The theme of the New York Giants’ offseason has been waiting — waiting for Matthew Stafford to decide his future with the Los Angeles Rams … waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind … waiting to see if they could nab a franchise quarterback in the draft.
One-third of those options are gone, with Stafford staying with the Rams. But one has to wonder if Rodgers is also a pipe dream, too. In assessing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB plan, Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher wondered whether Rodgers truly is committed to the NFL now.
“Does he really want to play?” Cowher asked on Tuesday’s The Dan Patrick Show. ”I mean the longer you wait, you just have to wonder where is his heart and how much does he really want to do? And I said, you know, I just think when somebody starts talking about retirement, they’ve already checked the box, so they’ve checked out to some degree. So how much has he nullified to want to come here and be a part of trying to win a championship and then consequently be a bridge to the next guy?”
The same premise can be applied to the Giants, who want Rodgers, like the Steelers, and are waiting for him before pivoting to other veterans. They also see a veteran as a short-term solution before likely bringing in a rookie via the draft to be their cornerstone.
Cowher believes Rodgers can still play at a high level, and that teams in need of a QB should have already reached out to him. Rodgers would be “all in,” once he decides his future, especially because his Jets tenure ended with a 5-12 season in 2024 and Cowher doesn’t believe he wants to go out a loser.
But the waiting game gives him some pause.
“These are conversations that you got to be convinced that that’s where his heart is at,” said Cowher, who won the Super Bowl with the Steelers after the 2005 season.
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