The Pittsburgh Steelers are at their "breaking point.''
That is the smart characterization of one team-focused website that is amplifying what we've said from the start of this embarrassing Aaron Rodgers saga.
The Steelers, working honestly and earnestly, thought they were set. They thought they'd all-but-signed their best QB in years. ... with an offer that the QB was seemingly saying "yeah, probably'' too.
They figured they'd created yet another path to a winning season.
The only problem with Pittsburgh's earnestness is that they had a brain cramp and forgot that they were dealing with Aaron Rodgers. ...
Who is a lot of things. But "honestly'' and "earnestness'' have never been his strong suits.
Rodgers is the top veteran quarterback available in free agency ... by far.
Of course, that's in part because the failed New York Jets "leader'' hasn't moved his "yeah, maybe'' to a "yes'' in regard to the one-year, $30 million offer the Steelers have put on the table.
Rodgers has visited Steelers HQ and he has nice things about the bosses and he has even worked out with new receiver DK Metcalf.
But Rodgers, a four-time MVP, has somehow managed to selfishly grab leverage here - leverage that, based on his Jets performance and his 41-year-old age, he should not have.
That's the Steelers' fault.
That's what's bringing on the "breaking point.
ProFootballTalk.com has suggested that "he doesn't really want to play for the Steelers.''
And at this point? The Steelers - with other options fading and the NFL Draft approaching - need to man up and simply call Rodgers ...
And call his bluff ...
And ask him if he wants to play here.
Rodgers loves his drama, but this is worst than that.
This is a proud Steelers franchise trying to assemble a playoff team that is now being held hostage by a player in Aaron Rodgers who, if he doesn't take this starting job, will probably not get any starting job.
That should be embarrassing to him. But instead, it's the Steelers with egg on their faces, the Steelers looking foolish and the Steelers at the "breaking point.''
