Thanks to the trade for DK Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers now have two temperamental wide receivers on their roster. If things go the way they appear headed at quarterback, they’ll add another unique character to the offensive side of the football, one who has no problem calling out teammates in public.
That would be quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
After losing out on Justin Fields and Sam Darnold in free agency, the Steelers have reportedly pivoted to the 41-year-old quarterback. While the Steelers are seemingly trying to win now, the possible move to Rodgers is a concern, particularly off the field with the headaches and headlines he will create.
For former NFL QB Chase Daniel, who appeared on FS1’s The Facility Tuesday morning, he questions the fit with the Steelers off the field due to Metcalf and Pickens, two receivers who can run hot emotionally. For Daniel, that could lead to a blowup or two, because Rodgers doesn’t hold back when it comes to criticism, and Metcalf and Pickens aren’t the type to take that.
“My thing is like, what happens off the field? Because we saw last year Aaron Rodgers call out Mike Williams for not running the red line. Mike Williams is a very, very quiet guy, doesn’t cause trouble. What happens if DK Metcalf and George Pickens, who are very outspoken, what happens if Aaron Rodgers calls them out or goes like this or after a wrong route?” Daniel said, according to video via FS1. “What happens if they’re in the huddle and be like, da, da…they’re not taking that, they’re not taking that.
“They’re not playing those games, and neither is Rodgers.”
The last time Rodgers called out a teammate, it was after a game-closing interception against the Buffalo Bills when he was targeting Mike Williams up the seam. After the game, Rodgers stated that Williams didn’t “run the red line” properly, calling out Williams for not running his route correctly.
‘It’s two vertical [routes],” Rodgers told reporters postgame via SI’s Tom Dierberger. “Allen [Lazard] is down the seam and Mike’s down the red line. I’m looking at Allen, he puts his hand up and three guys go with him. So I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. And when I peek my eyes back there, [Williams] is running an in-breaker.”
At the time, Williams didn’t take issue with it. He later seemingly took a shot at Rodgers on social media following his trade to the Steelers and catching the game-winning touchdown pass against Washington in Week 10, though Williams said that wasn’t the case at all.
The comment from Rodgers was a surprise and seemed a bit tone deaf, and if he brings that to Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t be anything new. Ben Roethlisberger once infamously called out Antonio Brown for not running a shallow enough route at the goal line after throwing a game-sealing INT to a nose tackle in Denver.
Should Rodgers be the QB in Pittsburgh, there could be some clashes with Metcalf and Pickens. Hopefully Mike Tomlin is able to work his magic, though, and keep all three parties under control for the greater good.
