Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers better be worth the wait

Now that Aaron Rodgers has agreed to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he has one job.

Make this whole agonizing, prolonged exercise worthwhile.

Does another nine- or 10-win season with another curb-stomp loss in the postseason constitute “worthwhile?”

I don’t think so. That’d just be maintaining mediocrity.

Going with Mason Rudolph probably could’ve gotten the Steelers to seven or eight wins. Maybe we actually need to witness that kind of record in Pittsburgh for the first time since 2003. It would remind us of how similar it feels to being perpetually one-and-done in postseason appearances — whenever they’ve bothered to qualify in the first place.

I mean, that’s all we’ve witnessed since the start of 2017.

Indeed, Rodgers is a better option for playoff contention than Rudolph or rookie Will Howard. But he isn’t an option to elevate the Steelers beyond the ceiling they’ve created for themselves the last few years.

Not in the QB-rich AFC. Not with the holes that exist elsewhere on the Steelers roster.

Not at the expense of the public relations hit the franchise took these last few months when it came off looking like a lovesick teenager chasing the prettiest girl in school to be his prom date.

The problem is Rodgers hasn’t been worthy of such a pursuit in a number of years. Even if he is, can he really stay upright behind a Steelers offensive line that allowed the NFL’s fourth-highest sack percentage last year?

Doubtful.

No. For the “Rodgers Quest” to prove justified after his refusal to join the team until early June, he needs to keep the Steelers playing deep in January.

At least deeper than they have since they lost the 2016-17 AFC championship game in New England.

If demanding a postseason win from a 41-year-old QB who just treated this whole process as if he was above it all is asking too much, then what was the point of the wait?

A once-proud franchise looking like a bunch of doting fanboys seeking an autograph from a fading rock star who can’t hit the high notes anymore isn’t worth merely extending the status quo.