Though the Steelers’ confidence concerning Aaron Rodgers has emerged, the attract of a Vikings touchdown spot persists. Minnesota is standing down on Rodgers in the intervening time. The crew intends to offer J.J. McCarthy the primary crack at starter reps throughout its offseason program.
This locations Rodgers in a little bit of a bind, and it additionally may stall the Steelers and Giants and doubtlessly pressure one or each groups to blink as this holding sample continues. Rodgers has gone so far as, per ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert, informing the Vikings they’re his most well-liked vacation spot.
Rodgers, 41, has been cautious to not rule out groups; doing so would lower his leverage. He views the Giants as a viable option, despite the fact that New York’s supply — one believed to be the perfect the long run Corridor of Famer has obtained this offseason — is unlikely to provide a deal. The Steelers hosted Rodgers on a go to Friday, however they haven’t upped their offer made at the beginning of free agency. Nonetheless, some across the league view it as a protected guess that the Steelers will end up with Rodgers. Though, he might nicely proceed to attend on Minnesota somewhat than pressure a Pittsburgh match.
If Rodgers waits, extra comparisons to his Packers predecessor will undoubtedly emerge. After the Jets relinquished Brett Favre‘s rights — as a consequence of a poison-pill provision within the Packers-Jets commerce from 2008 — in 2009, Favre spent greater than three months in free company. The Vikings added him on Aug. 18, 2009. The Vikings didn’t obtain phrase that Favre would unretire for a 3rd time till Aug. 18, 2010. The Giants and Steelers will virtually positively not wait that lengthy on Rodgers this offseason, however the Vikings could also be prepared to carry right here as a result of McCarthy onramp they’re creating.
McCarthy did cease in need of confirming that the Vikings assured him the beginning job, telling Kay Adams he has not been informed he’ll start the season because the starter. With no veteran on the roster — regardless of organizational support for adding Rodgers after a 14-3 season — and a No. 10 general choose invested, it’s protected to say McCarthy is within the driver’s seat to be the NFC North crew’s Week 1 signal-caller. Minnesota did make a suggestion to Daniel Jones, which might have eliminated the crew from the Rodgers market, however the bridge possibility opted to signal with Indianapolis as an alternative.
“And I’m comfortable they didn’t, as a result of I attempt to earn it each single day,” McCarthy stated of the beginning job during an “Up & Adams” appearance. “And I by no means need that to be given to me. it’s such a privilege and alternative to offer me that likelihood, and I’m simply going to take advantage of it each single day.”
The Vikings have left open the prospect of signing Rodgers this summer time, Seifert provides, presumably after McCarthy throughout OTAs and minicamp. This would depart roughly seven weeks for the Vikings to rethink Rodgers, however he might have already got a brand new house by then.
Then once more, a Vikings-or-retirement rumor surfaced throughout this saga. It’s not a lock Rodgers would play in Pittsburgh or New York, but it surely actually seems the Steelers believe he would delay retirement to play for them. Doing so would preempt a partnership together with his prime possibility, nonetheless. That might trigger Rodgers to maintain ready, despite the fact that the Steelers — as of now, at the least — will current a greater likelihood for him to start out all through the 2025 season.
