When it comes to how things went in the first non-Steelers playoff weekend of the year, our Mark Madden had one big takeaway during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast.
“It’s a changing the guard at quarterback. You’ve got (Tom) Brady out in the divisional round. You got (Aaron) Rodgers and (Ben) Roethlisberger one and done,” Madden said. “(Meanwhile), you’ve got Joe Burrow and (Patrick) Mahomes moving on. Jimmy Garoppolo is only 30. The only quarterback above 30 still alive in the playoffs is Matthew Stafford. He seems like a kid from the typical NFL vantage point. I think that’s a welcomed change.”
Madden said he is tired of the older NFL quarterbacks just “cluttering things up and staying around forever.”
Madden is particularly tired of Rodgers and wants no part of him coming to the Steelers, as has been discussed.
“Look at this guy’s playoff record to see what he really is, 1-4 in NFC championship games,” Madden said. “One and done this year. He wouldn’t have his one lousy Super Bowl ring if Rashard Mendenhall hadn’t fumbled when the Steelers lost to the Packers in the Super Bowl very early in Rodgers’ career. I think he is all hat and no cattle. I think he’s a big mouth.”
I’m on the other side of the fence. I’d like to see the Steelers get involved in the bidding process for Rodgers or Seattle’s Russell Wilson or Derek Carr of the Las Vegas Raiders. Not only would they be an upgrade on what Ben Roethlisberger was at the end of last year, they’d be an upgrade on what the club will likely get from Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins.
Related:
• First Call: Antonio Brown mocks Bucs’ defeat; possible candidate for Steelers defensive coordinator; AFC/NFC title game odds
• Tim Benz: If quarterback mobility is in question, do the Steelers need to look elsewhere for an answer?
If other teams bid up the acquisition price too much based on draft pick collateral or dollars in terms of a “trade and sign” situation, so be it. But the Steelers are doing themselves a disservice if they don’t investigate the acquisition costs.
Madden doesn’t see it that way.
“I don’t think it would be best for the Steelers,” Madden continued. “I hate talking about this because it is just fantasy land. There’s no intent to bring Rodgers to Pittsburgh, and I don’t know if he would come even if there were. But he’d wreck their cap, he’d drain their draft picks in the deal. It’s dumb.”
Also in the podcast, Madden and I talk about the Steelers making a change at defensive coordinator, the Penguins’ latest win, Sidney Crosby’s recent hat trick, possible areas on the team to bolster before the trade deadline, and more.
