Aaron Rodgers Calls Out ESPN for 'Clickbait' After Steelers' Win Over Vikings in Dublin
The Pittsburgh Steelers did not seem to be pleased with how late in the week they left to travel to Dublin, Ireland for their Week 4 contest against the
During his postgame press conference, Rodgers was asked about those comments about wanting to travel earlier in the week. He responded by directly calling out ESPN for how they covered that story.
"ESPN wrote a clickbait headline taking my words out of context, which isn't the first time," Rodgers explained. "My desire all three times [my teams] came overseas was to come early in the week, especially if you have a bye week afterwards. Some of that is out of control of the teams, some of it might be, but I would always love to get on a time [zone] you're in and get to enjoy the area a little bit more."
Rodgers continued on, as he spoke about the history and all the sights he wanted to explore in the Emerald Isle. He knew that it was a business trip, but it's always nice to take a little time away from the business to take in the scenery of a foreign land.
Of course, Rodgers' issues with the media is nothing new, as he has repeatedly bashed reporters and certain sites for how they view him and supposedly turn many things he does into negatives. This ongoing war of words will likely keep going even after his retirement, as his name is usually good to get some views online.
As a football player in general, the media can definitely be obnoxious at times, which is why there are so many viral clips of people doing everything they can to say nothing. Head Coach
Steelers May Have Legitimate Gripe About Timing Of Their Trip To Ireland
During the week, Owner Art Rooney II announced that it was a collective decision by both teams and the NFL to leave the U.S. on Thursday and arrive in Dublin on Friday morning. However, an NFL executive
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Art Rooney II waves on before a home game in the Steel City.
Even though they won, they got dangerously close to blowing a 24-6 lead. Many players were clearly fatigued, and a couple of cornerbacks were in and out of the rotation with muscle issues and cramps. Arriving early would have most likely helped to minimize those issues. Instead, they had to fight through it all and edge out a 24-21 win that did not feel as close for the first 55 minutes of the game.
Luckily, the Steelers now have their bye week to rest and recover from this trip and get ready for the rest of the season. Getting almost everyone back at full strength will be huge for Pittsburgh, who will be trying to get a stranglehold of the AFC North when they get back.
Sean McDermott Defends Bold Personnel Decisions After Bills’ Win Over Saints: 'It’s About Long-Term Success'
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott made waves in Week 4 with a series of unexpected personnel decisions in his team's 31-19 win over the New Orleans Saints. While the Bills celebrated the victory, questions about McDermott’s rotation strategy quickly surfaced. However, McDermott stood by his choices in a post-game interview, emphasizing the importance of experimenting with different players to secure the team’s future success.
In a move that caught many by surprise, McDermott opted to keep returning specialist Brandon Codrington inactive for the game. Instead, he gave wide receiver Khalil Shakir the opportunity to handle punt returns and added Curtis Samuel to the kick-return team. The decision sparked immediate curiosity, especially considering Codrington’s solid return game performance earlier in the season. However, McDermott had a clear reason for his choice.
"SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THIS TEAM. IT'S ABOUT EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS, GETTING THE BEST OUT OF OUR PLAYERS, AND MAKING SURE WE'RE READY FOR WHAT'S AHEAD. IF THAT MEANS ROTATING GUYS IN AND OUT TO SEE WHO'S BEST FIT FOR THE JOB, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO,
Shakir had one return for six yards, while Samuel contributed three returns for 82 yards, including a 31-yard long return. While these numbers may not jump off the page, McDermott’s underlying message was clear: the Bills are always looking to enhance their game plan and adjust their roster to maximize its potential.
The strategic rotation didn’t stop there. On the defensive side, McDermott rotated rookie cornerback Dorian Strong into the mix alongside veteran Tre'Davious White. While White’s performance was strong, with a team-high nine tackles, McDermott’s decision was less about White’s shortcomings and more about providing Strong with valuable in-game reps.
“We wanted to get Dorian some playing time and give him that experience. It’s not about Tre’Davious not doing his job, it’s about developing our future,” McDermott said. “In a long season, depth is critical, and getting our rookies experience now is going to pay dividends later.”
While the Bills’ defense held its own against the Saints, McDermott's rotation strategy is indicative of his long-term vision for the team. With the Bills now 3-1 heading into their bye week, McDermott is ensuring that both the present and future are accounted for.
As the season progresses, fans will likely continue to debate McDermott’s decisions. However, the coach’s focus on long-term growth and creating a deeper, more versatile roster could be what sets the Bills apart when the stakes are higher down the road. With the team’s depth continuing to grow, McDermott’s ability to manage and adjust could be the key to a successful playoff push later in the season.
