Through March and April, as a particular reporter continued to push it, Aaron Rodgers was being tied to the Minnesota Vikings. In his only public comments this offseason, Rodgers used his platform on "The Pat McAfee Show" to deny his desperation to play for the Vikings.
The Pittsburgh Steelers seem fully inclined to wait for Rodgers to be ready to sign, and avoid the parts of offseason he loathes, and the time seems to be coming for it to happen. Retirement is also a distinct possibility, but on the other hand Rodgers the competitor surely does not want to end his career on the sour note of his two-year tenure with the New York Jets.
Rodgers and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell have known each other for a long time. So it's fair to assume the topic of him playing for the Vikings this season, with J.J. McCarty unproven, was brought up by Rodgers in the course of whatever level of regular communication they have.
It has always felt like Rodgers is a headache O'Connell would not invite around his young quarterback. But he did Rodgers a professional courtesy by taking the idea to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and the idea was clearly discussed.
Trading for Sam Howell on Day 3 of the draft slammed the door on the Rodgers idea, finally.
Reporter offers idea Aaron Rodgers has not given up on playing for the Minnesota Vikings
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler was on Wednesday's edition of the "The Dan Patrick Show." Rodgers was a topic, amid all the wondering about the timing of his decision and the seeming inevitability he'll sign with the Steelers.
After noting Pittsburgh's willingness to wait as Rodgers sorts out what he said he's been dealing with in his personal life, Fowler has some other insight.
"There’s some teams I’ve talked to, they are still kind of wondering, like, is he just waiting out the Vikings, you know? Because the Vikings would be an ideal scenario, one of the best play callers in the league in head coach Kevin O’Connell, nine dome games, you’re guaranteed nine dome games per year."
Fowler then dropped the bottom line, whether Rodgers likes it or not.
"There's some element of that, but I checked in with the Vikings, I still don't expect that. They're moving forward with J.J. McCarthy. So he really has no other option, other than Pittsburgh or retiring."
The Vikings would be an ideal scenario for Rodgers, and he clearly wanted it/still wants it, no matter what he might say otherwise. But the Vikings have moved on, and the future Hall of Famer should move on, too.