DUBLIN — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not happy about his comments from availability on Friday being ‘taken out of context’ by ESPN. In his postgame press conference, Rodgers ripped the outlet, saying they misconstrued his comments and he meant nothing ill about the team’s travel schedule.
“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 on Friday. “Good to get out, see some things. It’s a beautiful country, it seems like, from pictures.”
On Sunday, Rodgers took a different approach to that, adding that Dublin and Ireland itself had certainly proved it should host another game.
“Well, ESPN wrote a clickbait headline, I think, taking my words out of context, which isn’t the first time,” Rodgers said. “But I was answering a question about my desire, all three times we came overseas, was to come early in the week. Especially if you have a bye week afterwards. Some of that is out of the control of the teams, some of it might be. But I would always love to get in the time frame that you’re in, time zone, and get to enjoy the area a little bit more. Especially with Ireland, the history of ancestors that I had from this region, but also just hearing about the country and what it’s like and being able to see some stuff would have been great. That is obviously not the focus. It’s a business trip. We understand that. But being the older guy, being around a long time, just would have loved one time out of these three to have an entire week to do it. But again no complaints about the three days we’ve spent, only desires for more time with you great Irish people.”
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.