I’m here to bring you the latest scoop on the ongoing drama between Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams and his former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
Mike Williams’ Steelers Debut
Mike Williams’ time with the New York Jets was short-lived, but he’s already making waves with his new team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his Steelers debut, Williams only managed one catch for 32 yards, but boy did he make it count. That lone reception resulted in the game-winning touchdown, helping Pittsburgh escape Washington with a narrow 28-27 victory.
Following the Week 10 victory, Williams used Instagram to mock Rodgers and the “red line” remarks that resulted in his departure from the Jets. “Thankful #WholeLotta #WeBack #RedLine,” Williams captioned the post, celebrating his touchdown heroics.
The ‘Red Line’ Saga
It’s clear that the relationship between Williams and Rodgers was never quite in sync during their time together in New York. The veteran quarterback seemed to struggle building chemistry with the receiver, who was still working his way back from a torn ACL.
Rodgers didn’t hesitate to call out Williams following a game-ending interception against the Bills in Week 6. “There’s two verticals, Allen’s [Lazard] down the seam, and Mike’s [Williams] down the red line,” Rodgers explained. “So, I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. When I peek back there, I see that Mike is running an ‘in-breaker,’ so it must be down the red line.”
NFL teams use the “red line” Rodgers referenced as a tool to teach receivers how to run vertical routes. To keep players on track, NFL teams paint a line 5 yards from the sideline on practice fields.
Williams Finds Success in Pittsburgh
While Williams struggled to make an impact with the Jets, the red line hasn’t presented any problems through one game with the Steelers. In fact, he made the most of his limited opportunities, scoring the game-winning touchdown on his only target.
Rodgers’ History of Receiver Distrust
Rodgers’ criticism of Williams isn’t all that surprising, as the quarterback has a reputation for not fully trusting his receivers unless they’ve completely earned it. This lack of trust often leads Rodgers to publicly call out his pass-catchers, which can create a toxic environment in the locker room.
In contrast, Steelers QB Russell Wilson seems to have quickly developed a strong rapport with Williams. When asked about gaining Wilson’s trust, Williams said, “I kind of tried to gain that trust throughout practice this week—just any ball that came my way. I just tried to make a play to let him know that if he throws me the ball, he can rely on me to come down with it.
Williams Let His play Do The Talking
Rather than firing back at Rodgers directly, Williams has chosen to let his performance on the field do the talking. After the game, he simply said, “I actually saw it at the last second, to be honest with you. I simply scanned the sky, noticed its presence, and instinctively made a play.
By focusing on his new opportunity with the Steelers, Williams has proven that he can be a reliable target, even if his former quarterback didn’t see it that way. And with his subtle jab on Instagram, he’s made it clear that he’s moved on and is ready to write the next chapter of his NFL career.
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