Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers, 'Pittsburgh Dad,' and the 2022 offseason; let the 'Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers' dreams begin

This isn’t the first time a fantas—um, I mean—conversation has taken place about Aaron Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh to assume the role of Steelers quarterback.

Jason La Canfora floated out that notion regarding Rodgers in late July.

Former Bengals wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson claims he heard that the Steelers were sniffing around a deal to acquire Rodgers in advance of draft weekend.

ProFootballTalk linked the Steelers to Rodgers trade talks way back in January.

Every time that idea has been pushed out into the atmosphere, I’ve co-signed. I never thought it was feasible. But I’ve always thought it was a wonderful idea.

Granted, I also think winning the $570 million Powerball drawing, hopping on a private jet and flying off to my villa in Tuscany with Jennifer Aniston (hey, she says she’s just looking for a regular guy these days, you know) is a wonderful idea.

Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh is more realistic than that. But it still is a long shot.

He may want out of Green Bay after this season — frankly, it seemed like he wanted out before this year — but technically he’s under contract with Green Bay for $46 million against the 2022 salary cap.

So, despite a rising salary cap league-wide and more room than normal for the Steelers to use, it may still mean moving mountains for Rodgers to get here, especially with the new contract coming to T. J. Watt and likely one for Minkah Fitzpatrick as well.

That said, as the Steelers have proven with late summer acquisitions, restructures and free-agent retentions in recent years (Ben Roethlisberger, Watt, Fitzpatrick, Joe Schobert, Joe Haden, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyson Alualu, Melvin Ingram) the cap is always maneuverable, and the money shell game can always be played.

Voidable years, n’at! Kick the can down the road! Restructure Cameron Heyward and David DeCastro again!

What? Oh. Right. DeCastro is gone. Well, can they restructure Heyward twice in the same offseason?! That allowed?!

The point is, with Roethlisberger in all likelihood playing out his “another last time” season, there is a void at quarterback after 2021. To be honest, we could argue there is one right now.

If Rodgers wants to make it happen and if the Steelers want to make it happen, it’s at least better than a zero chance of happening in the late winter of 2022.

After all, some are saying with the way Rodgers’ contract is written, the Packers’ most likely path would be to craft a sort of “trade and restructure” deal with some other suitor in the NFL.

Maybe that team can be the Steelers.

John Q. Yinzer could’ve allowed that thought to rattle around in his brain with a “million-to-one shot, Doc” belief last offseason when Rodgers trade rumors first cropped up.

Well, now it can be 1 in 999,999. Especially after Rodgers joined Pat McAfee’s talk show for a regularly scheduled appearance.

During that conversation, McAfee (a Plum native, West Virginia alum and former NFL punter) asked Rodgers for his impressions of the Steelers as a team, their defense specifically and the city of Pittsburgh, in general.

What ensued was a two-minute soliloquy from Rodgers professing his admiration for the entire Western Pennsylvania region, Mike Tomlin, T.J. Watt, the Steelers history, our city’s “blue collar” persona and even Pittsburgh Dad and his accent.

“I have been around a lot of Pittsburgh people over the years. I have loved my time with all of them. I have learned to speak the language really well,” Rodgers said. “That has allowed me to follow and become a big fan of ‘Pittsburgh Dad’ on Twitter. A big ‘shaht aht’! Some incredible videos.”

Rodgers said hearing that accent is familiar to him because of his former head coach, Greenfield’s Mike McCarthy.

“You appreciate the videos so much because you know people who talk like that. That was most of my career with Mike in the headset. Trying to figure out what the hell he was saying,” Rodgers said with a laugh.

The whole exchange can be seen here.

"I love Pittsburgh.. it's a great blue collar tahn & Mike Tomlin is a fantastic coach who knows hot to lead & players love playing for" ~@AaronRodgers12 on the Packers matchup with the Steelers this Sunday#PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/mvSbBkpvKV

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 28, 2021

Although one thing Rodgers didn’t mention was the current offensive line.

Gee. I wonder why?

Was that Rodgers intentionally praising this week’s opponent since the Steelers are visiting Green Bay this weekend?

Probably.

Was he pandering to the host of the show who happens to be the pride of Plum?

Definitely.

Was Rodgers subtly (or not so subtly) sending thinly veiled messages to Tomlin and Kevin Colbert through the magic of video streaming?

I want to think so. So, I’ll say, “maybe.”

I’ll take, “planting the seed” for $200, Aaron.

Just let Pittsburgh Dad negotiate the terms of the contract extension after the trade and maybe we’ll be onto something.