In late September, Jordan Rodgers encouraged Pittsburgh Steelers fans to have patience while opining about Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, though he was “not trying to be a homer.”
Rodgers, a college football analyst at ESPN since 2016, backed his formerly estranged older brother again on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday.
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First Take host Shae Cornette teed up the topic bar of, “Which AFC QB do you trust most in playoffs?” It’s not Thanksgiving yet, but in the world of First Take, hypothetical analysis is never late.
For reference, if the NFL playoffs started now (which they definitely do not), the quarterbacks in the AFC would be Josh Allen, Bo Nix, Aaron Rodgers, Trevor Lawrence, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Drake Maye.
Despite that information, Rodgers picked the 42-year-old four-time NFL MVP in his swan song before retiring at season’s end.
“This one might surprise you a little bit,” Rodgers said. “I’m gonna go Rodgers, and here’s why. I think Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Him and Caleb Williams are right up there for me. The Steelers know who they are, though.”
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“They have an elite defense that’s playing at a high level, and they run the freaking ball,” Rodgers said. “So they’re asking less of Aaron than maybe he ever has at any point in his career, right? He needs to manage the run game. He needs to find opportunities to get his playmakers, like Jaylen Warren, in space—like Darnell Washington in space. Get a few opportunities to DK [Metcalf].
“I just feel like I trust the guy that’s got the MVPs, that has the veteran status, that’s seen everything, that is also not required everything of him for them to win. I think that’s a good sweet spot they’re in.”
If this clip made its way to Aaron Rodgers, he had to have reacted with a skeptical “…thanks?”
Rodgers has thrown for 1,871 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions on 60.8% completion, with the Steelers (6-2) perched atop the AFC North.
The post Jordan Rodgers delivers left-field Aaron Rodgers opinion on ‘First Take’ appeared first on Awful Announcing.
