Aaron Rodgers is running out of teams with starting quarterback openings.
The Seattle Seahawks scooped up Sam Darnold, and the Las Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith.
The New York Jets — Rodgers’ former employer — opted for Justin Fields.
Funny to think that Darnold and Smith were once flops with the Jets. It seems we can put Rodgers in that category, too, due to his 5-12 record with the team last season and the new brass deciding to part ways.
Not going to hold Rodgers accountable for 2023, when he tore his Achilles on the fourth snap of the season. But last season’s ineptitude is all his.
It seems ages ago that Rodgers was the NFL MVP in both 2020 and 2021. But skills can quickly diminish when you turn 39, 40 and now 41.
If you sign Rodgers, you can’t expect his four-time league MVP form. Nor should you dream of getting the guy who threw for 40 or more touchdowns on three occasions.
You have to accept a lesser form and hope Rodgers’ persona fits in with your team. His personality wasn’t always impressive with the Jets.
So rumors that the Pittsburgh Steelers have interest in Rodgers capture your attention real quick.
The Steelers have a coach in Mike Tomlin who is entering his 19th season running the team.
For the most part, Tomlin’s methods are superb, and he has been highly successful with a 183-107-2 regular-season record.
He’s a no-nonsense coach, a stickler for details, and he expects things to be done his way.
Rodgers doesn’t always fall in line with that. Think of all the times he criticized the Jets during his short tenure.
Now picture Tomlin’s head spinning around like an amusement ride if Rodgers rips the Pittsburgh offense on some TV show.
But here is Tomlin’s dilemma — he has lost six straight playoff games, beginning with a setback to the New England Patriots in the 2016 season AFC Championship Game.
Last season’s Steelers were 10-3 before collapsing with Russell Wilson running the show. They lost their final four regular-season games and then were eliminated by the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC wild-card game.
Wilson (16) and the aforementioned Fields (five) combined for 21 touchdown passes. A healthy and motivated Rodgers should be able to exceed that output.
All eight of Tomlin’s playoff victories came when he had a top-notch quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. So you can see the need for a quarterback like Rodgers, since the playoff victory drought is eight seasons old.
There has been scuttlebutt that the New York Giants could be an option for Rodgers.
That would be juicy for the folks in Gotham, to have Rodgers playing in the same stadium as last season.
The Giants have the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft, and they could select their quarterback of the future and have Rodgers be their guy this season. Or they could not pick a quarterback at all and maybe Rodgers commits to playing two seasons.
Miami’s Cam Ward figures to be gone when the Giants pick, but it’s possible that Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders will be available at No. 3.
Sanders has his own attitude issues, and he happens to have thrown 503 fewer NFL touchdown passes than Rodgers.
New York coach Brian Daboll likely needs a quarterback who can win games after last season’s 3-14 debacle.
The organization made the right call by ending the Daniel Jones era, but there isn’t a bona fide starter currently on the squad.
Rodgers could walk right in as the starter and basically call his shots about a lot of things, with Daboll’s future unclear.
The Minnesota Vikings rate as a slim option after Darnold’s departure. Their decision revolves around the health of last year’s first-round draft choice, J.J. McCarthy.
If the Vikings are sold McCarthy will be healthy — and, um, that he’s ready to play well — then they have no need for Rodgers.
But if they have doubts, they could place a call to Rodgers and pitch being a one-year rental.
The only other option is for Rodgers to retire. Nobody sees that happening, as Rodgers appears motivated to have a better season before he hangs up the cleats.
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