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Ex-Steelers QB Fires Back at Adam Schefter Over Aaron Rodgers Rumor

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Ex-Steelers QB Fires Back at Adam Schefter Over Aaron Rodgers Rumor


PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the early months of the Mike McCarthy Era, and life has been good. A few roster questions remain, but there is a sense of trust building from the fanbase.

One of the most important unanswered questions is who will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026? The presumed answer remains Aaron Rodgers, but no contract has been signed, and the 2026 NFL Draft is just weeks away.

Recently, former Steelers quarterback and co-host of The Snap Count, Charlie Batch, shared his thoughts on the holdup. He believes it’s a financial dispute keeping things from moving forward, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter refuted that claim. Now, Batch continues to hold firm to his stance, reaffirming it in the most recent episode of his show.

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“I will stand ten toes down on this,” he stated. “He deserves a pay raise. He’s not gona play on the number he had last year. For people to say, ‘He made a bunch of money,’ it’s not about money… This is about his services for this season.”

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Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Could Money Be an Issue?

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The reality is that there is no clarity regarding the situation. The Steelers have continued to present a positive front regarding the situation. McCarthy spouts off about how often he and Rodgers communicate. General manager Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II have both shared the sentiment.

That’s why many concluded that this waiting is just a formality, as the eccentric Rodgers takes his good ole time signing the deal. But that’s never been confirmed. Batch might be right on the money regarding the situation. And as he explained, the $13 million salary he played on last year is not commensurate with the rate quarterbacks are paid in the NFL right now.

“That number is not going to be $13 million,” Batch declared. “If you look at the rest of the league, he falls right into that $30 million range.”

Where does that leave things between the Steelers and Rodgers, then?

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What Number Makes Sense for Rodgers?

If Rodgers wants to be paid like a top-25 quarterback in the NFL, that would require the Steelers to cough up some more dough than they anticipate. The recent free-agent market set a baseline of $22 million. That’s the average salary on the deal Malik Willis signed with the Miami Dolphins.

It seems that if Batch’s analysis is correct, the Steelers have to pony up at least $20 million to get Rodgers back. Despite the pushback from national media and conflicting information about the subject, Batch is standing firm in the assertion that money is a huge factor preventing the Steelers from knowing their starting QB in 2026.

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Rockies top Pirates as Pittsburgh manager directs fury at umps over call on final out

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Rockies top Pirates as Pittsburgh manager directs fury at umps over call on final out


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The Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates had a classic game end in controversy on Saturday night.

Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy started the game with an inside-the-park leadoff home run off Pirates star Paul Skenes to start the game. Colorado made out with a 2-1 win, but the Pirates thought they had tied the game in the top of the ninth inning.

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Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly argues with umpire Todd Tichenor after a force out ended the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies in Denver on June 20, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)

Pirates batter Jake Mangum hit a grounder to Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros. The infielder charged the ball and met baserunner Billy Cook simultaneously. The umpires called everyone safe on the field, which would have led to a tie game. Karros was in disbelief as he signaled to his manager to challenge the call.

After the umpires met, Cook was called out for baserunner interference. Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was irate.

“The runner failed to avoid the defender in the act of fielding the baseball; therefore, he’s called out. It’s very simple,” crew chief Todd Tichenor told a pool reporter after the game, via MLB.com.

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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game in Denver on June 20, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)

Karros said Cook’s cleat “kind of clipped my glove” during the play.

Kelly said he agreed that Cook hit Karros’ glove when he was running to third base. However, he didn’t understand why the umpires had to huddle to get the call correct.

Cook added that he didn’t think he made contact until he saw the replay.

“Just unfortunate how that played out,” he continued.

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Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz hit a home run in the first inning – it accounted for Pittsburgh’s only run in the loss.

T.J. Rumfield had the other RBI for Colorado. He scored McCarthy.

Colorado Rockies’ Jake McCarthy returns to the dugout after hitting an inside-the-park home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes in the first inning of a baseball game in Denver on June 20, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)

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Colorado improved to 30-47 on the year. Pittsburgh fell to 38-39.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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South Side Street Fest opens to largely positive reviews

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South Side Street Fest opens to largely positive reviews


Pittsburgh’s South Side Street Fest is officially underway, aiming to create a safer and welcoming South Side.

The South Side has developed a reputation for chaotic weekends during the summer. That was not the case on Saturday night.

Most people who spoke with KDKA-TV offered largely glowing reviews of the event, adding that they feel safe, and that is the hope. Leaders hope that this event goes a long way to change the behavior and perception of the area. 

The South Side Street Fest aims to fill East Carson Street on Friday and Saturday nights this summer from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. between 12th and 18th streets. Of note, the event is only for those ages 21 and up, and IDs will be regularly checked.

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At the entrance, metal detectors were in use, like those at PNC Park or Acrisure Stadium. There were some lengthy lines to get into the festival, and like a sporting event, you can’t bring in guns, oversized bags, or outside alcohol. 

Festivalgoers can, however, buy alcohol inside the permitted area, such as a bar, but they are not permitted to openly bring alcohol in the street. There are specific places on the street where you can buy alcohol and walk around with it. 

Multiple vendors were also out for the late-night festivities.

“It’s been great. Very peaceful, very relaxing. Got a little bit of sugar, so sweet,” Beth Burton said.

“This is definitely a bigger turnout than I expected, but this is just great. Vibes are great out here,” Joey Fitzhenry said.

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Justin McCord, however, was one of the few who said he wasn’t the biggest fan of the event layout.

“It’s chaos, but it’s controlled chaos. Like, there’s no fighting. But I don’t know. We are kind of barricaded in. It’s a little awkward, you know?” McCord said.

McCord added that the long lines and repeated need to show IDs were two things he took issue with. If those could be rectified, he said, he might return to a future edition of the festival.



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Court orders Ohio restrictions on kids’ use of social media restored

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Court orders Ohio restrictions on kids’ use of social media restored


Ohio’s law requiring children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps must be restored, a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

The decision comes as a blow to NetChoice, which has won court victories against identical digital identification laws in other states, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia. The trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies said the Ohio decision went against “clear national consensus” and that it intended to keep fighting.

“An unconstitutional law protects no one, and we remain focused on ensuring the First Amendment rights of Ohioans are protected,” said Paul Taske, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.

Netchoice brought suit against Ohio’s law in 2024, arguing that it was overly broad, vague and represented an unconstitutional impediment to free speech.

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The Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit’s panel disagreed. In a 2-1 decision, it found that the law was not unconstitutional and sent it back to a lower court to have a block on the law’s enforcement vacated.

“At bottom, the Act imposes a parental consent requirement,” Judge Eric Clay wrote in the lead opinion. “That requirement constitutes a marginal burden that precisely targets the multi-faceted problem that Ohio has identified: Children’s unsupervised assent to terms and conditions for use of platforms that take advantage of and harm them.”

Judge Alice Batchelder concurred, writing that “a statute is not vague just because it has a wide berth.”

Known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, the Ohio law was part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in July 2023.

The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, now a U.S. senator, said at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids.

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The law requires companies to get parental permission for social media and gaming apps and to provide their privacy guidelines, so families know what content would be censored or moderated on their child’s profile.

Republican Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson called Thursday’s ruling “a win for Ohio families.”

“The court agreed that parents –- not social media companies –- should get a say in what kids see online,” he said in a statement. “We have an obligation to keep our children safe, and today, the most dangerous place for our kids is the internet. This decision gives parents the tools to be involved and provide oversight.”



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