Mark Madden's Hot Take: Steelers will pay a price for waiting on Aaron Rodgers

I’m not one to predict the results of the Steelers’ season week-by-week when the schedule is released in May. That’s lazy media, and a lot can happen between now and when those games get played.

But I will predict this:

The Steelers will lose Week 1 at the New York Jets because the Jets’ quarterback will be more prepared than the Steelers’ quarterback.

Ex-Steeler Justin Fields has been a Jet for weeks. He’s been absorbing their playbook for two months.

Aaron Rodgers still isn’t a Steeler.

Rodgers has no desire to attend OTAs or mini-camp, things he sees as ancillary.

Here’s betting he’s got no personal issues to resolve, as he’s said. Rodgers just wants to avoid showing up at work for as long as possible.

That’s OK by coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin will wait as long as it takes. All Tomlin wants is that headline: “Hall-of-Fame quarterback joins Hall-of-Fame coach in Pittsburgh.”

Rodgers doesn’t have to be committed. Doesn’t have to put in the time. Doesn’t have to learn. That’s for everybody else, not him. (You think Rodgers is going to live in a dorm at training camp?)

This isn’t T.J. Watt holding in. I’m not for that, but at least Watt has paid his dues with this franchise. Rodgers has yet to take a single practice snap as a Steeler.

But Tomlin doesn’t care. Nor does the stooge media. Nor do the citizens.

You’re so desperate to think you can win — even when you won’t, not enough — that you’re willing to let this be dragged out. When Rodgers finally arrives, he’ll provide his usual drama, then fizzle.

Rodgers is 41. He’s coming to a new team, learning a new offense, meshing with new weapons. Do you believe that’s going to be easy, or instant?

He’s old man Aaron Rodgers, not MVP Aaron Rodgers.

You can’t throw long when you get rid of the ball too quick because you’re scared to get hit. (That haphazard offensive line won’t help.)

You want predictions? Here’s one: The Steelers start out, say, 3-5. Rodgers gets an injury, legit or otherwise, then bails.

A season with Rodgers starting instead of Mason Rudolph might provide a few more wins. Maybe.

But a season without Rodgers would have a lot more dignity. Starting with what’s going on now.