Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drew sharp criticism from ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano after making a claim about an international week proposal during previous collective bargaining agreement discussions.

The criticism comes as the Steelers prepare for a pivotal Week 8 rematch against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Pittsburgh enters the AFC North matchup at 5-2 after defeating the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in Paris last Sunday.

Rodgers' comments centered on the possibility of the NFL creating an “international week,” during which every team would play outside the United States in exchange for an additional bye week. The veteran quarterback claimed the concept came up during negotiations surrounding the 2020 collective bargaining agreement.

Graziano pushed back on that account, writing that people involved in those negotiations did not remember the proposal becoming part of formal discussions between the NFL and NFL Players Association.

“Aaron Rodgers' odd claim that the idea of an ‘international week’ of games was discussed during the 2019-20 CBA discussions created a lot of confusion around the league Monday, in particular among people who were there and remember nothing of the sort ever coming up,” Graziano wrote.

Graziano added that multiple people involved in the negotiations said the idea was never discussed between players and owners. However, one person vaguely recalled Rodgers raising the concept during a separate meeting involving player leaders, according to Graziano.

That person remembered the idea either being ignored or dismissed by others in the discussion.

Dan Graziano blasts Aaron Rodgers' international week claim

Graziano also questioned the practicality of Rodgers' proposal, arguing that an international week involving all 32 NFL teams would present significant logistical problems.

The ESPN insider then provided additional context surrounding Rodgers' involvement in the CBA process. At the time, union representatives were meeting in Carmel, Indiana, during the NFL scouting combine as negotiations approached their conclusion.

Graziano noted that Rodgers opposed the proposed agreement and wanted players to push for all offseason workouts to become voluntary in exchange for accepting a 17-game regular-season schedule.

“So if you're wondering whether this ‘international week’ was ever treated as a viable idea, you can move on to other things in your life and remember that a large portion of what Aaron Rodgers has said publicly over the past six or seven years is utter nonsense,” Graziano wrote.

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The criticism arrives immediately after Rodgers and the Steelers returned from their own international trip.

Pittsburgh improved to 5-2 by defeating New Orleans in Paris, keeping the Steelers in a strong position as they move deeper into their AFC North schedule.

Their attention now shifts back to Cleveland after the Browns defeated Pittsburgh earlier this season. With both teams entering Week 8 at 5-2, the rematch carries significant implications within the division.

The Steelers and Browns will kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.