The wait isn't over, but it's coming to an end soon. On Thursday, during NFL owners' meetings, ESPN Insider Jeremy Fowler reported that Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team will wait 'a little while longer' for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision. This echoed what he said back on April 1 when he insisted they would 'not forever, but a little while longer.'
There it is; the ultimatum we've been waiting for... well, sort of. Rooney wouldn't set a specific date or time by which Rodgers was required to make a decision. But with OTAs and mandatory minicamps on the horizon, we can expect that time to come soon.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will kick off OTAs (Organized Team Activities) on Tuesday, May 27. This will run through June 5, with a four-day break in between the six total practices. While attendance isn't required, it's highly encouraged.
However, the Steelers' mandatory minicamp will be next on the list, and the word mandatory is a dead giveaway for what is expected. This kicks off on June 10... and if Rodgers isn't signed by then, we have the right to wonder if the team will turn the page on him altogether.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must set a timeline for Aaron Rodgers to sign or risk losing the locker room
Aaron Rodgers' lack of a decision doesn't come as a surprise. When Pat McAfee spoke on the 41-year-old quarterback back in March, he was unsure if he even wanted to continue playing football. But being part of a team means being there for your teammates, and if Rodgers can't do that, he's going to lose the locker room before he ever puts on a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey for the first time.
This is an ugly situation that could go downhill fast. As long-time tenured veterans like Cam Heyward (who is no spring chicken) pour their hearts and energy into offseason activities, they expect their quarterback to do the same.
And is anyone really going to want to put their bodies on the line for a quarterback who won't do the same for them? We're coming up on some critical dates for players to build chemistry with their new teammates, and Rodgers needs to be there.
Art Rooney II didn't give fans a deadline by which Aaron Rodgers must make a decision, but at the risk of losing the locker room, the Pittsburgh Steelers would be wise to set a date soon, preferably before OTAs and certainly by mandatory minicamp.
