As the Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their OTA sessions sans Aaron Rodgers, the burning question on everyone's lips is: When will he finally arrive? The answer is simple: whenever he decides to.
The Steelers find themselves in a vulnerable position, having essentially handed over the reins to Rodgers, holding their collective breath as they wait for his decision. The reason is clear - Rodgers is a game-changer, potentially the best quarterback they’d have since Ben Roethlisberger hung up his cleats.
Coach Mike Tomlin has set training camp as their unofficial deadline, but if the current quarterback options include Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, or Will Howard, who's really going to turn away Rodgers even if he rolls up in mid-August like Brett Favre did with the Vikings in the past?
This waiting game isn’t just about Rodgers strolling in when he pleases; it's about the critical need for early involvement. Limited pre-camp preparation could spell unnecessary pressure when the regular season hits. While missing the offseason program might not directly lead to losses, it could lead to unnecessary struggles and the inevitable scrutiny.
The narrative is clear. If challenges arise, optimism might quickly turn into hindsight: Maybe an earlier arrival for Rodgers could have altered the Steelers’ fortunes.
