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Transitioning away from a 19-year era under Mike Tomlin was always going to bring unprecedented scrutiny to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But on a recent episode of “Pardon My Take,” host Mike Florio outlined a nightmarish, "combustible" scenario that could turn Pittsburgh's post-Tomlin transition into a full-blown crisis.
Florio’s latest wild scenario rests on a simple question: What happens if new head coach Mike McCarthy and 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers stumble out of the gate?
As the longtime analyst highlighted, McCarthy’s inaugural season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 saw an 8-8 roster regress to 6-10. If history repeats itself in Pittsburgh, the fallout could be swift.
Florio posited that a 2-6 start would create immense pressure and potentially spark a midseason exit strategy for Rodgers, who is entering what is widely expected to be his final NFL season.
"You get to the trade deadline, you could have Aaron Rodgers maybe asking to go somewhere that may need a quarterback, a contender that may need a quarterback," Florio speculated. "Because, 'Get me the hell out of here, this is my last year. I want to have a chance to play into the postseason.'"
The commentary emphasized that while such a collapse feels "impossible to envision" before the games begin, consecutive losses could quickly erode stability. "Who the hell knows what's going to happen because, as you said, McCarthy's not getting fired, it's Rodgers last year. I think it's a mixture that could get combustible."
While national analysts remain divided on Pittsburgh's ceiling, Florio made it clear that he believes a poor start could turn the Steelers into the NFL's most captivating soap opera. For a franchise accustomed to decade-spanning stability, navigating an early-season slump with a Hall of Fame quarterback on a one-year deal would present explosive territory.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Could an early Steelers slump force an Aaron Rodgers trade request?
Continue reading...
Florio’s latest wild scenario rests on a simple question: What happens if new head coach Mike McCarthy and 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers stumble out of the gate?
As the longtime analyst highlighted, McCarthy’s inaugural season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 saw an 8-8 roster regress to 6-10. If history repeats itself in Pittsburgh, the fallout could be swift.
Florio posited that a 2-6 start would create immense pressure and potentially spark a midseason exit strategy for Rodgers, who is entering what is widely expected to be his final NFL season.
"You get to the trade deadline, you could have Aaron Rodgers maybe asking to go somewhere that may need a quarterback, a contender that may need a quarterback," Florio speculated. "Because, 'Get me the hell out of here, this is my last year. I want to have a chance to play into the postseason.'"
The commentary emphasized that while such a collapse feels "impossible to envision" before the games begin, consecutive losses could quickly erode stability. "Who the hell knows what's going to happen because, as you said, McCarthy's not getting fired, it's Rodgers last year. I think it's a mixture that could get combustible."
While national analysts remain divided on Pittsburgh's ceiling, Florio made it clear that he believes a poor start could turn the Steelers into the NFL's most captivating soap opera. For a franchise accustomed to decade-spanning stability, navigating an early-season slump with a Hall of Fame quarterback on a one-year deal would present explosive territory.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Could an early Steelers slump force an Aaron Rodgers trade request?
Continue reading...
