PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Mike Tomlin sat at a table in front of a pool of Pittsburgh Steelers beat reporters and knew he would be asked about Aaron Rodgers. But he is not giving much to work with if someone wishes to decode their chances of landing Rodgers.
Tomlin said the Steelers are evaluating all avenues to add a quarterback, including the NFL Draft and free agency. It remains clear Rodgers is their top target. Rodgers and the Steelers had a ‘good day’ together last Friday, which has fueled their interest.
“It’s been reported that he spent a day with us, man, and it was a really good day. Specifically, he and I, obviously, have known of each other for some time. And so, it was really good to spend some time together, man, and get to know each other more intimately. But it is free agency. It is a process. I have nothing of any more significance to add other than that,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin noted he never felt the team missed out on singing a free agent because of their pursuits for a quarterback. They still have plenty of cap space to make moves. Meanwhile, they do not have a deadline for Rodgers. Internally, there has been nothing discussed from that standpoint.
The ultimate timeline for a hindrance that Tomlin views as the end? It would be training camp, and that is likely the hard deadline for a Rodgers-Steelers connection.
“In the spring, it’s about teaching and learning and getting familiar with players and making sure they get familiar with some of the things that we value. It’s not an evaluation time of the year for us. It’s certainly not a time of the year where we’re focused on readying ourselves for the game action. Certainly, training camp would kind of be a line of demarcation in terms of that discussion. The spring is about teaching and learning,” Tomlin said.
The Steelers will add another quarterback or potentially two. If they miss out on Rodgers, Tomlin did not necessarily say the team had to stack options in sequential order, and it does not mean they will look for another veteran.
“Obviously, we’re still evaluating the acquisition of a guy at that position, whether it’s free agency or the draft. So, we’re doing our due diligence, communicating with some free agents, also preparing for the draft. Omar and I just got off on a nice tour here last week where we were at Notre Dame, Ohio State in Texas, for example. Our last three trips, I think all three of those institutions have quarterbacks that are draft eligible. And so, it’s been a good process for us. I know what we said regarding Russell and Justin, but it didn’t pan out that way, such as life in our game and particularly in free agency,” Tomlin said.
The Rodgers push will continue, and there is still zero timeline for when he will decide. His three options include the Steelers, retirement, or simply waiting it out. Yet, the Steelers do not seem to be pushing for him to decide anytime soon.
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