Vikings’ McCarthy choice pushes Rodgers one step nearer to retirement
For somebody as purportedly enlightened as free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, he ought to take heed to what the universe is telling him.
With the Vikings bowing out of the Rodgers sweepstakes, the four-time MVP is operating out of beginning choices in 2025. His greatest touchdown spot this season is perhaps his sofa.
On Wednesday, NFL insider Tom Pelissero of NFL Community reported that Minnesota has declined commerce calls surrounding 2024 first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy and is “not pursuing Aaron Rodgers at the moment.”
That leaves two groups which have proven an curiosity in Rodgers: the Steelers and the Giants.
Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is already bored with the Rodgers saga, saying on his “Not Simply Soccer” podcast, “Both you need to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you do not. It is that straightforward.” (h/t ESPN)
Neither the Steelers nor Giants are an Aaron Rodgers away from contending for a Tremendous Bowl. At this juncture, what is the level in beginning a 41-year-old quarterback if the crew’s ceiling is the wild-card spherical (Steelers) or six wins (Giants)?
The Vikings are the one Tremendous Bowl-caliber crew that would have been an choice. That they rebuffed Rodgers ought to communicate volumes about how the mercurial veteran is seen across the league.
Any crew signing Rodgers can solely anticipate to have him for one season. Whereas he may play longer, it will be unwise to imagine that it is a certainty Rodgers will need to go well with up in an NFL uniform past 2025.
Since his last seasons in Inexperienced Bay, he is carried out the “will he or will not he” dance relating to retirement, and that is a circus few groups, significantly these with low ceilings, ought to need to invite into their group.
Rodgers has additionally had diminishing on-field returns, failing to make the playoffs in his previous two full seasons as a beginning quarterback. Per NFL Professional knowledge, he had the third-worst completion proportion over anticipated (CPOE) amongst 36 qualifying quarterbacks in 2024, forward of Cooper Rush and Anthony Richardson.
Contemplating how determined the Steelers and Giants are for a quarterback, Rodgers will possible stay a candidate for a 2025 beginning gig till these positions are stuffed … so long as he does not decide up what Earth is telling him first.
