Is annoying. And yet I still further it, woe is me.
Is he a viable replacement for Favre, considering all facets of what makes a champion?
Yes. Resounding yes. For so many reasons.
There are many ways to distinguish between the disgruntled Favre fan, the consummate cheesehead and bandwagon since 96' fans who wish they would have waited until Tom Brady's ascent so to support success. Without sounding elitist or "I know it all" - I pride myself on knowing my team.
Yes, Brett Favre is a legend, a hero, an icon and a surefire record-breaking elite hall of famer but, BUT -
I think the timing of A-Rod's annoinment of starter couldn't have come at a better time.
Let's start with evident, in your face knowledge that most people deem players by:-
A-Rod - 28 TD's, 13 INT's, 93 passer rating, 63-4% completion rate - in a team that went 6-10.
Mighty fine for a first year starter. Now, the intricacies of the debate are about performance in certain game situations - i.e. in the clutch.
Now, after last season anyone would think Aaron Rodgers is not equipped to deal with high-pressured situations - considering how many games went down to the wire and we couldn't finish.
Clutch performances, performing in the clutch doesn't come as a first year starter. