U mad, bro?: Steelers fans do not like the idea of Aaron Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh at all

One thing became clear to me this week given my interactions with Pittsburgh Steelers fans. They don’t want Aaron Rodgers to be the quarterback of their team.

Well, let me rephrase that. Steelers fans claim they don’t want Rodgers to be their quarterback. I mean, would you prefer Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins as your starting quarterback? Or a guy who is about to win his fourth NFL MVP?

But Steelers fans have taken to fussing about Rodgers’ age. His NFC Championship game record. His aggravating personality. His vaccination status.

My theory is, it’s so unlikely that the Steelers would spend the cash or the draft picks necessary to acquire Rodgers, it’s just easier for fans to say that we don’t want him here. Whether or not we really mean it. Let’s all say it together now — that’s just not how the Steelers do business.

Right. Because the way the Steelers do business has yielded nine seasons without a playoff win in the last 11. And the way the Steelers did business at the quarterback position between Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger led to a quarter century with just one Super Bowl appearance and no championships.

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But I digress.

See, I’d bet my life that — in #JagrWatch 2011 fashion — if the utterly unlikely suddenly became plausible, Pittsburgh would change its collective tune about Rodgers potentially being the quarterback.

I think the resentment toward my suggestion that the Steelers should at least consider Rodgers or Derek Carr (Las Vegas) or Russell Wilson (Seattle) in a trade — along with, presumably, a reworked contract in every case — stems from that #JagrWatch type of fallout.

Times like that when we’ve been spurned by dreaming big about acquiring a player, only to get kicked in the gut. Just like when No. 68 became a Philadelphia Flyer.

Instead we’ll just shut up, let Rodgers go to Denver and pretend like we’ve had faith in Rudolph and Haskins all along. Or, ooh, I hear Mitch Trubisky may be available! Fun, fun!

Well, if that intro didn’t make you angry enough for next week’s “U mad, bro?,” that’s fine. I’ll have plenty left over from this week. Because what you are about to read barely scratched the surface of the anti-Aaron Rodgers venom I received.

This was a message I got from a guy named John. Let’s start with him. He doesn’t want me talking about Rodgers at all.

“Not even a fool would push this narrative. The O Line (stinks) and they need a stud D tackle. They need an upgrade at CB and a non-trash punter. Fix those first. Doesn’t matter who is QB. They’re going to (stink) next year.”

It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is? Fix the punter first?

What galaxy are we in and what year is it?

Only in Pittsburgh could I find a fan who worries about the punter before replacing a Hall of Fame quarterback — perhaps with another Hall of Fame quarterback.

This guy seems to think Rodgers doesn’t have the guts to come to the AFC North and will stay in the NFC North because it’s got easier competition.

He ain't leaving that cupcake division.

They'll fire the GM he doesn't like or they'll give him more money to shut him up.

— Mr. Crash (@SteelersCrash) January 24, 2022

The Steelers went 1-2-1 against those NFC North cupcakes, including getting smoked by Rodgers in Green Bay.

Meanwhile, Rodgers and the Packers beat all four of the big, bad AFC North teams he faced this year.

Aside from that, your theory is totally sound.

Bob seems like a great guy. Let’s go to him next.

“Trying to spend the money and draft picks to acquire one of these aging dudes is just so ridiculous and then your comment say(ing) ‘rebuild later’ was just plain dumb!

“Given the opportunity Mason will do alright and perform much better than Haskins! Haskins has been given his shot in the NFL and failed! Some people are meant to be in the NFL and some are not and Haskins falls into the second category.

“If you go back to great NFL teams, teams that have won Super Bowls and have put players in the HOF are teams with GREAT DEFENSES! The first Super Bowl with Roethlisberger was one by an average QB but a great Defense. Rebuild the OL and DL with draft picks and free agency and give Mason a chance instead of creating controversy on your radio show like yesterday just to create something to talk about which is just what you are paid to do.”

Aging?! Please! Rodgers is about to win the 2021 MVP.

I’m “dumb” and “ridiculous”? Ha! “Dumb” is your opinion that the offensive and defensive lines can both be rebuilt in the one year Rudolph has left on his contract.

Put Rodgers, Carr or Wilson behind that offensive line with a few improvements, and you’ll be stunned by how much a good QB fixes his own blocking issues.

“Harrumph! Great defenses!” Well, let me pull myself up by my britches, scratch my groin and spit while I travel back in time.”

Of course, you need a good defense to win a Super Bowl. But to act like the quarterback is an afterthought is insane. How did they get to the Super Bowl in 2005? Roethlisberger was great in three AFC playoff games. That’s how.

How did they win Super Bowl XLIII? Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes. That’s how. After the sainted defense blew a lead and let Larry Fitzgerald go crazy.

Every old, dusty Steeler fan loves to say, “Well look at Ben, he didn’t play well in the Seahawks game. DEFENSE AND A RUN GAME!” Then you conveniently forget those other details.

Give Mason a chance? He had one. Then Duck Hodges took his job. He got another and tied the Detroit Lions. But, Haskins, well, he’s trash!

That’s an interesting view.

You act like I’m creating controversy for the sake of it. Actually, in my opinion, you saying that Mason Rudolph is a better option than Rodgers, Wilson or Carr is a much more controversial take.

Denise sent this email about Rodgers.

“We don’t want an old QB…Will miss BIG BEN forever. We also need Art Rooney to get rid of MATT CANADA!! Also get back Jordan Berry, our best punter!”

I’ll ask again, tell me how age is an issue after a 37-4 touchdown to interception ratio and 4,115 passing yards in 2021?

The whole city slobbered over Roethlisberger coming back after 2020 ended. He’s a year older and had about 10% of Rodgers’ mobility. Please stop moving the goalposts.

You can miss Big Ben forever. But, honestly, you’ve been missing Big Ben since he hurt his elbow in September 2019. It just took you 11 games into 2020 to figure it out.

And, for crying out loud, another punter email?

Let’s make one thing real clear. If Rodgers actually does become the Steelers quarterback in 2021, my guess is the punter won’t have to be on the field quite as often.

We’ll end with a charming young lady named Melanie.

“You’re nuts if you think this town wants any part of that washed up lying plague rat. Pgh is better than that. The steel curtain had a moral code that we sorely need to get back to. Finally rid of Antonio (Brown) and his ego and getting rid of one problematic QB. The LAST thing we want or would welcome is that Wisconsin dirtbag that already showed the world he’s garbage professionally and personally. Your expresses desire to see the team court such trash denigrates our town and the entire state. You want to see him play in person, consider relocating. Any fan of his isn’t needed here either.”

The last time I got an email that “expresses” such an opinion was in January 2020. That’s when I wrote (if Roethlisberger had decided to retire after his elbow injury) that the Steelers should be interested in Tom Brady if he was going to leave New England.

“What?! The virtuous Steelers would never be interested in that rotten, no-good, washed up, 40-something cheater!!!”

Yeah. I got about 500 of those emails and tweets. So, um, how’d that work out with Brady in Tampa?

Save your holier than thou, soap box vitriol for someone who cares. I care about the win-loss record. Rodgers had 13 wins this year.

And before you say anything about being 1-4 in NFC Championship games, Roethlisberger was 3-7 in his last 10 playoff games and only made the AFC Championship once since Rodgers beat him in Super Bowl XLV as the game’s MVP.

But, hey, enjoy basking in your own morality of 7-10 or 6-11 with Rudolph, Haskins and Trubisky.

In the meantime, I’m going to read some scouting reports about potential punters the Steelers can get this offseason. I suppose that’s what really matters.