Breer: Steelers Getting into ‘Vital Stage’ With Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t set a deadline for Aaron Rodgers. However that doesn’t imply they’re avoiding taking a look at their calendar. Based on NFL insider and Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer, an vital date is upcoming for the Steelers’ future with Rodgers.

“There’s an vital checkpoint arising, a minimum of from the Steelers’ standpoint,” Breer stated on his SI podcast with co-host Connor Orr. “And that’s the veteran minicamp…I feel we’re coming into a crucial stage. We’re not on the crucial date but, however we’re coming into a crucial stage. And I do suppose Tomlin, Arthur Smith, Omar Khan, it could be useful for all these guys to have him there for that. So a minimum of they’ll kinda create a baseline heading into the summer time.”

Following subsequent week’s second set of OTAs, Pittsburgh will maintain a three-day obligatory minicamp June 10-12. Gamers underneath contract who skip out are topic to fines. In fact, with Rodgers unsigned, he can’t be punished and has no obligation to attend. However it could imply lacking all the spring periods, essential time previous that will have Rodgers and his teammates enjoying catch-up come coaching camp.

Breer additionally believes Rodgers isn’t attending OTAs to forestall the media from making a narrative about it and gamers being requested about his absence. In fact, that was the No. 1 storyline at observe this week and a subject each participant was requested about, making Breer’s level moot.

What appears almost definitely is that Aaron Rodgers merely doesn’t need to attend offseason exercises. Or, at least, present as much as as few as attainable. Taking part in the “I haven’t signed” card shall be Rodgers’ rationale for why he didn’t attend, a simple and handy reply to deflect criticism.

“I’ll carry guys to California in July earlier than coaching camp to get them prepared,” Breer stated of what Rodgers might do to make up for misplaced time. “There are methods round this.”

Rodgers has hinted he’ll signal with Pittsburgh, providing his strongest affirmation throughout a current live performance through which he referenced the Steelers’ highway journey to Chicago. He additionally denied having curiosity within the New Orleans Saints, which may very well be considered as a sign to Pittsburgh he isn’t contemplating different alternatives.

Breer doesn’t point out what would occur if Rodgers doesn’t attend and didn’t push the notion Pittsburgh would not pursue him. Naturally, that creates the apparent query. If there’s no consequence or payoff to this “crucial stage,” then how is it crucial within the first place? If the Steelers are content material ready into July, there’s no incentive for Rodgers to resolve. It makes Breer’s phrases hole and empty and the story much less compelling than he makes an attempt to current it.