on a visit Friday, but they have not upped their offer made at the beginning of free agency. Nevertheless, some around the league view it as a safe bet the Steelers will end up with Rodgers. Though, he may well continue to wait on Minnesota rather than force a Pittsburgh fit.
If Rodgers waits, more comparisons to his Packers predecessor will undoubtedly emerge. After the Jets relinquished Brett Favre‘s rights — due to a poison-pill provision in the Packers-Jets trade from 2008 — in 2009, Favre spent more than three months in free agency. The Vikings added him on August 18, 2009. The Vikings did not receive word Favre would unretire for a third time until August 18, 2010. The Giants and Steelers will almost definitely not wait that long on Rodgers this offseason, but the Vikings may be willing to hold here due to the McCarthy onramp they are creating.
McCarthy did stop short of confirming the Vikings guaranteed him the starting job, telling Kay Adams he has not been told he will begin the season as the starter. With no veteran on the roster — despite organizational support for adding Rodgers after a 14-3 season — and a No. 10 overall pick invested, it is safe to say McCarthy is in the driver’s seat to be the NFC North team’s Week 1 signal-caller. Minnesota did make an offer to Daniel Jones, which would have removed the team from the Rodgers market, but the bridge option opted to sign with Indianapolis instead.
“And I’m happy they didn’t, because I try to earn it every single day,” McCarthy said of the starting job (during an Up & Adams appearance) And I never want that to be given to me. it’s such a privilege and opportunity to give me that chance, and I’m just going to make the most of it every single day.”
The Vikings have left open the prospect of signing Rodgers this summer, Seifert adds, presumably after looking at McCarthy during OTAs and minicamp. This would leave roughly seven weeks for the Vikes to reconsider Rodgers, though he may already have a new home by then.
Then again, a Vikings-or-retirement rumor surfaced during this saga. It is not a lock Rodgers would play in Pittsburgh or New York, but it certainly appears the Steelers believe he would delay retirement to play for them. Doing so would preempt a partnership with his top option, however. That could cause Rodgers to keep waiting, even though the Steelers — as of now, at least — will present a better chance for him to start throughout the 2025 season.
Arron (is a)fraud-gers
I admire AA RON and his moxie and persistence
There certainly aren’t many? You must be one of the 3! Lol
Possibly lol….. but if he gets what he wants!!!
Yes big fan of ego that pays. Broke money ego ugly. Flourish lavish narcissistic ego that pays. Is so fun. Enter Deion sanders. lol
Why not tell all the other teams that don’t want him too?
Minnesota probably does want him. They’re just not going to bend over backwards to get him-especially not before the draft.
There’s Vikings aren’t actively pursuing Rodgers right now like the Giants or Steelers are, but unlike those two, they’re not waiting for Rodgers to make a decision. As for Rodgers, it’s pretty clear that he wants to leave the door open for the Vikings first, and then have the Steelers as his next option. That’s all well and good, and it makes sense for him, but the teams have their own offseason issues to worry about. They need to get started on those issues without worrying about Rodgers.
I won’t say never for the Vikings, though. Favre didn’t sign with them until August; that said, Rodgers is going to have to actually attend an offseason to get some comfort in the offense, so that would be pretty bad for both him and Minnesota. I doubt that they’d wait THAT long for a veteran QB this time around.
I just don’t know why a team that has a first round quarterback, a financial plan built around that rookie deal, and an extremely good environment would throw a cherry bomb into the mix like Rodgers.
Breaking News- The Vikings just changed all their phone numbers. All calls are now being re routed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers in turn are re routing all calls from Rodgers to the Portland State Vikings 🙂
@bita. Who do the steelers have a crappy QB draft class and flacco.
Didn’t Minny already say that they won’t?
And I doubt Rodgers wants to go to NYG only to have them use #3 on a QB and become Teddy Bridgewater or Ryan Fitzpatrick.
So, my guess is he wants PGH to up that offer they haven’t moved from…
Why the Steelers are letting this fading diva ragdoll them, I don’t know…oh right, painted themselves into the dumbest corner and are now being held hostage.
@66. He might be asking for a year guaranteed starter. I don’t see why they fold unless it’s the background noise, that Rodgers is balking on.
Because Vikings may not be necessarily sold on McCarthy yet. They have a playoff caliber roster that may not have time for McCarty to develop. Or Rodgers agent is putting this out there to get a higher deal from Pittsburgh? Minnesota is the better choice for AR, better offense, player friendly HC as opposed to the oppressive (in ARs mind) Tomlin, and dome with no snow games.
