Aaron Rodgers has become one of the most polarizing athletes in North America over the last few years. And it’s not really like he’s done much to avoid such a label.
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There’s the darkness retreats, the ayahuasca trips, the views on various conspiracy theories, and his unpopular opinions about COVID and the vaccines. The list goes on. And playing in the media capital of the world, New York City, probably didn’t help much on that front.
However, since his official arrival with the Pittsburgh Steelers in early June, Rodgers has been nothing but professional both on the field during training camp and in his media responsibilities. Other veterans the Steelers acquired this offseason, including CB Darius Slay, have already noticed the difference between the Rodgers they’ve interacted with at camp and the one they expected based on his media persona.
“It’s kinda good to see how he is, because everybody calls him a d**k, but he’s a cool dude. … I’ve never had a problem with him. … He’s a cool dude though.”
And Slay didn’t just realize this now. Back in June, after Rodgers first joined the team and participated in minicamp, Slay was already gushing over how good Rodgers looked on the field despite being 41 years old. He also talked about how Rodgers fits the situation well with rookie Will Howard learning from the future Hall of Famer and Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf already installed as a bonafide WR1.
“His arm strength’s still there. Of course, it’s not like he’s 20, but it’s still the fact that he can still get the ball to a position where the receiver can make a play on it. I think he’s a great addition because the fact that we got a younger guy that just got drafted from Ohio State, young guy, and he can really train him, help him get to where he’s at,” he stated.
“And bringing [DK Metcalf] along so [Rodgers] don’t have to actually [go find a No. 1 receiver]. He got one that’s right there and that’s ready to go. It’s gonna be fun,” he continued.
Rodgers and Metcalf have actually been getting acquainted for quite some time. Months before Rodgers officially signed with the Steelers on June 6, the pair were seen working out and running routes together. They are also dorm mates at training camp, which has seemingly only strengthened their bond and their chemistry.
In the secondary, Slay and the defense have reportedly been getting the better of Rodgers and the offense during camp. A lot. It will be interesting to see how the real offense performs when we finally get a sneak peek of them playing together at some point during the preseason.
