Does The NFL Know Something About Aaron Rodgers And The Steelers? | 5/15/25

Dan Patrick reacts to the NFL schedule release for the 2025 season

the uh schedule release. I I think there was really only one thought that I had and that had to do with what does the NFL know that we don’t know right now and it has to do with the Steelers. Because the Steelers, they’re in prime time three times in a four-week span, week seven, eight, and 10. I don’t think they’re a great team. I don’t think they have anybody that gives you a tunein factor. If they do, it might be Mike Tomlin, maybe. Maybe TJ Watt. I guess you’re putting the Steelers on. Great. Great fan base. Probably get a lot of eyeballs when the Steelers play. I understand that. Does Does the league ask the Steelers where do they stand with Aaron Rogers? If you’re going to put out the schedule, first game of the season, Jets and Steelers. Okay. We knew they were going to play. We I’m surprised that that’s the opening week. Now granted, Justin Fields, former Steeler quarterback, now playing for the Jets. Okay, that’s not enough to go, “Oh, that’s appointment viewing.” Can the NFL can the schedule makers say, “We need to place a call to the Steelers. Help us. We want to We want to decide week one.” Would you ask that? I mean, I would. I’m I’m I’m This is entertainment. I I’m I’m providing a TV schedule. I need to know if the stars are going to be there. And I would ask, but I don’t know if what what’s Pittsburgh say? Let’s say they know Aaron Rogers going to play, but Rogers is uh just deciding that he’s going to wait a little bit. Hey, uh Mr. Rooney. Uh the commissioner here. Oh, hey commissioner. Um ah this is awkward but uh you know I’ll just I’ll just say it. Um is Aaron going to play for the Steelers? You planning on having him for week one? Um how about you tap the phone twice if he is. Okay. Alrighty. Thank you. Yes, Todd. I would respond with, “We’re interested, but uh you might want to call Aaron Rogers and see where his head’s at.” Well, no. The Steelers already know if there’s a handshake agreement. They could say that. You know, you know, don’t go public with this, but uh there’s something public. No, but there’s something there’s something in place, but I can’t 100% guarantee that until the paperwork. Who thinks Aaron Rogers is playing for the Steelers, and that’s why they have the Steelers and the Jets week one. All right. Fritzy, Paulie, Marvin, Satan. No, you don’t. I think Aaron Rogers might be playing for the Steelers. I don’t think the league called the Steelers and was like, “Hey, is Aaron coming?” And they were like, “Yes, okay, great. We’ll schedule you more.” I don’t believe that at all. And if if that was the case, it is that’s got to be like grossly illegal or something like that. Like you can’t that if that was the case, then good luck ever disproving that the league is rigged. But who’s going to bust you on it? That’ be the only thing I would say is who’s going to go, “Ah, gotcha.” I don’t know. Maybe one day the Steelers let it slip or something like that. But you can’t the if you’re the league and you’re just trying to schedule games and your whole league, the the whole like thing that the NFL is based on is no matter what we do, where we play, when we play the game, what day of the week, we’re going to dominate. Yes. Why the hell do you care if like I don’t is he Aaron Rogers going to play for the Steelers? We just have to get this Monday night game right. Like you’re gonna get it right anyway. It doesn’t matter. Oh, I think if Aaron Rogers plays, you get a far bigger number than if you know it’s Mason Rudolph. Yeah, but it’s not going to be like, well, only five million people watch it. But Aaron Rogers is here and 45 million people watched it. Amazing. It’s not going to be that different. Yeah, Fritzy. But if I’m a network paying billions of dollars in rights fees, I’d kind of be interested in knowing if my game is gonna have Aaron Rogers playing or not in the game that I was excited about thinking that it was going to be Aaron dressed in black and gold. So maybe it’s just a coincidence that it’s Jets Steelers. Justin Fields against maybe Aaron Rogers. Oh, wait a minute. Justin Fields is in on it, too. That now we really got something. No, I’m joking. Kid can’t play. No, you know, I understand. That’s the joking part of it. Justin Fields is in it. Really? This is me doing the joke, too. Okay. Yes, Mark. But I think the Steelers brand is enough to get you three prime time games, no matter who it’s against. The Steelers brand. Steelers are one of the biggest brands in the NFL. Aaron Rogers doesn’t mean anything. You said it like it was the Jaguars. Well, then you don’t have to put them in prime time. They’re going to get ratings no matter where they are, right? But if the Steelers are prime time, that’s even better. Well, you’re getting you’re getting numbers because they’re the Steelers. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter who’s playing quarterback, right? That’s why the Aaron Rogers thing doesn’t matter because it’s the Steelers. But it’s I think it I think in this case opening the season, Steelers, Jets. Now, is Pittsburgh going to tell them anything? Can they tell them? I would at least ask and say, “Hey, we’re planning on putting you guys on first week.” Uh, you know, any indication of uh Aaron Rogers situation? They don’t have to answer it, but I would certainly ask that question. Yeah, Paulie, I agree that the Steelers are a strong brand, but I I don’t think the NFL would leave any stone unturned. They don’t do that. They try to squeeze every rating point out of everything. And if they could have one of their underlings call the Steelers and say, “Just tell me which way the wind is blowing the day before we do our schedule.” That’s a bonus. And that’s remember they’re in business. They work with each other. The commissioner and the Steelers work together. They’re partners. They’re not in adversaries in any way. So yes, I would find out. Well, the schedule release with Rich Eisen, Rich was like, “Oh, this means Aaron Rogers is going to play against the Jets.” I mean, I think all indications are. Jim Nance was talking about, “Hey, Aaron, we’d love to have you on. We’d love to have you on all of our games with CBS.” You know, like there was open rooting for Aaron Rodgers to uh play for the Steelers.