I would extend Rodgers now

[955876]

Rogers has impressed me this far.

Amazing he was drafted a year ahead of Ben.

Ben got lazy though IMO and didn’t put the work in those last few years. If Faggo and Rogers can still do what they do Ben could have as well.

[Gonzo]

I don’t hate Rodger’s
Just think it’s a sad state pining to retain a 42 year old half qb so we can maybe get to 9-8 and watch the highest paid D in football loaf again
This is bizarro football … absurd state of languishing
I get you cant win every year
But how about a state where you intentionally try to win half at the expense of winning everything

[CKSteeler]

Was going for the more obscure

Dig Kordell

Sorry for the omission

I actually liked Kordell. He made bonehead plays in the AFCCG (he did get them there). If Cowher & Co would have not tried to make him "pocket passer". I remember that MNF game against the Stains. The Stains were complaining that it was not Fair that the Steelers were using him in that Slash role.
He really has some crazy plays while playing QB full time. He'd easily be the 1st QB taken in this day and age.

I was involved in a twitter conversation on this topic.

I explained that Kordell was not only ahead of his time, that he was Lamar before Lamar - but once Cowher decided to eff with his mechanics- it screwed him up bad.

He went from being serviceably accurate to - couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. He started aiming his passes, instead of letting them go. At that point you could see he lost all confidence in his ability - and that was that.


Kordell actually jumped in and gave me a thumbs up. lol

What Lamar does works, as far as it does work because he hasn't won a Super Bowl and probably never will, because of the rule changes. The rule changes led to the schematic changes that allow athletes playing QB to have legitimate careers today.

Kordell was never going to win anything if he didn't improve as a passer. He could have muddled along and been a moderately successful QB...which was basically his career trajectory, anyway. And 2001 was maybe his best season. So I don't think it's accurate to say anyone ruined him.

[anpsteel]

I actually liked Kordell. He made bonehead plays in the AFCCG (he did get them there). If Cowher & Co would have not tried to make him "pocket passer". I remember that MNF game against the Stains. The Stains were complaining that it was not Fair that the Steelers were using him in that Slash role.
He really has some crazy plays while playing QB full time. He'd easily be the 1st QB taken in this day and age.

I was involved in a twitter conversation on this topic.

I explained that Kordell was not only ahead of his time, that he was Lamar before Lamar - but once Cowher decided to eff with his mechanics- it screwed him up bad.

He went from being serviceably accurate to - couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. He started aiming his passes, instead of letting them go. At that point you could see he lost all confidence in his ability - and that was that.


Kordell actually jumped in and gave me a thumbs up. lol

What Lamar does works, as far as it does work because he hasn't won a Super Bowl and probably never will, because of the rule changes. The rule changes led to the schematic changes that allow athletes playing QB to have legitimate careers today.

Kordell was never going to win anything if he didn't improve as a passer. He could have muddled along and been a moderately successful QB...which was basically his career trajectory, anyway. And 2001 was maybe his best season. So I don't think it's accurate to say anyone ruined him.

I don't disagree with anything you wrote, accept the part regarding his mechanics and performance. It was visibly noticeable.

Watching him try to control his footwork and release point, he'd "aim" the ball - which would go nowhere near where the intended receiver was. Frequently way over their head, or into the ground 5 yards in front of them. It was bad.

[Texas Black & Gold]

Aaron wants to retire as a Packer.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/stee ... s-packers/

Let him coach and help Will Howard first.

[stillthere]

Let him coach and help Will Howard first.

This is the only reason to keep him next year.

[Who Dee Knee]

I think there's a long way to go before off-season decisions can be made. So many possibilities. If they make a postseason run, then bring the band back as much as possible. But other than that pretty unlikely event, the choices are all going to be in the range of unpalatable.

That's what is depressing me..We have a dark future ahead. Even with Tomlin retiring/being fired/traded! (O still my beating heart!) someone would have to come in and do a Chuck Noll level job on this non contender. And we'd need a new Rooney on top of that..more transition time.

There’s no comparing this team with Chuck Noll’s inaugural team in 1969. That team had maybe five or six guys who were still there when the Steelers hit the big time in the early seventies.

This team has the following potentially useful players (granted I haven’t checked their year end contract status):

Howard
Warren
Gainwell
C. Johnson
Metcalf
Austin
R. Wilson
Freiermuth
Washington
J. Smith
B. Jones
Frazier
McCormack
Fautanu
S. Anderson
Harmon
Black
Queen
Watt
Sawyer
P. Wilson
Herbig
Highsmith
Holcomb
Porter
Echols
Elliott
Ramsey
Boswell
Waitman

That’s 30 players. Granted, I needed to use certain subjective criteria about who should be included or excluded, but I tried to be pretty fair about it.

Hardly an expansion team.

[Who Dee Knee]

Rogers has impressed me this far.

Amazing he was drafted a year ahead of Ben.

Ben got lazy though IMO and didn’t put the work in those last few years. If Faggo and Rogers can still do what they do Ben could have as well.

