Mark Madden's Hot Take: By signing Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers are selling hope, however misguided

The prevailing wisdom is that Aaron Rodgers gives the Steelers a better chance to win.

Win what. exactly?

It would be tangibly better for the Steelers to go 4-13 than to go 9-8. (See Commanders, Washington.)

This is 41-year-old Rodgers, not MVP Rodgers.

The Steelers’ roster is dotted with question marks and outright weaknesses.

The ceiling seems no better than winning a playoff game after eight years of not. Even that requires just the right matchup in the wild-card round, accruing that by winning the AFC North (won’t happen) or perhaps grabbing the top wild card (long shot).

Yet, though nothing great will come of it, I can’t fault the Steelers for signing Rodgers.

Because it manufactures hope.

That hope night be short-lived. It could be killed by ex-Steelers quarterback Justin Fields and his Jets when the Steelers visit New York in Week 1. (What a perversely marquee matchup.)

But sports are about selling hope. Rodgers provides that, however misguided.

The Steelers should beat Cleveland, anyway.

If Rodgers vs. Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow is like bringing a knife to a gunfight, then Rodgers vs. Kenny Pickett is like bringing a nuclear warhead to a checkers tournament.

Unless the Browns cut Pickett. (They might.)

What if the crowd at Acrisure Stadium turns on Rodgers early in the season? (It may.)

If the Steelers start poorly, will Rodgers lose interest and bail via “injury”? (Could happen.)

Rodgers probably won’t get the Steelers any playoff wins, division titles or (lol) Super Bowls.

Keeping the Steelers in the mushy middle is the most likely (and worst-case) scenario.

But the Steelers have always been good at lying to the citizens, and even better at lying to themselves.

And it’s not a lie if you believe it.