Rodgers’ biographer, Ian O’Connor, not too long ago appeared on 93.7 The Fan’s “The PM Staff” and predicted the 41-year-old would put pen to paper by the top of Might (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). Though he declined to reveal the non-public points that Rodgers himself has cited for his delay in signing with a membership, O’Connor doesn’t consider these points – which pertain to a member of Rodgers’ interior circle – would preclude him from enjoying soccer.
“I simply assume verbally, behind the scenes, not that he assured it, however he’s informed [the Steelers], ‘Pay attention, I’m gonna play for you. I simply don’t need to go there after which miss a part of necessary minicamp due to my private points. I’m fairly positive they’re gonna be solved by the top of Might, at the least in my satisfaction the place I may give you my all,’” O’Connor stated (through Ross McCorkle of SteelersDepot.com).
Florio beforehand expressed his belief, supported by a supply who is aware of Rodgers however who has no particular data of the present scenario, that the eccentric signal-caller might have needed to keep away from being a distraction by signing a contract with the Steelers however remaining away from the group for the early levels of the membership’s offseason program as he kinds out his private matter. After all, given Rodgers’ standing and the protection that always surrounds him, the truth that he has not signed a contract in any respect is its personal type of distraction. Nonetheless, it’s truthful to conclude that formally becoming a member of Pittsburgh and never reporting throughout the first phases of the offseason – which Rodgers has brazenly opposed anyway – would have invited much more scrutiny.
Florio believes O’Connor was referring to the offseason program typically and never necessary minicamp particularly, as necessary minicamp doesn’t happen till June 10. Florio additionally believes there’s a good likelihood Rodgers could have signed with Pittsburgh by subsequent week, as OTAs get underway on Might 27.
Exterior of the quarterback place, the Steelers have a playoff-worthy roster and didn’t choose a signal-caller on this 12 months’s draft till they added Ohio State’s Will Howard within the sixth spherical. As such, the runway may be very a lot clear for Rodgers to return aboard and supplant Mason Rudolph as Pittsburgh’s QB1.
O’Connor, who interviewed 250 individuals for his ebook “Out of the Darkness: The Thriller of Aaron Rodgers,” believes Pittsburgh is the “excellent place” for Rodgers to complete his enjoying profession.
“It might be me as an optimist, however I believe that is gonna work out,” O’Connor stated. “Do I believe the Steelers will win the Tremendous Bowl subsequent 12 months? No. However in the event you informed me 11-6 with at the least one playoff victory…I believe that’s life like.”
