It’s clear that Terry Bradshaw isn’t going to be advocating for Aaron Rodgers to don the iconic No. 12 jersey with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, it’s safe to say that Rodgers himself would likely decline such an offer. Bradshaw, known for his candidness, didn’t hold back when discussing the Steelers’ current indecision regarding Rodgers during an appearance on 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock, Arkansas (via CBSSports.com). “That’s a joke,” he said, reflecting his disbelief at the situation. “What are you gonna do? Bring him in for one year? Are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.”
In his commentary, Bradshaw expressed a strong belief that the Steelers should have extended more opportunities to their 2022 first-round draft pick, Kenny Pickett. “I liked Kenny Pickett,” Bradshaw stated. “I liked him at Pitt. I know him, I know what he’s like.” His frustration was evident as he pointed out the lack of support Pickett received since arriving in Pittsburgh. “They didn’t protect him… they didn’t get him an offensive line,” he lamented. “They wanted to run the football, but they didn’t have an offensive line that could protect, and they didn’t have weapons. He had no wide receivers to speak of.”
Bradshaw criticized the Steelers for their handling of Pickett’s situation. “They throw a kid in there for two years and you’ve got an offense that doesn’t fit and doesn’t work, and they can’t run because their offensive line’s not even good enough for a run-blocking team,” he explained. “And therefore they say Pickett was a failure. He wasn’t a failure; the Steelers were a failure.” This insight underscores the challenges faced by rookie quarterbacks and the importance of a solid support system.
Currently, the Pittsburgh Steelers seem willing to invest time in Aaron Rodgers, believing that having him as their quarterback could steer them away from failure by 2025. However, the definition of success within the franchise remains a topic of debate. Is making the playoffs enough? Should the goal be winning a playoff game or even advancing to the conference championship? For the Steelers, the objective could extend beyond these benchmarks.
Ultimately, Rodgers needs to have a strong season that allows his previous experience with the New York Jets to be deemed an anomaly. The stakes are high for both the Steelers and their fans, as they begin to set their sights on achieving greater milestones in the near future.
