Mike Florio Calls out Aaron Rodgers for His ‘Attitude of Resignation’

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been quite expressive during games when things don’t go well for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. When he’s not visibly yelling, he often displays a face that makes it easy to read what he’s likely thinking.

NFL insider Mike Florio argued Friday that Rodgers’s facial expressions hit a low point during the Week 10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

“The Bengals game, he looked irritated the whole time. On Sunday against the Chargers, he had more of an overall attitude of resignation,” Florio said of Rodgers on 93.7 The Fan this week, via Steelers Depot’s Matthew Marci. “And was it, ‘It’s not our night,’ or is it ‘It’s not our year,’ or is it, ‘I’m just done, and I’m not gonna get what I thought I was gonna get here in Pittsburgh?'”

Florio continued to read between the lines and assess Rodgers’s mindset based on his Week 10 facial expressions.

“I just feel like he’s accepting something,” Florio also said of Rodgers. “Whether it was just that night or the rest of the season, and ‘This is how my career’s gonna end,’ I don’t know.

“But he definitely had just kind of an acceptance that seemed like he was recognizing. ‘That’s all, folks.'”

The Many Facial Expressions of Aaron Rodgers

It’s Florio’s job to read between the lines and draw dramatic conclusions to stir discussion in the media. But his conclusion that Rodgers has accepted his fate in Pittsburgh because of a bad few weeks is going to be a bridge too far for a lot of fans.

Florio’s take on Rodgers didn’t come from sources or insider knowledge — it’s a feeling he has. His “feelings” or “guesses around the quarterback have been way off in the past.

Florio made an “educated guess” in March that it was going to cost $90 million on a two-year contract for the Steelers to sign the veteran quarterback. Rodgers’s deal with Pittsburgh was a one-year, $13.65 million contract.

Florio is right about one thing — it’s rather easy to decipher when Rodgers is displeased about something along the sidelines. Sunday night against the Chargers, there was plenty to be upset about with the Steelers.

Pittsburgh had only 221 yards and finished 2-for-11 on third down in Week 10. The offense didn’t reach the end zone until there was fewer than three minutes remaining in regulation.

Speaking of unhappy facial expressions, Mike Tomlin appeared rather disgusted based on his face during the third quarter. Again, that’s understandable based on how the team’s played on offense.

But talking about Tomlin’s expressions doesn’t make headlines. So, the coach’s face went largely unnoticed.

Rodgers Doesn’t Sound Like a QB Accepting His Fate

Sideline behavior can be a clear indication into a player’s mindset. But a postgame press conference can reveal that as well.

In his Week 10 postgame presser, Rodgers stated that the offense lacked energy.

“I feel like we were just kind of struggling a little bit, couldn’t get a play to get going,” Rodgers said. “We always say, ‘we just get a first down, we score on that drive.’ We had so many three and outs and we hurt ourselves with a couple penalties.

To a follow-up question, though, the quarterback clarified the low energy isn’t something happening a lot with the offense or team.

“It’s just sometimes in the game, when it’s just not going, it’s just one of those days where we just couldn’t quite get over the hump and get some first downs,” said Rodgers.

Based on those responses, Rodgers’s facial expressions were probably closer to “this isn’t our night” than “this isn’t our year.”

Key Lions returns set to make a playoff push a lot easier

Detroit is getting healthier, for sure, but it's going to be a waiting game for fans.

Marcus Davenport and D.J. Reed have been sorely missed in the Detroit Lions' starting lineup. The Lions' pass rushing and secondary have suffered the most this season, although not to the detriment of the team's record. They're atop the NFC North at 6-3 ahead of Week 11, just waiting to get healthier ahead of a big December push.

The practice window was started for both Davenport and Reed ahead of the Lions' game against the Philadelphia Eagles, meaning the team expects to get them back within the next 21 days. It's unlikely that they both play right away, but with a few key NFC games coming up for Detroit, it's better to let them get back up to speed before throwing them back out there against top competition.

Until then, Detroit continues to plug the holes left by the two defenders, and to some decent success.

Lions set to get back two key returns, likely ahead of Packers game

While it's unclear when either will be back on the field, Reed seems more than motivated to help out the Lions - especially since they will probably be without Terrion Arnold for Sunday Night Football.

"Me, I'm a gamer, so I’m ready, but that’s not my call. Obviously, they’re going to be smart about it, but if you ask me, I’m ready to play. That’s just my mindset," 

said Reed about his readiness, according to Will Burchfield of 97.1 FM.

Reed would be a huge addition to the Lions' secondary alongside Brian Branch, as it currently looks like the team is going to trot out their Legion of Whom against Philadelphia. While they are the most recent Super Bowl champions, the Eagles aren't the most formidable foe the Lions have coming up.

So, it would make sense if they decide to keep Reed and Davenport at bay until they're 100 percent ready to go against the Green Bay Packers, for example. That's the team's biggest November contest by far.

Davenport, on the other hand, could help to add back some firepower behind Al-Quadin Muhammad, Tyrus Wheat, and Tyler Lacy. They've been more than serviceable next to Aidan Hutchinson, but the Lions clearly still need someone to get after the quarterback at a higher rate aside from Hutchinson.

A healthy defense could be the difference maker for Detroit as they charge towards capturing the 1 seed. Without a pass rush attack and a shutdown secondary, the Lions will be far too reliant on an offense that lives and dies by their offensive line, another unhealthy and questionable part of their team.

 

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