I think Ben was drafted in 2004 and Rodgers in 2005.

Ben’s arm was shot at the end. Not so with Rodgers—did yunz see that Hail Mary?

[W&M_Steeler]

Rogers has impressed me this far.

Amazing he was drafted a year ahead of Ben.

Ben got lazy though IMO and didn’t put the work in those last few years. If Faggo and Rogers can still do what they do Ben could have as well.

I think Ben was drafted in 2004 and Rodgers in 2005.

Ben’s arm was shot at the end. Not so with Rodgers—did yunz see that Hail Mary?

Correct, Ben is almost two years older than Rodgers and was drafted in 2004, a year ahead of Rodgers. Ben had a severe arm injury in 2019- it's surprising he was able to play as well as he did in 2020 and 2021, not to mention that Ben was hit far more in his career than were Rodgers and Flacco. Ben's more physical style lead to more wear and tear.

[.Kodiak]

Rogers has impressed me this far.

Amazing he was drafted a year ahead of Ben.

Ben got lazy though IMO and didn’t put the work in those last few years. If Faggo and Rogers can still do what they do Ben could have as well.

I think Ben was drafted in 2004 and Rodgers in 2005.

Ben’s arm was shot at the end. Not so with Rodgers—did yunz see that Hail Mary?

Ben still threw a few balls his last year about 60 in the air, which was close to anything else he ever did. He never had the Rodger's 70+ yard hail mary in his tool box. Ben could still make all the throws, far from being "shot". His knees were shot, which would affect power and accuracy some, but the arm is always the last thing to go.

Ben's problems his last year were mostly the OL - not being able to step into his throws or having enough time - and timing with the receivers.

[W&M_Steeler]

Rogers has impressed me this far.

Amazing he was drafted a year ahead of Ben.

Ben got lazy though IMO and didn’t put the work in those last few years. If Faggo and Rogers can still do what they do Ben could have as well.

I think Ben was drafted in 2004 and Rodgers in 2005.

Ben’s arm was shot at the end. Not so with Rodgers—did yunz see that Hail Mary?

Ben still threw a few balls his last year about 60 in the air, which was close to anything else he ever did. He never had the Rodger's 70+ yard hail mary in his tool box. Ben could still make all the throws, far from being "shot". His knees were shot, which would affect power and accuracy some, but the arm is always the last thing to go.

Ben's problems his last year were mostly the OL - not being able to step into his throws or having enough time - and timing with the receivers.

Plus an incompetent nepotism hire as OC. Where is Matt Canada these days?

[gojira5150]

Rogers has impressed me this far.

Amazing he was drafted a year ahead of Ben.

Ben got lazy though IMO and didn’t put the work in those last few years. If Faggo and Rogers can still do what they do Ben could have as well.

I think Ben was drafted in 2004 and Rodgers in 2005.

Ben’s arm was shot at the end. Not so with Rodgers—did yunz see that Hail Mary?

Ben still threw a few balls his last year about 60 in the air, which was close to anything else he ever did. He never had the Rodger's 70+ yard hail mary in his tool box. Ben could still make all the throws, far from being "shot". His knees were shot, which would affect power and accuracy some, but the arm is always the last thing to go.

Ben's problems his last year were mostly the OL - not being able to step into his throws or having enough time - and timing with the receivers.

To make matters worse they drafted Muuuttthhh instead of Creed (Ben needed a quality center at the time & ended up with Green

[jeemie]

Dude is keeping up his end of the deal and more. Not seeing any easy draft fixes or otherwise if he leaves.

Lol he might retire after tonight.

He's not accepting another contract from us.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

I know. Rodgers is clearly in a position of strength and that why the Steelers should try to extend now because its not going to get any easier.

[MJG75]

Kordell Stewart and his playoff win over the "most dominant defense in history" coming off winning the Super Bowl feels unappreciated by this post.

Was going for the more obscure

Dig Kordell

Sorry for the omission

Oh, I mean "3rd best QB in Steelers history" is a fun debate. Including their time not with the Steelers, NOD and Kordell are pretty close to the same level of player, just got it done in different ways. Both guys were winners who were maybe one or one and a half levels level shy of winning a championship.

Bobby Layne is before my time, but he did go 27-19 for a Steelers team who's mediocrity in that late 50s early 60s era was the high point of the franchise to that point.

I mean, if we're going by "best QB for the Steelers at any time during their Steelers' career, my list (YMMV) in no order is:

Ben
Bradshaw
Gilliam
Layne
NOD
Kordell
Rodgers
Maddox

Good discussion. Agree with the list and also with your view that NOD and Kordell were about the same. I think NOD a tad better. But I did see Bobby Layne play and really enjoyed it. He gave us hope when there really wasn't much. And he was a hell of a lot of fun to watch play. You would rarely see guys like him even in the 70s. He has always been my choice for 3rd best. After that it is just a lot of jags who had a variety of talent at varied levels.

