The headlines read: Art Rooney II expects an Aaron Rodgers decision before the draft. That’s what the national media focused on, what the local pundits discussed and debated, and was our takeaway, too. That timeline, if not a deadline, is notable and certainly worth the attention it’s received.
There’s another comment that offers a window into why Rooney expects an answer in weeks’ time, and the only specific piece of information we have so far about what Rodgers has told the team.
It came tucked underneath Rooney’s initial comments. The PPG’s Gerry Dulac was the first to write about Rooney’s draft expectation, sharing that as the first quote in his article last Sunday. But Rooney’s next comment was just as interesting – if not more.
“When I talked to him, and Omar [Khan] talked to him, he told us he wasn’t going to take as long this year as he did last year [to make a decision],” Rooney told Dulac. “I’m not 100% sure what that means, but I expect something before the draft.”
Unless I missed it, lost in the endless coverage that’s become Rodgers’ yearly will-he-won’t-he decisions, that is the only piece of information revealed by either side, Rodgers or the team, detailing the nature of their conversations. Unless McCarthy’s off-hand comment of Rodgers skiing this winter counts (it doesn’t).
During his interview with Pat McAfee, Rodgers didn’t disclose specifics of his talks with Pittsburgh. Other than the fact that no contract had been offered, something to be expected given that Rodgers hasn’t decided his future. Omar Khan and McCarthy would only note that the two sides were in regular communication, and Rooney’s other media interviews didn’t disclose any details about communication to and from Rodgers.
By no means is this comment a smoking gun. But this is all we have. Rodgers told the team he would not take as long as 2025. Last year, it took until June 6th for Rodgers to officially sign his contract with the news reported a few days earlier.
Rooney, even in admitting he didn’t know exactly what Rodgers’ comments meant, interpreted them as referring to before the draft. Or, at least, is using that information to apply a little public pressure on Rodgers to decide and resolve the situation before Pittsburgh hosts the NFL’s main offseason event. But Rodgers’ comment, taken as Rooney told it, could mean that Rodgers decides after the draft and still be true to his word. He could decide in, say, mid-May, which would technically be earlier than 2025’s timeline.
Rodgers is a tiresome story. Writing about it here only adds to the fatigue. But this is the only thing we *know* the two sides have discussed. This comment from Rooney got lost in the shuffle. It’s one worth mentioning, as the only data point we have. Probably the only one we get until there’s an answer. Rodgers keeps a tight circle with few leaks, and the Steelers are often just as tight-lipped.