By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
The Year: 2010
Subject: LeBron James
The Event: The Decision on ESPN
I’m sure you remember it well. The Summer of 2010 was truly a hot one, and I’m not just referring to the temperatures, but to that year’s National Basketball League’s (NBA) Free Agent period, where several Big-Name players were able to consider joining other teams to continue their careers. One of them was Lebron James, who had just finished another season with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Several teams interviewed him, including the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Cavaliers.
Then came the waiting game, the rumors, and the speculation of where James would play. If you would’ve asked me, I firmly believed that he would return to the Cavaliers and help continue their quest to win their first-ever Championship. But the speculation continued to grow about him joining the Miami Heat with his friend, Dwyane Wade (who re-signed with the Heat) and eventually Chris Bosh who joined Miami after several years in Toronto.
You know the rest of the story: James agreed to participate in 2010 American television special that aired on ESPN on July 8, 2010 (titled, “The Decision”), in which he would announce to the world where he would play the 2010-11 season and beyond, and he chose the Miami Heat.
Fifteen years later, I believe we’re having a déjà vu moment involving the Pittsburgh Steelers as they are currently in the National Football League’s (NFL) Free Agent period. After acquiring All-Pro WR DK Metcalf from Seattle and signing several free agents, the expectation was that the Steelers were going to either re-sign QBs Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, until a third name joined that list: 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who was released after 2 seasons with the NY Jets.
Rodgers is a 4-time NFL MVP and a future Hall of Famer. He and the Green Bay Packers beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in 2011, and even though there have been many rumors and speculation that he could bring his talents to Pittsburgh, if you would’ve asked me if I thought they would seriously speak to him, I would have told you (with a puzzled look), absolutely not.
Why? Because Rodgers is a bit eccentric and his off-the-field antics have the potential to be a distraction (See his final season in Green Bay and his 2 seasons as a NY Jet) and with the past antics of WR Antonio Brown and current antics of WR George Pickens, why in the world would they potentially want more?
And yet…the Steelers not only spoke to Rodgers, they also brought him in for a visit, and reportedly offered him a contract. He has not given them an answer…yet.
Meanwhile, Fields has since signed with the Jets for 2 years, $40 million and Wilson has visited the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants but remains a free agent and still has an outside shot at re-signing with the Steelers…depending on what Aaron Rodgers decides. The NY Giants have also offered Rodgers a contract, or he could choose to retire.
It’s The Decision, Part 2.
It’s easy to ask why the Steelers are putting their time and money into landing Rodgers? Just look at his resume: TD’s 503, Passing yards: 62,952, Passer rating: 102.6, 4× NFL Most Valuable Player (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021) 4× First-team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021) Second-team All-Pro (2012) 10× Pro Bowl (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014–2016, 2018–2021) and Super Bowl Champion.
Why wouldn’t you want a decorated player like that? History has shown that it has happened before:
1972: the Miami Dolphins signed 38-year-old QB Earl Morall to back up future Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese. When Griese missed several games with injury, Morrall stepped in and admirably led the Dolphins to an undefeated regular season. Griese returned and finished the job as the Dolphins eventually won Super Bowl VII with a 17-0 record.
2020: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed 42-year-old Tom Brady. Result? The Bucs won Super Bowl Super Bowl LV.
Here’s my point: If the Steelers and Rodgers agrees to a deal, he instantly makes the team better as he is a leader and a proven QB…provided he behaves and keeps his off-the field antics from being a distraction. And it would also help that the Steelers mature and improve on the offensive line among other things. The Steelers are fully aware of the risks of signing Rodgers, but they are obviously willing to take those risks to improve the team for 2025. They signed backup QB Mason Rudolph for insurance, and although Wilson remains a possibility, the Steelers have made it known that they want Rodgers and are willing to do whatever it takes to get him.
So, they continue to wait on his Decision.
Stay Tuned.
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