DUBLIN — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was displeased with the team’s Ireland travel schedule, commenting that he would have travelled to the Emerald Isle far earlier in the week than the Steelers.
“It is what it is, but if the schedule had been a little different, if I could have chosen it, maybe we get over on Monday; Tuesday is the day off,” Rodgers said. “Good to get out, see some things. It’s a beautiful country, it seems like, from pictures.”
Head coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers still will have the opportunity to go out into the city when they have time off on Saturday, but they will not totally see Dublin over the next few days, and this is a business trip to face the Minnesota Vikings.
Team president Art Rooney II said the team had to make the choice as a ‘football decision’ to not totally wreck their week’s work leading up to the game.
“I would’ve liked to have the guys over here for a few more days, too,” Rooney said. “But we’re in the middle of the season, so we had to do what’s best for the football side of things.”
Pittsburgh practiced at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex back home on Wednesday and Thursday instead of an early flight for work over in Ireland.
The team chose to stay out in Kildare, which is about an hour outside of Dublin, to immerse itself in football over the next few days while they prepare for the first ever game in Ireland.