Shortly after quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a team-friendly contract to join the Pittsburgh Steelers in time to participate in their three-day mandatory minicamp last week, rookie signal-caller Will Howard noted that Rodgers is “super down-to-earth and not at all what you would expect.”
During the latest edition of the “Kaboly + Mack” program, Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly of “The Pat McAfee Show” expanded on how Rodgers began fitting in as a member of the locker room during his first week as a full-time Pittsburgh player.
“Everything seems to be working,” Kaboly explained, as shared by Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. “With Aaron, I try to pay attention to how he talks to different guys. I see no sense of entitlement. I see no sense of, ‘Hey, I’m Aaron Rodgers.’ He just came in trying to be one of the dudes.”
Much was said over the past few months about how Rodgers would build chemistry with new teammates and coaches after he remained unsigned through the bulk of Pittsburgh’s springtime workouts. During an April 17 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers said that he had been spending a portion of the offseason dealing with “personal” matters. While speaking with reporters on June 10, Rodgers revealed that he has been married “for a few months.”
Howard mentioned during mandatory minicamp that Rodgers has already been “a great mentor” who has treated the first-year pro “with the utmost respect.” Kaboly indicated other Steelers players had similar experiences while interacting with the future Hall of Famer.
“Aaron Rodgers comes over, they’re playing huge games of cards right there and he pulls up a chair next to (defensive lineman) Cam Heyward, (safety) Miles Killebrew,” Kaboly added about what he witnessed during minicamp. “I don’t know if he played or not, but he’s jumping in there. He’s trying not to offend Will Howard by saying, ‘Hey, why don’t you try this?'”
Marczi pointed out in a different piece that tight end Pat Freiermuth suggested he and others will accept Rodgers’ invitation to complete some summertime workouts in Malibu ahead of training camp. It sounds as if Steelers players have happily welcomed Rodgers as one of their own, even though he didn’t practice with them during the voluntary portion of the offseason program.