It’s about time someone screws with Rodgers instead of letting that headcase be in charge all the time. Minnesota won’t sign this bozo. They don’t need him. They’ve basically told him that. When the roster is finalized, Rodgers WILL NOT be a Minnesota Viking. Thank you Odin! SKOL!!!!
They haven’t said no, just that they’re not going to go out of their way right now. They said that it could be an option later.
And there’s plenty of reasons why they’d sign Rodgers. Just speaking purely from a football perspective, he has definitely had the ability to step in and get this team to the playoffs immediately. Darnold and Cousins both did so, and Rodgers is at a minimum on par with either of those options and with more playoff experience. So we know why he came up. Obviously, this is a short term move that would only be at its best for a season (possibly two, if it all works out to maximum benefit).
Is it the right move for Minnesota? Well, that depends on McCarthy. By signing Rodgers, you’re essentially delaying the development of McCarthy as a franchise player on a cheap deal. Normally, that would be a pretty clear choice in today’s QB-centric league: teams definitely want their high draft pick starting ASAP. The wrench here is that the Vikings are definitely ready to win right now, and just need a quarterback to make that happen. If they signed Rodgers (or any other high level veteran, for that matter) and put off McCarthy’s starts and won a Super Bowl, would it be worth McCarthy starting late? That’s the question.
Yes, I know, everyone here thinks Rodgers is terrible, but we can perform this experiment with another name and ask the same question-is it worth sitting McCarthy this year to maximize your chances with a veteran and a good, competitive roster? That’s what the Vikes will need to decide, and even though they’ve tabled the Rodgers offer (and possibly rejected it), they still haven’t dubbed McCarthy the starter yet. They’ll need to figure out if they want to take the time to let him develop and hope that he gives them a better shot in the future than they have right now with Rodgers-or another vet.
It’s getting embarrassing as a Steelers fan. Walk. Away.
And if the Vikings don’t sign him (why would they??), does he think the Steelers will be waiting there with open arms? He’s a serious pant load.
Can’t believe a franchise like the Steelers has come to this. Embarrassing 🤡
Families are always rising and falling in America
Trued this EXACT move with my wife. Well my EX wife.
I said that, and the trolls said I was crazy. Vikings, steelers, and giants. The rest is probably im going to retire.
Most Viking Fans are NOT interested!
Where is Mr. Garvey when you need him 0_o
Would it be wrong for the Vikings to send him a “thank you for your interest, but we have decided to go a different route. We wish you well in your future employment opportunities” card
I wish this guy would just retire. Will be fun to watch the circus I guess. 🤡
If true then this has to be the final nail in the coffin for the Steelers. Move on already Omar Khaned
Mama please make the bad man stop and go away.
Pitt has got to move on, arod will be a cancer
Can’t blame him for trying, out of all the options that are in the market for a veteran QB the Vikings have the best situation for him to succeed. Unfortunately I think the Vikings want someone willing and comfortable backing up JJM if he looks ready to start right away and that’s not Rodgers.
They say the Steelers have Rodgers a deadline before the draft…I doubt that Tomlin will stick to that.
They should all move on and force bozo to retire.
My God Karen Rogers is such a diva! He should sign with the Vikings, b/c he is so much like Brett Favre it’s sickening! Dude thinks the entire world revolves around him. Can’t think of any professional athlete I hate more than this punk!
If you ever wondered what it means to grovel, wonder no more. That the Steelers are willing to be the 2nd choice or worse for a 41 year old QB can only make you wonder just what “the standard” is here
My hope is that Rodgers drags this out so that in the end, he ends up on no team. It would serve him right. Hope the Steelers draft a QB.
Nope. A stick of dynamite.
Team chemistry destroyer
Rodgers, sign with the Steelers and stop being a prima Donna. Vikings don’t want you bro, you can win with the Steelers.
Browns will trade the Steelers Pickett for a 3rd round pick
Giants done now with Wilson.
Vikings should give him a 1 or 2 year deal and have JJ learn off one of the greats.
JJ, Addison and Hockenson would be happy
Enough with this Clown and his circus! Even the Giants figured it out. Sign Flacco, or anybody else. Oh wait, you’ve been duped so long there isn’t anybody else. Looks like Mason is #1 in Pittsburgh.
well A-Rod and p00p in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up faster….
If you’re the Steelers, why not just roll with a cheap veteran backup to start the season and a ~10% chance that a rookie QB like Dart or Milroe could be a QB of the future instead of Rodgers whose ceiling will be another 9-8 record with a first round exit?