rewrite this title Steelers Hall of Famer rips team over Aaron Rodgers interest

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still playing the waiting game on free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and everybody, except them, seems to be getting tired of it. That includes one of the giants in franchise history, Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. 

The four-time Super Bowl champion has never been shy about being critical of the team when warranted, and he did not hold back on Tuesday when discussing the Steelers’ reported interest in Rodgers during an appearance on 103.7 The Buzz.

Bradshaw called the Steelers’ interest in Rodgers “a joke” and saved his harshest barbs for Rodgers himself.

“That’s a joke. That to me is just a joke. What are you gonna do? Bring him in for one year, are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.”

Bradshaw also argued the Steelers gave up on former first-round pick Kenny Pickett too quickly and did not do enough to support him with talent around him. 

The Steelers’ quarterback situation has been a mess ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, and whether it is Rodgers or somebody else, they are set to have their fourth different opening starting quarterback over the past four seasons.

Since Roethlisberger’s retirement, the Steelers’ opening day starters have been Mitch Trubisky, Pickett, Justin Fields and a yet-to-be-named starter this season that could be anyone from Rodgers, to Mason Rudolph, to rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard, to Skylar Thompson to another mystery veteran that is still available.

Rudolph and Russell Wilson have also started games for the Steelers over the past three seasons. 

They went into this offseason with the goal of re-signing either Wilson or Fields, but ended up retaining neither as they went to the New York Giants and New York Jets, respectively, in free agency. The Steelers also missed out on every other major free agent and traded quarterback this offseason, and currently only have Rudolph, Howard and Thompson on the roster. 

It is a problem and a concern. Rodgers also probably is not going to solve it, given his age (42) and how bad he was this past season for the Jets.

Along with completely overturning their quarterback room for the second consecutive offseason, they have also changed their skill positions on offense by trading wide receiver George Pickens and letting top running back Najee Harris leave in free agency. 

They did acquire DK Metcalf in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks, but still do not know who will be passing him the football.