Aaron Rodgers: No 'R-E-L-A-X' Needed for Struggling Steelers
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has no intention of telling his teammates to 'R-E-L-A-X' despite the team's recent slump. Rodgers, who famously used the phrase in 2014 to calm his Green Bay Packers teammates, believes the Steelers are not on the verge of a panic. The team has been playing inconsistent football, but Rodgers is confident that they can turn things around. 'We've been playing inconsistent football, that's for sure. Got to play better,' he said. Rodgers acknowledged that the circumstances are different now than they were in 2014, when he felt there was an overreaction to the Packers' 1-2 start. The Steelers, however, do not have the luxury of time to figure things out, and Rodgers is aware of the pressure to perform. Despite the team's struggles, Rodgers remains optimistic. 'You kind of wait and hope for that run that you can go on to kind of get to be playing the right way come December,' he said. Rodgers has been dealing with injuries, including a broken left wrist, and has been completing just 52% of his passes over the past 10 quarters. However, he is not ready to cede anything to age and believes that the team can still turn things around. One of the biggest issues has been the inability of the secondary receivers to develop into a consistent threat. Tight end Pat Freiermuth has been relegated to a minor role player, and Rodgers has expressed his desire to see more opportunities for him. The team has signed two-time Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen to the practice squad, and Rodgers is hopeful that he can bring a spark to the team. Thielen has been released by Minnesota and has been brought in to provide a veteran presence in the Steelers' receiving corps. Rodgers and Thielen have known each other for years, and Rodgers believes that he has a lot left in the tank. 'He said this is the best his body has felt because he hasn’t been playing a whole lot in Minnesota,' Rodgers said. 'So I think he’s got a lot left in the tank and a lot of impetus to go out there and put some good play on film.'
