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’ inside 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 wish to go there after which miss a part of necessary minicamp due to my private points. I’m fairly certain they’re gonna be solved by the top of Might, a minimum of in my satisfaction the place I may give you my all,’” O’Connor mentioned (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 could 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 continuously surrounds him, the truth that he has not signed a contract in any respect is its personal type of distraction. Nonetheless, it’s honest to conclude that formally becoming a member of Pittsburgh and never reporting in the course of the first phases of the offseason – which Rodgers has overtly opposed anyway – would have invited much more scrutiny.
Florio believes O’Connor was referring to the offseason program usually and never necessary minicamp particularly, as necessary minicamp doesn’t happen till June 10. Florio additionally believes there’s a good likelihood Rodgers can have signed with Pittsburgh by subsequent week, as OTAs get underway on Might 27.
Outdoors 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 e-book “Out of the Darkness: The Thriller of Aaron Rodgers,” believes Pittsburgh is the “good place” for Rodgers to complete his enjoying profession.
“It might be me as an optimist, however I feel that is gonna work out,” O’Connor mentioned. “Do I feel the Steelers will win the Tremendous Bowl subsequent 12 months? No. However should you informed me 11-6 with a minimum of one playoff victory…I feel that’s practical.”
