Tom Brady Sends Message to Aaron Rodgers Before Steelers Game
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to begin a new journey with a future Hall of Famer as their starting quarterback. After months of preparation, Aaron Rodgers will take the field as the black and gold's starter, joining his third team and starting the campaign against the team that released him this past offseason.
He's not the first legendary quarterback to leave an organization and go to another. And those who did it before him know what he's set to face as he begins his run with a new team, new faces, and major expectations.
One of those legendary quarterbacks is Tom Brady. Speaking with Pro Football Focus, the soon-to-be Hall of Famer gave his advice to Rodgers and explained how he understands the situation and how the Steelers new quarterback needs to adjust.
"We all have to evolve and grow," Brady said. "Some of it is more mentally. How do we make the game a little more simple for ourselves so that we can execute faster? And then emotionally, how do we connect with our teammates and bring that competitive positive attitude to work every single day? And sometimes when you go through tough times like he did with the Jets, you know you get reinvigorated by going to another organization like the Steelers that has had so much consistency in their success and that could allow Aaron to achieve what he hopes to go out on the highest of possible notes."
The pressure for the Steelers to win a playoff game this season is pretty significant, and they're leaning on Rodgers to be the difference maker to get them over the hump. This will be the first time Brady gets to cover Rodgers as a spectator, and as another QB great, he's excited to sit in the booth and watch.
"So I get to cover them and I am sure you get to cover them a little bit,” Brady said. “It would be my first time covering Aaron from a broadcaster and sitting up in the booth. I am really excited to see what he does this year."
How the Steelers do this season could carry some weight on the historic career of Rodgers, but it likely sits a lot heavier on Pittsburgh if they can't get any further than they've done in recent years. But the hopes are high that Rodgers and the team can find a way to pull things off in 2025.
Joe Burrow Relieved to Win After Bengals 'Steal' Game in Cleveland
Joe Burrow is taking Sunday's win and running with it after Cincinnati had some close-game luck go their way for the first time in a while. The Bengals took out the Browns 17-16 thanks to some great interceptions by the defense and a few missed kicks from Browns rookie kicker Andre Szmyt.
Burrow didn't wow with 113 yards and one touchdown in the game, but it was enough for a win as Cincinnati got its second-ever opening week victory under head Coach Zac Taylor.
"Anytime you can win like this, you kind of steal one. So we stole one today, and we're gonna have to be better," Burrow said to the media postgame. "We didn't win many of these games last year and so usually when you can win a game like this that's a recipe for success."
He noted he'll have to watch the tape to get a better evaluation of his issues from a solid first half to a shaky second half. All in all, though, Cincinnati banded together for a team win and got some luck to kick their way after going 1-4 in one-score games last season.
Taylor said the win is all that matters in Week 1, as things to figure look wildly different later in the season.
"I thought we had a great training camp. I thought our guys came out of it in shape and healthy, and it allows you to finish games like this on defense," Taylor declared.
Cincinnati won the turnover battle 2-0, as it wasn't all luck that ended up winning the game. After an offseason of criticism, Cincinnati's defense stepped up with some big plays and held its first opponent under 20 points.
"Thankful to have gotten their number the last couple of times," Taylor said about beating the in-state rival. "Week 1 is always a challenge. You're always going to get the other team's best. You're always going to the healthiest version of them. They got the healthiest version of us, and you're going to get their best right out the gate. And so you just got to find a way to win."
Cincinnati now prepares for Jacksonville, which easily beat the Carolina Panthers this week to start 1-0 as well.
