Former QB Chimes in on Rodgers' Free Agency

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ free agency has been the biggest story of the Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason. As its conclusion lingers toward June, it seems increasingly likely that it will end much like the seasons of the Steelers’ recent past – anticlimactic.

Pittsburgh is currently rostering Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, and has head coach Mike Tomlin’s ability to produce winning teams without league-average quarterback play in its corner, suggesting additional moves don’t have to be made. But owner Art Rooney II remains confident in Rodgers' signing.

He isn’t alone in that endeavor. Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck got honest about the Steelers’ pursuit of Rodgers on a recent episode of “The Herd.”

“Aaron Rodgers is going to be with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Hasselbeck said. "All this other talk about all these other teams—it’s not happening.”

Simply put, Rodgers is out of options. Either he signs with Pittsburgh or he walks away from the game as one of its most accomplished passers, a year or two before he would prefer. The Cleveland Browns already have too many quarterbacks and a surplus of chaos. The New Orleans Saints are more than a veteran quarterback away from competing.

“The quarterback free agency situation at the end of your career is very similar to musical chairs," he added. "There are only so many chairs. When the music stops, the music stops.”

In an offseason with major moves at the sport’s most important decision, Rodgers’ patience cost him the opportunity to land elsewhere. Maybe that was necessary given his contemplation of retirement. Perhaps he only wanted to play for Pittsburgh, anyway.

Whatever the case, the quarterback stalling on a potential signing will at some point have diminishing returns. He can get away with missing offseason practices and absorb a new offense quickly. But for the teammates that need to be on the same page as one of the game’s smartest passers, reps matter. Fair or not, Rodgers is robbing them of that opportunity.

“It needs to be mutual acceptance," Hasselbeck said. "The music's about to stop soon, and he's going to have to sit down or get out.”