[bradshaw2ben]

Was going for the more obscure

Dig Kordell

Sorry for the omission

Oh, I mean "3rd best QB in Steelers history" is a fun debate. Including their time not with the Steelers, NOD and Kordell are pretty close to the same level of player, just got it done in different ways. Both guys were winners who were maybe one or one and a half levels level shy of winning a championship.

Bobby Layne is before my time, but he did go 27-19 for a Steelers team who's mediocrity in that late 50s early 60s era was the high point of the franchise to that point.

I mean, if we're going by "best QB for the Steelers at any time during their Steelers' career, my list (YMMV) in no order is:

Ben
Bradshaw
Gilliam
Layne
NOD
Kordell
Rodgers
Maddox

Good discussion. Agree with the list and also with your view that NOD and Kordell were about the same. I think NOD a tad better. But I did see Bobby Layne play and really enjoyed it. He gave us hope when there really wasn't much. And he was a hell of a lot of fun to watch play. You would rarely see guys like him even in the 70s. He has always been my choice for 3rd best. After that it is just a lot of jags who had a variety of talent at varied levels.

My argument for Kordell over NOD: NOD succeeded in a Chan Gailey system tailored for his skills and that was a little ahead of its time. Kordell had almost the opposite experience. He was forced into fitting in to an offense that was "normal" and which barely focused on his toolbox. Just a unique talent that coaches at that time didn't understand how to maximize. I feel like NOD got the most out of his talent but Kordell didn't.

[SteelerDayTrader]

I would begrudgingly put Bradshaw ahead of Ben

Ben was great. Love the guy and will ALWAYS be grateful beyond words. He’s THE ONLY reason this team was a serious during the Cowher and Tomlin years. Without him those two dumbfucks are Marty Schottenhiemer - Dave Wannstadt territory

Ben made horrible decisions off the field about the people he surrounded himself with and it drastically affected his career. He got sucked into Christianity and was surrounded and engulfed by Christians that were a horrific influence and remain to this day.


If he could’ve avoided those pitfalls perhaps he would’ve realized he could’ve been more demanding with Tomlin Rooney and his teammates

[Steeldrama]

No shot in hell Rodgers resigns

My hope is he gets pissed off enough to call out Tomlin and his grossly inept coaching staff before heading on to Canton.

https://x.com/bussinwtb/status/1982614721762333130?s=46

[anpsteel]

No shot in hell Rodgers resigns

My hope is he gets pissed off enough to call out Tomlin and his grossly inept coaching staff before heading on to Canton.

https://x.com/bussinwtb/status/1982614721762333130?s=46

he was pissed off- because the team was playing lackadaisically- but that particular play was a result of the defender knocking the ball away.

[Steeldrama]

No shot in hell Rodgers resigns

My hope is he gets pissed off enough to call out Tomlin and his grossly inept coaching staff before heading on to Canton.

https://x.com/bussinwtb/status/1982614721762333130?s=46

he was pissed off- because the team was playing lackadaisically- but that particular play was a result of the defender knocking the ball away.

The context of why Rodgers was pissed isn't really the point.

Point is he was PISSED

Has been on more occasions in less than half a season than I recall seeing Ben during his entire career.

Rodgers is the one only shot at calling out Tomlin (SCam and Watt sure as hell ain't gonna do it).

Even if it falls on deaf ears at least someone FINALLY will have called him out.

LONG
TIME
COMING

YOU SUCK, Tomlin!

[anpsteel]

No shot in hell Rodgers resigns

My hope is he gets pissed off enough to call out Tomlin and his grossly inept coaching staff before heading on to Canton.

https://x.com/bussinwtb/status/1982614721762333130?s=46

he was pissed off- because the team was playing lackadaisically- but that particular play was a result of the defender knocking the ball away.

The context of why Rodgers was pissed isn't really the point.

Point is he was PISSED

Has been on more occasions in less than half a season than I recall seeing Ben during his entire career.

Rodgers is the one only shot at calling out Tomlin (SCam and Watt sure as hell ain't gonna do it).

Even if it falls on deaf ears at least someone FINALLY will have called him out.

LONG
TIME
COMING

YOU SUCK, Tomlin!

I said- repeatedly- when the debate about signing Rodgers was raging- that physically he'd be a significant upgrade.

My concern was twofold
1- at what point does Rodgers start mailing in games. Watching him over the years, far too often he seemed completely disinterested. That isnt an issue at this point, but for how long with this staff

2- at what point does he get completely pissed off with the ineptitude of this coaching staff? Rodgers isn't going to sit quietly and watch the shitshow blow up. It's not his nature. IF the team doesn't get these problems figured out, he'll absolutely speak out.

We are at the turning point, imo. Either they get it figured out, or Rodgers starts calling out the bullshit. Whether or not that includes pointing out Tomlin's deficiencies, remains to be seen.

[Steelafan77]

I would extend Rodgers now

NO.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Rodgers this year is better than NOD ever was.