Mike Vandermause column: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' next challenge is playoffs
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Aaron Rodgers has spent much of his competitive life proving the skeptics, critics and naysayers wrong.
He wasnt supposed to be good enough to earn a Division 1 college scholarship. He wasnt deemed worthy enough by a majority of NFL teams to be taken in the first round of the 2005 draft. His form wasnt sound enough, his body wasnt durable enough, and his arm wasnt strong enough.
Every time he showed up his doubters, they would find something else to criticize.
He passed for more than 4,000 yards in his first season as an NFL starter in 2008 and despite enduring a painful shoulder injury, started every game. The myth that he lacked toughness was debunked, so the knock on him shifted to his inability to win close games.
That faulty claim was blown up in the 2009 season opener when he beat the Chicago Bears with a late touchdown pass.
But for every Rodgers achievement, his doubters conjure up another flaw in his game.
Rodgers has displayed a remarkable knack for avoiding interceptions, but for that he is accused of not taking enough chances.
In the midst of an early-season sack barrage that stifled the offense, Rodgers took his lumps on the field and in the court of public opinion, where he was blamed for holding the football too long.
When Rodgers consistently churned out impressive numbers in the first half of the season, he was accused of being all about statistics except in the one category that really mattered, winning.
He proceeded to lead the Packers to a 7-1 finish and playoff berth, and in the process turned in, statistically, the best overall single-season performance by a quarterback in the 90-year history of the franchise.
Rodgers passed for 4,434 yards (No. 2 on the Packers all-time list), and produced a 103.2 passer rating (No. 2), 1.3 interception percentage (No. 2), 4.3 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio (No. 2), and 64.7 completion percentage (No. 3).
Brett Favre, who preceded Rodgers as the Packers starting quarterback, never matched those single-season statistics during his 16-year career in Green Bay, even during his three MVP years.
So whats wrong with Rodgers now? The nit-pickers will say that for as well as Rodgers performed this season, Favre played even better with the Minnesota Vikings. At the ripe old age of 40, Favre had a 107.2 passer rating, 68.4 completion percentage and astounding 4.7 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio. Plus, Favre won both head-to-head matchups against Rodgers this season.
That leads to one other bit of unfinished business for Rodgers. He has never proven himself in a playoff game, and will get his first chance at 3:40 p.m. Sunday in a wild-card matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.
If the true measure of an NFL quarterback comes in the playoff crucible, then we are about to find out how Rodgers handles the heat.
He has passed every other test in his life with flying colors, including the difficult task of replacing a legend like Favre. If Rodgers can flourish under that kind of scrutiny, playoff pressure might feel like a breeze in comparison.
Obviously the quarterback is going to be judged fair or unfair by his success in the playoffs, Rodgers said. You remember the quarterbacks -- Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Tom Brady -- who have won three, four Super Bowls. Obviously thats not my main focus (right now) but at some point youd love to be mentioned in the same breath as guys like that, that have won multiple Super Bowls.
Rodgers begins the quest for his first Super Bowl title today when the playoffs begin. He is attempting to treat this as just another game, but deep down he knows, once again, he has something to prove.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.