It seems like every game this season, Aaron Rodgers has multiple moments of visible frustration on-field with his teammates. Is that just how he is, with high expectations and a low tolerance for mistakes? Or is something else brewing behind the scenes in Pittsburgh? NFL insider Mike Garafolo senses that it’s the latter.
“Something’s bothering me with the Steelers right now,” Garafolo said Wednesday via NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “Aaron Rodgers’ reactions to his own teammates, to maybe himself, I don’t know. There’s been a lot of this. I don’t love it, right? He strongly hinted that this could be his last NFL season. He hasn’t really closed the door or solidified that. I’m not gonna pretend like I know what’s going on in his head, but this leads me to believe the whole thing’s just not on solid ground right now.”
Garafolo used the comparison of a Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera farewell tour, where the players are playing loose and having fun with it at the end of a long and storied career. Other than maybe a game or two when everything went right for the offense, it hasn’t looked like Rodgers is having as much fun with it as he should be.
There’s a lot of words flying and animated hand gestures after plays. Each is a clear sign of frustration. Here’s just one example from Sunday, but it seemed like the broadcast was showing Rodgers’ frustrated looks almost every drive.
Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth, Broderick Jones, Calvin Austin III… He’s seemingly snapped at everybody at one time or another this season.
Is this just how Rodgers is? Some people wear their emotions on their sleeve, and Rodgers’ high expectations for his teammates is well documented throughout his career. Some people also grow more ornery with age, and he’s a nearly 42-year-old trying to get good play out of, in some cases, players half his age.
The press conferences haven’t necessarily suggested trouble behind the scenes, but there’s no denying Rodgers’ constant frustration on the field. It’s easy to show togetherness when the team is winning, but three losses in four weeks is starting to show cracks. What happens if the Steelers’ slide continues?
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