Analyst voices major Aaron Rodgers concerns ahead of Steelers-Ravens clash

On a recent edition of his "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" podcast, the Pittsburgh Steelers legend revealed that he had "heard" that current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers "was just calling plays" over offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during Pittsburgh's 26-7 home loss to the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 30. 

During the latest edition of the "This is Football with Kevin Clark" podcast, former NFL quarterback and current analyst Chris Simms seemed to echo Roethlisberger's comment. 

Has Aaron Rodgers hijacked Steelers offense?

"The quarterback play is not special, and then I do believe the offense has been hijacked by Aaron Rodgers to a degree," Simms said about the Steelers, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "Some of the plays you're seeing are not called in the huddle. You hear that just on Sunday in the press conference. 'I gave him this signal. He should've gone in but went out.' He hijacks a lot of plays. So it's really hard to tell what Arthur Smith calls and doesn't call."

Simms was referencing how Rodgers suggested after the Buffalo game that some Steelers receivers had missed midweek film sessions and didn't know the "right route" to run during the game. Rodgers has since said that he "meant that everybody come [to the film sessions] with an open mind, be self-critical, work on the things you got to work on, and let’s get better." 

Is Aaron Rodgers not being honest with himself about physical limitations? 

Rodgers turned 42 years old this past Tuesday, and he dealt with numerous physical setbacks over the past few seasons before he suffered a fractured left wrist on Nov. 16. Simms hinted that the game film shows Rodgers wants to play like a version of himself that no longer exists. 

"He still dances around in the pocket sometimes like it's 2014," Simms added about Rodgers. "Those days are over, man. The last two times we've seen that, he took a safety against the Chargers and took a strip-sack fumble."

The awful safety Rodgers took occurred on Nov. 9, before he hurt his wrist. Against Buffalo, Rodgers lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. The future Hall of Famer completed just 10-of-21 pass attempts for 117 yards in the Week 13 defeat. 

Rodgers isn't panicking ahead of this Sunday's game between the 6-6 Steelers and 6-6 Baltimore Ravens that will determine which team begins next week atop the AFC North standings. It remains to be seen if he will display any "hero ball" tendencies in the pivotal showdown held at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.