Aaron Rodgers Won't Play Vs. Bears And Reportedly Didn't Take The News Well

By all accounts, Aaron Rodgers was pushing hard to play today against the Chicago Bears. It wasn't difficult to understand why. The future Hall of Famer is likely in his final season. Most believe he will retire once it's over. This was his last chance to get in one more shot at a team he's owned for most of his career. It felt like things were trending in the right direction. He'd practiced twice despite his broken left wrist. Pittsburgh insiders felt the likelihood was that he would play. Two hours before game time, we got an answer.

Head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that backup Mason Rudolph would start. Rodgers would remain sidelined.

It is a sound decision from a big picture standpoint. Tomlin must focus on the Steelers' push for the division title. A matchup against an NFC opponent like the Bears doesn't carry enough weight to risk losing Rodgers for the season. The Bears did much the same by refusing to activate cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon despite both practicing this week. While the decision was in the best interests of the team, it appears Rodgers didn't take the news well.

Aaron Rodgers remains all about Aaron Rodgers.

A reaction like that reeks of a child who didn't get his way, so he acts out to get attention. Name another quarterback who would do something like that after his own team refused to let him put his season at risk. It is a selfish reaction that is perfectly on-brand for this quarterback. Make no mistake. Aaron Rodgers is an all-time great quarterback. He will be enshrined in Canton the moment he goes on the ballot. That doesn't change the fact that almost every decision he's made was meant to serve his own self-interests.

The big picture doesn't matter. All the matters are cementing his legacy by beating the Bears one last time. It seems rather fitting that a head coach who is as team-oriented as it gets didn't bend the knee to the almighty Rodgers. He won't get his storybook ending. His last game in Chicago will be spent on the sidelines. In all honesty, that is a fitting ending.