00:00What is it? Why is this it?
00:03I thought last year might be it, and then Mike got hired, and I talked to the wife, and she
00:10said,
00:11you can do one more year. I said, well, let's see if it works out, and then it kind of
00:17all came together.
00:18We just talked to DK earlier, and he said, well, you know, saying it's the last year might just be
00:25something I say,
00:25and you don't get it this year, and you want to come back another year. Do you think you'll have
00:29any kind of debate?
00:31No. Zero debate. Zero.
00:37You're the man. My guy Aaron Rodgers says his wife gave him the go-ahead to come back this season,
00:41but there is zero debate. This is it. This is his swan song in the NFL.
00:49I love Aaron Rodgers. I live for Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers is my favorite person to interview in all of
00:55sports.
00:55Aaron Rodgers, to me, is the greatest thrower of the football in the history of the National Football League.
01:01Aaron Rodgers deserves a farewell tour, and I am absolutely thrilled that he is going to get it.
01:07I think Aaron Rodgers still has a ton of gas left in the tank, and I think he's going to
01:13add to his unbelievable resume.
01:15I mean, we are talking about someone who is fifth in passing guards, history of the NFL,
01:21fourth in passing touchdowns, sixth when you take a look at quarterback wins, fifth when it comes to quarterback starts,
01:29plus four MVPs for our guy Aaron Rodgers, an ass kicker, domination, just a joy to watch play in the
01:40National Football League.
01:41And I love Rodgers whenever he talks at a news conference or when I have a chance to talk to
01:46him.
01:46He's always candid, thoughtful, honest, and he left no doubts this is it when it comes to the final season
01:56playing in the National Football League.
01:58And I'm here to tell you, I think this is going to be an excellent season.
02:01And I'm not throwing that word around.
02:03Now, we can start debating what excellent means, but look at these numbers on your screen right here.
02:09He hit the over when it came to the betting odds for passing yards and passing touchdowns.
02:15You look at the numbers from last year, and this was playing for Mike Tomlin and a different offensive coordinator.
02:21I think it's more than fair to believe Rodgers will throw for a minimum of 3,500 passing yards and
02:31over 30 touchdowns.
02:33And you know, because it's who Rodgers is, it's what he believes in, the touchdown to interception ratio is going
02:40to be great because it always is historically.
02:43And I think Rodgers is primed for a better season because the Steelers are better.
02:49And let's start with the head coach, Mike McCarthy.
02:52I think Mike McCarthy is an upgrade over Mike Tomlin.
02:55And don't misinterpret, I think Mike Tomlin did a phenomenal job, fabulous job in Pittsburgh, won a lot of games.
03:02But it was time for a change.
03:04Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh native, right guy, right time.
03:08And he's Aaron Rodgers' guy.
03:11And when I talked to Mike McCarthy after the NFL draft, this is before Rodgers officially signed, but you knew
03:17that it was inevitable.
03:18He said he felt like Aaron had a lot of gas left in the tank.
03:22And these guys made such unbelievable, sweet, historic, beautiful music together, winning a title in Green Bay.
03:29Rodgers won a couple of MVPs playing for Mike McCarthy.
03:32Mike has talked to me, Rodgers has talked to me about the famous Mike McCarthy quarterback school and the offseason
03:39program and how Mike McCarthy, quarterback whisperer.
03:44You could talk to Rodgers or Brett Favre or Dak Prescott or Rich Gannon or Joe Montana about what Mike
03:52McCarthy has meant to them during their legendary careers, whether Mike was a head coach or a quarterback coach or
03:58an offensive coordinator.
03:59And I just love that they're getting the band back together.
04:02This is great.
04:03And look, I don't think the Steelers have a legit number one receiver.
04:08I don't consider DK Metcalf to be a top 20 wide receiver in the NFL.
04:12I don't think Michael Pittman is a top 20 receiver in the NFL.
04:16But I think both these guys are in the 21 to 30 range.
04:21So I don't think they have a typical number one.
04:24I think they have a couple of 1As or 1Bs, however you want to phrase it.
04:28And that's going to be amazing for Rodgers.
