First Call: An argument for Aaron Rodgers to Steelers in '22; Adam Frazier's debut with San Diego; Larry Fitzgerald's future

Wednesday’s “First Call” assesses the chances of Aaron Rodgers becoming a Steeler next year.

Some Steelers fans think T.J. Watt got snubbed by the EA Sports Madden ratings system. We try to figure out what Larry Fitzgerald is thinking.

And we get you up to date on Adam Frazier’s San Diego Padres debut.

Rodgers on the radar

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Aaron Rodgers connected to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But it is the first time we’ve heard the idea kicked around for 2022.

The Green Bay Packers have figured out a way to get Rodgers invested for 2021, but it appears that the star quarterback will be on the move before next season.

And Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports thinks the Steelers might be one of the logical landing spots for him.

“Big Ben is doing his ‘Last Dance’ thing in Pittsburgh while Rodgers does his in Green Bay,” La Canfora wrote on Tuesday. “But do you believe Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins is going to prove to be the long-term answer? Do you believe a franchise that hasn’t finished below .500 in forever is going to do a full-scale rebuild with a rookie passer when they are probably picking around 18-20 in the first round (no man’s land for top QBs). Can they afford to keep trading top picks in a way that franchise historically never does to move up and get one? Or is Rodgers plug-and-play with that defense and what they think will be a reborn run game? Could you imagine starting playoff games for these two iconic franchises?”

I’ve always had the Rodgers-to-Pittsburgh idea in the back of my brain for 2022. With the salary cap going up. With Roethlisberger likely retired. With the Steelers never truly being ready to admit that they want to rebuild.

This makes as much sense as it could’ve at any point in the post-Terry Bradshaw era — to truly go out and acquire a big-name quarterback from another team.

While it’s still a long shot, I’m not ruling it out. And I will be rooting for it to happen.

Perhaps stupidly. But, oh, I will be rooting for it to happen. It’ll be good for the Steelers.

And for this column? My goodness will it be best for business.

Finding Frazier

Former Pittsburgh Pirate Adam Frazier made his debut for the San Diego Padres Tuesday against the Oakland A’s.

He did so as the leadoff man to much fanfare from the team’s Twitter account.

Your newest Padre leads off tonight.#HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/LLrEltRVJA

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 27, 2021

New threads for @A_Fraz12 pic.twitter.com/FV95PuYs2c

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 28, 2021

Frazier beat out an infield hit for his first hit as a Padre. Then he waltzed home on this monster blast from Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando made sure his new teammate's first trip around the bases was an easy one.#HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/OfnpHFS5AZ

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 28, 2021

Frazier ended up 2-for-5. The Padres wound up winning by a final score of 7-4.

What Watt are we talking about?

The all-important Madden ratings are out. In other words, the EA Sports Madden video game ratings for NFL players.

Some fans — and NFL players — seem to care about this more than Super Bowl rings. Video games aren’t my thing, but I get the appeal and the billions of dollars they spin. So I pay attention to the reacion every year.

One rating that seems to have Steelers fans in a tizzy is that outside linebacker T.J. Watt “only” got a 94.

It’s not so much that number. I mean, 94 out of 100 is pretty good. But Stiller Nation doesn’t like that Cleveland Browns arch villain Myles Garrett came in at No. 1 with a 98. And that Khalil Mack was somehow still second at 96.

Mack only had nine sacks with the Chicago Bears last year. Watt had 15.

Also, Watt’s brother, J.J. (now with the Arizona Cardinals), also came in with a 94. He had only five sacks a year ago with the Houston Texans. Frankly, at this point, the elder Watt doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as his younger sibling.

Staying in the desert

Since we’re discussing Arizona, let’s get an update on former Pitt Panthers star Larry Fitzgerald.

The Cardinals future Hall of Famer is a free agent, trying to decide if he is going to come back and play in Arizona this year. Or if he wants to go elsewhere. Or if he wants to retire.

“Ball’s in his court,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said via ESPN.com. “We’ve left it in his court. He’s earned that. That’s how we felt as an organization. And so that’s where it’s at.”

Fitzgerald has played 17 NFL seasons. He has 1432 receptions (second all-time), 17,492 yards (second all-time) and 121 touchdowns (sixth all-time).