Jerome Bettis explains the Steelers’ quarterback situation
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have responded to quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ comments about Dr. Anthony Fauci and ESPN from his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” a day earlier.
“Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views,” Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room.”
McAfee’s show aired from Steelers training camp Monday, Aug. 3, with Rodgers sitting in for an extended chat. McAfee asked Rodgers about his mindset entering what the four-time MVP has said will be his final season in the NFL.
“I’m gonna plead the Fifth,” Rodgers said. “Like that absolute coward Tony Fauci. Absolute coward. Are you kidding me?”
Rodgers’ refusal to answer the question was a tongue-in-cheek call-out of Fauci, who invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, July 29. The Steelers’ quarterback, who famously misled the media about his COVID-19 vaccination status in 2021, has long been critical of Fauci and the U.S. government’s handling of the pandemic. His verbal tirade against Fauci lasted more than two minutes.
Rodgers then turned his attention to ESPN, the network that licenses “The Pat McAfee Show” for multiple hours per day on its airwaves and streaming services. He blasted ESPN’s coverage of the offseason drama involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
“What is the network doing?” Rodgers said. “You have literally an individual that maybe used to work at ESPN that covers our league at the highest level, and there’s a major scandal, and it’s just like nobody can (expletive) talk about it? What are we even doing here?”
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was asked about Rodgers’ outburst Tuesday.
“These are grown men. They all have different opinions. There’s no question about that,” McCarthy told reporters. “But at the end of the day, my job is to keep it about football, keep the focus on winning. That’s why we’re here. We have a good locker room. We have a player council that’s in place. We had our second meeting yesterday. We’re in a good spot.”
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