04:31The tight end position is filled with unbelievable depth and talent.
04:35I really like the depth and talent in the receiver room.
04:39I love Rico Dowdle.
04:41I thought that was the most underrated move by any team this offseason.
04:45He's a three-down back.
04:46And Mike McCarthy loves him.
04:49He had him in Dallas and raved about him.
04:51And I thought Dowdle last year really burst on the scene, the year that he spent with the Carolina Panthers.
04:56So I'm really energized by this.
04:59I'm fired up by it.
05:00And when you take a look at the Steelers' schedule, I really think that it's all there for the Pittsburgh
05:06Steelers to get off to a hot start.
05:09You look at it, and I think that Atlanta is a perfect opportunity to get a win.
05:14They are absolutely going to be able to take care of business against the New England Patriots.
05:19I think that Cincinnati is going to win the division this year, but I think they'll beat them at home.
05:24I love them against Cleveland.
05:26Love them going up against Indianapolis at home.
05:29Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Cleveland.
05:31I mean, that beginning of the schedule is one where I think it's relatively, quote-unquote, soft.
05:38I wouldn't be surprised if you see the Pittsburgh Steelers minimum 6-2 in the first eight.
05:45And I wouldn't even be surprised if it was 7-1.
05:48That's how much I believe in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
05:52You take a look at the betting odds for this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, I can't believe how little
05:58Vegas likes this team.
06:01Bang the over-on wins.
06:03Bang them to make the playoffs.
06:05And I think this will be the year the Steelers have the ability to go out and win a playoff
06:11game.
06:12And I know you think about history and tradition with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it shouldn't just be about winning
06:17a playoff game.
06:18And I'm not getting crazy here.
06:19I'm not saying they're winning the division.
06:21I'm not saying they're making a real Super Bowl run.
06:23But I think people are sleeping on who the Pittsburgh Steelers are and what they're capable of.
06:29I really think that Rodgers, you saw him last year, Week 18, you know, outgun Lamar Jackson pound for pound,
06:36throw for throw,
06:37third quarter, fourth quarter, in that second half in Pittsburgh to make the playoffs.
06:41That's vintage Aaron Rodgers.
06:43And I think that this team is better.
06:46I think the head coach is better.
06:47And I really think that, I mean, you've got to remember this.
06:50The Steelers haven't won a game in the playoffs since they beat, I want you to think about the weight
06:55of this, Alex Smith and the Chiefs 2015.
07:00What the hell does that even mean?
07:02That's a lifetime ago.
07:04I know the standard in Pittsburgh, you know, one for a thumb, Lombardi trophy, whatever it is.
07:08They need to win a playoff game.
07:10And they're going to be in position to do just that.
07:13I think the defense is vastly improved.
07:16I don't think Mike McCarthy gets enough credits.
07:18Omar Khan gets enough credit for improving the offensive line, improving the defense.
07:22I think T.J. Watt is going to get back to the form of being a defensive player of the
07:27year candidate.
07:28I think you are going to see Cam Hayward have a monster year.
07:32They are brilliantly coached.
07:34Mike McCarthy put together a great staff on defense, Patrick Graham and company.
07:38I really think that the Steelers are going to bounce back in a major way.
07:42And wouldn't it be fitting for Rodgers to have his moments on the way out?
07:48I just think the world of Aaron Rodgers.
07:50I think when you listen to him talk, and I interview him once or twice a year, he just has
07:56such a great appreciation for the NFL, for NFL history, for sports, for sports history.
08:04He is so revered by teammates and players throughout the NFL, current players, former players.
08:11He plays the game the right way.
08:14I am such a massive fan of Rodgers, who he is, what he does.
08:19And I can't wait for him one more time to shut up the haters.
08:23I really think the Steelers win a minimum of 11 games.
08:26I think that they finish in second place in the division behind the Cincinnati Bengals.
08:31And I can't wait to watch Aaron Rodgers for one final season.
08:37We will celebrate.
08:39We will appreciate one of the greatest quarterbacks who's ever lived.
08:44My guy, Aaron Rodgers.
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