Latest news with #PittsburghSteeler
NBC Sports
28-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Terry Bradshaw, Cam Heyward comments about Aaron Rodgers resonate with plenty of Steelers fans
As the Steelers remain in the very un-Steeler-like position of giving an open-ended invitation to a player who has yet to reciprocate the team's interest, plenty of Steelers fans are dismayed by the team's uncharacteristic display of desperation. And when someone connected to the team pushes back, plenty of Steelers fans applaud. In March, veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward said this: 'I ain't doing that darkness retreat. I don't need any of that crap. Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. That's simple, that's the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that's the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers — if you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don't, no skin off my back.' And while Heyward later softened his remarks, he spoke for plenty of Steelers fans. Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don't. More recently, Hall of Fame Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw unloaded on Rodgers, calling the prospect of a one-year rental 'a joke' and authoring this insult: 'That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.' That's how plenty of Steelers fans feel. We've run a pair of unscientific Twitter polls regarding whether Steelers fans want Rodgers. Both resulted in an overwhelming no. The first was done in late March. The next in April, a day after Rodgers appeared with Pat McAfee and company to explain his absence of a team, to air general grievances, and to relitigate COVID (again). The first poll resulted in a 55.9-percent no vote. The second saw the negative shoot to more than 70 percent. The Steelers apparently don't care. They'll do whatever they think they need to do. The fans will get used to it — especially if/when Rodgers shows up and starts throwing darts all over the place. Still, a hesitation to Rodgers lingers. He's already an outsider. And he keeps acting like one. The longer he takes to tell the world what he's doing, the stronger the basic Pittsburgh aversion to Rodgers will become. Especially since it shouldn't be hard for him to disclose his plans. Directly and clearly and without wordplay while riding sidecar to 'Mike Stud' or anything other than the kind of straightforward candor that characterizes people from Pittsburgh. They don't have time for games; there's work to be done. And you're either going to pick up a shovel and dig, or you're going to stand there and watch. When will Rodgers pick up his shovel? And it's not just when he will shovel. It's whether he will shovel at all. That's all Steelers fans want to know. Will he be picking up a shovel in Pittsburgh this year?
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘A reminder of the cost of freedom' Memorial service held at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
A service was held at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies to honor the nation's fallen heroes. Music was played and wreaths were laid during the ceremony. Some local veterans gave speeches, including former Pittsburgh Steeler and Army veteran Rocky Bleier. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Volunteers honor veterans with families at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies Bleier encouraged the audience to appreciate the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families. 'Rather than for celebration, it's an opportunity to honor the memory of those who gave their lives for their country. It also serves as a reminder of the cost of freedom,' Bleier said. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Volunteers play music at local cemetery to honor veterans on Armed Forces Day Another event leader said Memorial Day is integral to the United States of America's identity. 'Memorial Day should be the most significant holiday of the American people in the United States because, without Memorial Day, without the sacrifices and the individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice, none of the freedoms we have would be possible,' said Central Baptist Church Reverand Phillip Grayson. More than 20,000 veterans are buried at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Matt LaFleur on Aaron Rodgers: 'I fully expect him to be a Pittsburgh Steeler'
Matt LaFleur on Aaron Rodgers: 'I fully expect him to be a Pittsburgh Steeler' Show Caption Hide Caption Five NFL games we can't wait to watch in the 2025 season The NFL schedule for the 2025-2026 season has been released. Here are a few games on our must-watch list. The NFL schedule release is commonly believed to be the last marquee event of the offseason. That will be replaced by Aaron Rodgers' eventual signing this year. All eyes have been focused on Rodgers since the New York Jets informed the quarterback in February that they'd be moving on. The former Green Bay Packers signal-caller lasted just two seasons with the Jets. He was healthy for only one after a torn Achilles quickly ended his first season in New York after just four plays. As for his next chapter, the expectation is that he'll end up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During an appearance on "Up & Adams" Wednesday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur agreed. However, when asked by Kay Adams, LaFleur said he hadn't heard from Mike Tomlin or the coaching staff in Pittsburgh. "No, not one, nothing," LaFleur said, adding he also hasn't spoken with the team's offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, either. "I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing, I'm sure they're confident in what they're doing and I fully expect him to be a Pittsburgh Steeler." AARON RODGERS RUMORS: Biographer believes QB's personal issues to be resolved by June While Rodgers has remained mostly out of the spotlight this offseason, he remains the talk of the town as the Steelers await his decision. They've gone all-in on the four-time league MVP, watching Russell Wilson and Justin Fields depart the Steel City for starting gigs elsewhere. The free agent market has run dry and the 2025 NFL Draft is in the rearview, making it Rodgers-or-bust for Tomlin's team. With no timeline for the quarterback's decision and training camp fast approaching, the nervous energy could start building in Pittsburgh – even if the expectation is that he'll eventually end up there.
