All the stress and tension about the Pittsburgh Steelers retaining the services of one Aaron Rodgers is over. It’s a one-year deal with a base value of $13.65 million, $10 million of it guaranteed, and the contract has a maximum value of $19.5 million. That means there’s up to $5.85 million in playing time and performance incentives included.
The Steelers paid less than $3 million to retain the services of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson combined!
In the recent past, I have written remarks dealing with that situation, but I have become sickened about folks profiling the economic conditions of people of color and Americans in general regarding their positions in the hierarchy of the economic and social “food chain.” During the early 2000s, I interviewed Frank Robinson, the legendary MLB player and manager. During that interview, I asked Frank Robinson about Jackie Robinson’s impact on baseball and society. Mr. Robinson pointed out that Jackie’s influence extended beyond sports, even causing positive reactions in the corporate world. He noted that Jackie’s excellence on the field made business leaders reconsider the potential of Black professionals in other industries. I am not going to regurgitate the entire interview, but crossing the various color lines that existed throughout American society were often facilitated by crossing those lines in the sports world…maybe.
“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” That is a phrase that has been circulated throughout society and sports for ages, but recent agreements signed with quarterbacks approaching “geriatric” status at least when it comes to the world of sports are questionable, to say the least regarding them pulling up their bootstraps. A few of these quarterbacks may not even be able to bend down and pull up their bootstraps even when their boots are put on them by others. Even in light of that fact, they may continue to have and express no regard for the lives, careers and welfare of those around them. I can only imagine someone like ex-NFL head coach Jim Mora exclaiming: “Bootstraps, these guys are getting paid maximum dollars for minimum results, don’t you dare mention bootstraps.”
For example, a quarterback may be surrounded by a “fort of bodies” to protect him from all harm and danger. QBs usually have a minimum of five or six players that form a perimeter that is supposed to shield him from being hit. However, I will repeat this next line until I “return to forever.” Where is the protection for a vulnerable wide receiver when a quarterback under pressure throws a ball up into the stratosphere and everyone from peons to pundits expects the receiver to “climb the ladder” to catch the ball and land safely in a murky pool of Piranhas disguised as defensive backs and linebackers without expecting bloodshed or injury?
“Good catch, great grab,” are usually the false accolades given to a wide receiver after they make a dangerous catch across the middle with no protective wall to protect them. The older a QB gets, the better protectors his offensive line has to become. As the 2025 season moves forward, let’s see how many offensive linemen are benched or maybe even traded if they fail to provide a clean pocket for Aaron Rodgers. Bootstraps are more related to “bank straps.” It seems like a golden bank account has replaced a gold watch for a few of these overpaid “long in the tooth” signal-callers who have become hybrid political commentators, bankers by default as well as social media analysts. Remember when ex-San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick was blacklisted as a left-wing extremist for expressing his political views? Now, past as well as present NFL players can attend and support right-wing extremist events with flair and the reaction to their support and appearances are lukewarm at best. However, the reactions to the activities of Colin Kaepernick continue to remain “volcanic” at the very least.
There are players who have been accused of calling the opposition “racial slurs” and praising “red dictators” presently cozying up and sympathizing with well-known “racists” without shame or remorse. If I were a convicted murderer out on parole, it would not be wise or prudent for me to become a card-carrying member of the “killers club,” especially if you have the look across the line of scrimmage facing your own personal “parole board,” twice a year. Remember, Frank Robinson told me: “Jackie’s excellence on the field made business leaders reconsider the potential of Black professionals in other industries.” How can the talent of these available borderline, over-the-hill quarterbacks, outweigh the value of these “young guns?” All of the facts mentioned above cannot be overlooked in the corporate and political anti-DEI world.
If the Steelers’ offensive line does not perform at an above-average or superior level, Aaron Rodgers won’t be just running for his life in the pocket because he will be DOA: and as the old TV cop Baretta used to say, “and that’s the name of that tune.” When Aaron Rodgers is sacked more than 50 times and throws a slew of picks, I don’t want to see anyone benched but him. At the midseason point of 2025, let’s compare the stats of Aaron Rodgers with the stats of Steelers reject and the current starting QB of the New York Jets, Justin Fields.
I have become old and frail because the megaphone of mortality is screaming at me, but I am okay with that because the microphone of professional football immortality is calling and will welcome former Steelers QB Justin Fields to the “great hall,” as long as he puts on his boots and pulls up his bootstraps, “the right way.”
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