AARON RODGERS’ move to the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t give the franchise a major lift on the gridiron, an ESPN First Take pundit has claimed.
The Steelers snapped up the veteran quarterback, who was a free agent following his departure from the New York Jets, in June.
ESPN First Take’s Chris Canty has serious doubts over what Rodgers will bring to the table[/caption]
Rodgers’ arrival at Acrisue Stadium has been received warmly by the Steelers faithful, with many believing the veteran quarterback’s experience will be an invaluable addition to Mike Tomlin‘s side.
But First Take‘s Chris Canty disagrees with that notion, saying: “It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it ain’t that close.
“It’s because I don’t believe in the quarterback. I just don’t.
“They’ve pinned the regression of Aaron Rodgers on injuries that he’s suffered over the last three years.
“Whether it’s injuries or whether it’s age, it doesn’t really matter.
“Here’s the thing: As players get older, they don’t get healthier.
“I don’t understand why everybody is falling into the hoax that is Aaron Rodgers year over year.
“We saw it with the New York Jets. They were better off without him than they were with him.
Aaron Rodgers has been blighted by injuries in recent years[/caption]
“You’re talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers being bottom 10 in the league in sacks allowed last season.
“And, oh by the way, they lost a 1,000-yard rusher in Najee Harris in free agency.
“A guy [who has] gone over 1,200 yards from scrimmage each of the first four years of his career.”
Former Dallas Cowboys star Canty’s doubts over Rodgers’ ability to elevate the Steelers stem from the four-time MVP’s injury woes in recent years.
He continued: “When it comes to Rodgers, I struggle to see how he’s going to raise the floor from what we’ve seen from the Pittsburgh Steelers over the last half [a] decade.
“Having experience don’t mean a damn thing if you physically can’t go out there and do the job.
“And that’s what I’m concerned about with Aaron Rodgers for 17 games in the regular season.”
Rodgers and his Steelers team-mates have been at work ahead of the 2025 NFL season, which they’ll kick off away to theJets a week on Sunday.
