Steelers insider sounds 'alarm bells' regarding Aaron Rodgers situation

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers remained an unsigned free agent as the Pittsburgh Steelers began the organized team activities portion of the offseason program on Tuesday. Nevertheless, it seems to be a matter of when and not if Rodgers will join the Steelers ahead of the 2025 season. 

During a Tuesday evening appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, Steelers insider Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers' springtime absences could impact the club.

"For me, the alarm bells are already ringing," Batko said about the ongoing Rodgers situation, as shared by Jake Brockhoff of Steelers Depot. "I think it's already a sideshow for this team...I think it's already set up, fairly or unfairly, this dynamic or perception that one guy is above the team and bigger than the team. Sometimes, I think that's the case. But not for him in his current state, and not for him in a franchise that he's never been a part of."

Ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, Steelers pass-rusher Alex Highsmith insisted that the Rodgers saga is not "a distraction at all" for players working out at the team's facility this spring. That, however, was before longtime backup signal-caller Mason Rudolph and others in the locker room had to open OTAs answering questions about the future Hall of Famer who hasn't made an official commitment to the Steelers. 

"Sometimes we put so much stock into the offseason, and we get caught up thinking it’s everything," Pittsburgh defensive lineman and team captain Cameron Heyward said on Tuesday regarding Rodgers' whereabouts, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. "Yes, it can help. Yes, guys can get better, but who’s to say you can’t be better outside of here? I hate to point to it, but last year, I missed OTAs (during a contract dispute), so it didn’t really help me. I think (with) any player, you know what you need. You know what’s required of you. As you progress toward training camp, you start to kick it up, whether it’s meeting with teammates or whatever. To each his own."

As recently as Tuesday, NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN indicated that the Steelers are "willing to wait" for Rodgers. Even before Schefter offered that update, some suggested that the 41-year-old has a handshake agreement with Pittsburgh that will allow him to skip the club's mandatory minicamp scheduled to run from June 10-12.

"He's a future Hall of Famer, Super Bowl winner, four-time MVP, but he's never done any of that for the Steelers," Batko added about Rodgers not participating in voluntary workouts. "So yeah, I absolutely think it's more significant that he should be here for this. But for whatever reason, I guess he doesn't think he owes that to this team."

One would think that at least some Pittsburgh players secretly feel Rodgers is disrespecting the club by choosing not to build chemistry with new teammates and coaches via workouts that are hardly strenuous for veteran stars. Unless Rodgers surprises the NFL community and decides to retire, he'll have to eventually answer questions about why he waited so long to put pen to paper on his Steelers contract.