The Pittsburgh Steelers are still searching for a starting quarterback for the upcoming NFL season. However, the team seems content to wait for veteran Aaron Rodgers to make a decision. Currently, all signs would suggest that Rodgers will sign with Pittsburgh, but he has left the Steelers in suspense for weeks now. As Pittsburgh's quarterback search drags on, some have begun to doubt that Rodgers is serious about playing in the Steel City. Steelers' former legendary quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, recently gave his insight on the matter on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger spoke with Pat McAfee on Tuesday and discussed Rodgers' future in the NFL. Particularly, whether Rodgers is going to sign with the Steelers or not. Roethlisberger said he was confident that Rodgers wants to play in the upcoming season, and that it would likely be with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I still think he's going to sign with the Steelers; he's not ready to retire yet. You don't put the work in if you're retiring. I think he's going to wait, but what are we waiting for? You're waiting for the draft to see if they're going to draft a quarterback. Maybe he doesn't want to be here if they're going to bring a guy in. Or is there a wild card team out there?"
It has been widely speculated that the Steelers will draft a quarterback regardless of what Rodgers will do. Rodgers is known for having a large ego, and should the Steelers land a starting-caliber prospect in the draft, such as Shedeur Sanders, it could deter Rodgers from wanting to play for the Steelers. Despite his age and sinking stock as a player, Rodgers might not be willing to play anywhere where he won't be guaranteed to be a starter.
Roethlisberger's second theory on why Rodgers hasn't signed with the Steelers yet is the most interesting. After the Minnesota Vikings officially dropped out of the running for Rodgers, it seemed to be a decision between the Steelers and retirement. However, Roethlisberger suggested that another team, that no one knows about, could land the veteran quarterback in a surprise deal.
Roethlisberger didn't name any teams specifically, but lays out a scenario in which another franchise could become interested in Rodgers.
"Maybe there's a quarterback out there, and I'm not going to say any names, who has a subtle injury that people don't know about. Like a starting quarterback on a team that has an injury that people don't know about. Maybe he's waiting for that."
During the offseason, no one is required to report injuries. A team with an injured starting quarterback could be keeping it quiet so as not to attract attention. It's unclear if Rodgers could know if there is a high-profile quarterback out there who has an injury currently, but it's unlikely he has access to much more information about any given team than the public does.
Steelers Could Very Well Lose Out On Rodgers
If Roethlisberger's theory is true, it's more probable that Rodgers is waiting for a team to announce their quarterback's injuries, and then he would swoop in to take the starting position if there's mutual interest.
In spite of the speculation surrounding Rodgers' decision however, no one can truly predict what the veteran quarterback will do. The Steelers seem just as confident as Roethlisberger that Rodgers will land in Pittsburgh, considering how patiently the team has waited for the quarterback to make a decision. However, even if Rodgers signs with the Steelers, it will likely only be for a one-year deal, and then the Steelers will be back to needing another starting-caliber signal-caller.
