Let's look at the past few days to see just how different the relationships both the Steelers and Packers have with their franchise quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers.
Sunday, the Packers saw Rodgers go on ESPN to criticize the Packers organization's culture and philosophy. Two days later, Rodgers was a no-show for the team's first OTAs.
In Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger showed up for his first OTA practice at 39 years old without complaint, just months after he agreed to shave millions off his salary cap hit to the Steelers.
The reason for that difference is obvious.
Since 2008, Rodgers' fourth season, the Packers have spent just five picks in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft to address the wide receiver position. During that time the Steelers have selected nine receivers in the first three rounds, four of those coming in consecutive years between 2017-2020.
In 2018, the Steelers promoted Roethlisberger's friend and quarterback coach, Randy Fichtner, to offensive coordinator. The same year, the Packers fired Rodgers' friend and quarterback coach, Alex Van Pelt. Rodgers openly criticized the Packers' philosophy for that decision too.
The contrast between these Super Bowl champion quarterbacks playing for storied NFL franchises couldn't be more obvious; the Steelers take their quarterback's wants and concerns more to heart than the Packers do with theirs.
And that doesn't mean the Steelers' decisions are the right ones, either. Fichtner was fired two years into his tenure as coordinator and the Packers with Rodgers beat Roethlisberger and the Steelers in Super Bowl 45. But the Steelers have also been to the Super Bowl three times with Roethlisberger, winning twice, while the Packers have only a single Super Bowl and NFC Championship with Rodgers.
However, the season results aren't the difference making headlines today. It's Rodgers' public disdain to the only NFL team he's played for drawing attention, while Roethlisberger quietly working on his game in spring at OTAs. Clearly, that's the result of the Steelers' philosophy of taking him into account with their decisions.
YOUR TAKE: Have the Steelers handled their quarterback situation better than the Packers?