LATROBE, Pa. _ Aaron Rodgers' love for the game has been on display throughout the Steelers' summer stay at Saint Vincent College.
Head coach Mike Tomlin expected nothing less, and perhaps appreciates nothing more about his new quarterback.
"That's one of the things I enjoy most about him, that he can't hide his love affair that he has with this game," Tomlin maintained in an interview with WDVE-FM, the flagship station on the Steelers Audio Network. "And his willingness to share that love with others, man, it makes for good bones for a team when you have a leader that's moving in that mindset and in that spirit.
"I was really sure of it. It became really evident during the course of our conversations in the spring, so I'm not surprised by what I see here."
Rodgers appeared surprised when questioned about how much fun he seemed to be having at 41 and in his 21st NFL training camp shortly after the Steelers' arrival.
"Once it stops being fun you should probably hang it up," he maintained.
Just before the second-to-last practice of camp, Rodgers elaborated.
"I was 5 or 6 years old watching (49ers quarterback Joe) Montana on 'The Drive' to win the Super Bowl," Rodgers recalled to WDVE. "From that point forward, that's what I wanted to do.
"I don't need this. I've made a ton of money, I have a great life, I could walk away and start my family and do that, but I really want it. I want it because I love the game, the game's been great to me and I want to keep giving back to it.
"As I look at my life, it's hard to say that anything great that I have isn't either directly or indirectly related to this game, and that's an incredible blessing. I fought against being strictly a football player for so long in my life. I have other interests. I have other things going on. But eventually, a few years ago I just kinda sunk into that reality that it's not a bad thing to be known as a football player, because this game has given me everything and I love it."
This summer's team-building exercise at the Steelers' destination camp will be remembered first and foremost for Rodgers.
For the flick of his wrist, for his timing and accuracy, for his ability to find the right arm angle and for how he's been all-in on building chemistry and camaraderie with his new teammates on and off the field.
"There's a certain level of confidence that he has that I think radiates throughout the team," wide receiver Ben Skowronek told WDVE. "Yeah, he's 40-whatever years old but he can still sling that thing.
"And he's been just great in the meeting rooms, been great off the field, hanging out with the guys. I've never felt stronger about a connection on a team before."
Rodgers wouldn't have it any other way.
It's what he appreciates most about the game.
"This is what I always wanted to do," he said. "I'm living out my dream single every day and fighting against Father Time. But the beauty is, every day you get an opportunity for connection. If you play this game and at the end all you have is your stats and records and accolades, you miss out on the greatest gift this has to offer.
"That's these crazy guys in the locker room. And the relationships and the friendships and the pranks, and the trips down to Meadows over here, which is a great custard spot in Latrobe, shout out to Meadows. Just all those little things that make this game so special.
"You know, when I meet up with our former teammates we don't talk about the stats. We don't talk about the games. We talk about the inside jokes. We talk about the pranks. We talk about the road trips. We talk about the connection points, the parties that we had, the Thanksgivings that were hosted.
"It's the relationships that really are special about this game and I wanted one more crack at it."
