Almost 20,000 spectators at the PPG Paints Arena were probably waiting for Aaron Rodgers to come out and announce himself as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen the way Steelers Nation envisioned it to be. Despite speculations of Pat McAfee throwing a black and gold jersey at Rodgers, he ends those rumors in some style. Pittsburgh was left reeling what could have been in McAfee’s “Big Night AHT” opening show. While McAfee couldn’t deliver Rodgers to Steel City, he at least made up for it by giving another future Hall of Famer. Two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, dialed back his QB days behind the Steel Curtain.
McAfee, who also works as a color commentator for WWE’s Raw, gave Roethlisberger a Wrestlemania-style entrance in front of his beloved Steelers Nation. But before he was introduced as a guest on Wednesday night, Roethlisberger was captured with football in his hand. He shared a story of him practising with another Pittsburgh hero, Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. Big Ben also captioned his Instagram story, writing, “Warming up @PaulSkenes,” as fans watched from a distance.
Later, the two were part of the biggest giveaway of the night. Skenes joined two Pittsburgh sporting legends, Roethlisberger and Penguins center Sidney Crosby, in a $1M giveaway. Each of them had to throw footballs through a “10-by-10 hoop” hanging from the ceiling. All three of them were handed their respective football, with each completion adding $1M to the pot. Now, the final prize pool would be taken home by one random lucky fan in the crowd…
2024 NL Rookie of the Year was tasked with kicking off the game but ended up missing his first throw. I guess those warm-ups with Big Ben didn’t train him enough to nail his accuracy. However, in his second attempt, he doesn’t disappoint Ben again by hooping his throw. But unfortunately, the prize was cut in half to $500,000. Next up, it was hockey legend Crosby swaping puck with football. Well, to everyone’s surprise, Crosby absolutely nailed his throw. He made it look so easy that MVP chants started ringing in a packed PPG Arena as Crosby added $1M to the pot.
Now, finally, it was the turn of Roethlisberger. He casually came in, scanned the velocity needed to make the throw, and walloped the football like he never retired. Without any surprise, his throw got in as another million was added to the prize pool. While Big Ben’s incredible accuracy may have sent the Steelers Nation into nostalgia, he seems to have a theory about this never-ending Aaron Rodgers saga.
Ben Roethlisberger sparks a wild theory on Aaron Rodgers to Steelers
Ever since Big Ben has retired, the Steelers have been stuck in a QB carousel. Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields have all come and gone. Yeah, the Steelers have again brought back Rudolph for a second chance. Still, Big Ben seems to be more invested in the Rodgers saga. “I have a new theory. So I think the Vikings are out. I thought he was holding out because I thought the Vikings were a more ready team, I still think he’s going to sign with the Steelers, I don’t think he’s ready to retire yet. I think either he’s going to wait for the Pat McAfee show on Wednesday night or you’re waiting for the draft to see if they’re going to draft a QB,” Ben Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast.
Credit: @_MLFootball
Here’s the thing: Ben’s first theory had already been proven wrong. Rodgers didn’t appear in McAfee’s Big Night Aht event in Pittsburgh, which could have sent the whole arena into a frenzy. Now, the only other part of Ben’s theory that could still come true is through the draft. Considering the Steelers are hosting Shedeur Sanders, hoping they can get him at No.21. Rodgers is possibly weighing up his options. Sanders coming into Pittsburgh could put unnecessary pressure on Rodgers’ starting spot.
The moment he doesn’t deliver as expected of him, Sanders could take over. Actually, any other rookie can, if not Sanders. It could end up being a Kirk Cousins-like scenario in Pittsburgh. Maybe that’s the thing Rodgers doesn’t want in his final NFL chapter. But obviously, the time is ticking for Rodgers. Sooner or later, the Steelers’ patience will run out. And once it does, Rodgers may not actually have a home. Like it already had been said, “Steelers, retirement or bust.”
The post Retired Ben Roethlisberger Returns With Football at Hand After Revealing Steelers’ Mike Tomlin-Aaron Rodgers Theory appeared first on EssentiallySports.