NFL fans have fired back at Joy Taylor after the FS1 host ripped into Aaron Rodgers for not attending the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first day of minicamp – despite not yet signing with the team.
Rodgers, who is still a free agent almost three months since being released by the New York Jets, has been heavily linked with a move to Pittsburgh after flying in for talks with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin this offseason.
Despite appearing destined to join Tomlin’s team, the veteran quarterback, 41, is still yet to announce whether he is playing on in 2025 or not amid talk of retirement, which is said to be due to personal issues he is dealing with away from football.
He was therefore nowhere to be seen on Tuesday when the Steelers arrived for their first day of organized team activities (OTAs) – the voluntary, non-contact practice sessions which are held before mandatory minicamps get underway.
During the latest episode of FS1 show ‘Speak’, Taylor embarked on a furious rant about Rodgers skipping Pittsburgh’s opening session while speaking about the Super Bowl winner with co-hosts Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce.
‘Why?! Why?! This is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have six Lombardis, they’re coached by first-ballot Hall of Famer Mike Tomlin, who’s never had a losing season, and we’re sitting around talking about Aaron Rodgers is not there on the first day of OTAs,’ she fumed.
NFL fans have fired back at Joy Taylor after the FS1 host ripped into Aaron Rodgers this week
‘Mandatory or not, where is your pride? Where is your dignity? Where is your respect for the game? Where is your respect for this organization? Where is this organization’s respect for the history that they have in this league? What are we talking about?
‘He’s never played there before. He doesn’t know any of his teammates, he doesn’t know the streets to get to the facility, he doesn’t know the doctors, he doesn’t know the rehab crew… he doesn’t know anybody! He doesn’t know where to get his smoothies, nothing.
‘Why would you not be there? Why am I supposed to take this seriously? It’s not about him not being at non-mandatory OTAs for a team that he’s been with for 22 years. Do what you want to do.
‘[But] you won five games last year, the year before that you didn’t play because you tore your Achilles, the year before that you missed the playoffs… what are we talking about?’
Fans quickly took issue with Taylor’s scathing verdict about Rodgers, criticizing the sports presenter for forgetting the fact that he isn’t a Steelers player yet.
One asked on X: ‘Why would a player not on the Steelers roster be at OTAs?’
Another wrote sarcastically: ‘Rodgers is on the Steelers?’
‘The bigger issue is the two so called “professional men” in the room that didn’t stop her and simply say, “bro; wtf you talking about? Hes not on the team!”’ a third claimed about Johnson and Pierce.
Rodgers is still yet to announce a decision on his future after being released by the Jets
“Why am I supposed to take this seriously” my thoughts exactly Joy,’ joked a fourth.
While one simply concluded: ‘this is embarrassing’.
Rodgers, who revealed earlier this month that members of his inner circle are currently battling cancer, is still expected to sign with the Steelers once he has dealt his personal issues away from football.
At a public event in Austin, Texas earlier this week, the four-time MVP dropped his biggest hint yet about a proposed move to Pittsburgh.
After being asked by a young fan if there was any chance that he could sign for the Chicago Bears – a team that he had plenty of experience beating – Rodgers slyly responded: ‘No, but I believe there’s a team that might play in Chicago this year… a road trip…
‘I love Chicago, though, way more than they love me! It’s been a great relationship, all one way!’
A quick look at the NFL schedule shows that the Steelers will be on the road against the Bears in Week 12 of the season on November 23.