NBC Sports
19-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
The recent Aaron Rodgers comments didn't seem to move the needle for Steelers fans
Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. When Steelers legend Cam Heyward uttered those words last month regarding free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they resonated with Steelers fans. The justifiably elite franchise, owners of six Lombardi Trophies, is too proud to beg. Or at least it should be. For weeks, the vibe has been that the Steelers are sufficiently desperate to wait (and wait . . . and wait) for Rodgers to decide whether he wants to be a Steeler. On Thursday, Rodgers finally explained the reason for his delayed timetable. He repeatedly referred during an unplanned appearance on his ESPN safe space/bully pulpit to a personal issue involving someone in his inner circle. For whatever reason, he'd kept that fact close to the vest before Thursday. His deliberate silence created the impression that he didn't want to be a Steeler, at least not until he knows he doesn't have any better options. And that perception that Rodgers allowed to fester turned off Steelers fans. After Thursday, they're turned off even more. It's hard to put much stock in Twitter polls. However, we've now done two of them that pose the question (ideally to Steelers fans only) as to whether they want Rodgers to join the team. One came on March 25, four days after he spent six hours in Pittsburgh. The other was posted on Friday, a day after he finally dropped a fact or two into the vacuum he had created. The first time, with 11,286 responses, 55.9 percent said no. The second time — after he settled scores and aired grievances and beat a long-dead horse with no name (we'll call it COVID) — 11,854 responded. And 70.3 percent said no. Despite the inherent flaws of any publicly-available poll (especially those landing on social-media cesspools), this is as apples-to-apples as it can be. Same question. Same platform. Same group of potential respondents. On March 25, 55.9 percent said no to Rodgers. Less than a month later, the number shot to 70.3 percent. The Steelers should take heed. I'd previously argued that Steelers fans should embrace Rodgers, because he's far better than any other option they have. I've now done a 180. While he's better than Mason Rudolph or Skylar Thompson or whoever else they might land, Rodgers is no longer good enough to be worth the hassle. And there will be a hassle. Although I've long argued that franchise quarterbacks shouldn't be told 'you just work here,' Rodgers consistently comes off as a guy who wants to run the place. When he was blasting the Jets on Thursday for not playing a multi-hour game with him before saying they want to move on, he seemed surprised that the new regime didn't want to pick the beautiful mind of a 20-year veteran whom they don't want on the team. He pulled the same shit when sparking a passive-aggressive fight with Packers coach Matt LaFleur over 'the audible thing.' LaFleur's offense gave the quarterback limited flexibility to change the play that was called in the huddle. Rodgers was mystified that LaFleur wouldn't give an experienced (and brilliant) quarterback permission to do whatever he wanted. And Rodgers made it into a public thing, until LaFleur realized that the best way to get along with a delicate genius would be to go along with his wishes. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin might believe he can control Rodgers. If anyone can, it's Tomlin. The concern should be that no one can, and that waiting for Rodgers and heralding Rodgers and letting Rodgers be Rodgers is not what the Steelers do. No matter how desperate they are to win a playoff game for the first time since the 2016 season. We've heard from plenty of Steelers fans who would rather suffer through a losing season with Rudolph than any season with Rodgers. We suspect that some members of the organization, fresh from the Russell Wilson year, may not want to deal with another aging quarterback who will take the air out of the building. Will the Steelers listen to their customers? At a minimum, they should be doing their own polling and/or convening focus groups to take the temperature of the fan base. If their findings mesh with ours, they should make it clear that Rodgers won't be wearing black and gold in 2025. Or ever.
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New details emerge from Steelers WR DK Metcalf-Aaron Rodgers throwing session
New details emerge from Steelers WR DK Metcalf-Aaron Rodgers throwing session "Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf had a planned throwing session and it went very well.. My general feel is that he's gonna be a Pittsburgh Steeler but we'll wait and see until it's final"@RapSheet #PMSLive — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 31, 2025 The Steel City has erupted—some glad, most upset—as signs are beginning to point toward a Pittsburgh Steelers-Aaron Rodgers signing following the throwing session with WR DK Metcalf. One insider made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show to clear up some of the mysterious details surrounding what took place at UCLA between Metcalf and Rodgers. According to insider Ian Rapoport, the meeting was planned in advance, wasn't a secret, and went "very well." He continued by clarifying that while the Minnesota Vikings could pull a 180 and make a push for Rodgers, all signs currently point to a Pittsburgh Steelers signing. The most important takeaway from this UCLA throwing session may be that it was the first Pittsburgh Steelers-related activity for Rodgers that wasn't cloaked in secrecy—as his leaked Pittsburgh Pirates merchandise and meeting at the team facility seemed to be intentionally kept from the media. Ultimately, Rodgers couldn't stay out of the limelight with either of those potentially being breadcrumbs to a Steelers signing, and that could be why the four-time MVP didn't even attempt to hide his practice with Metcalf.
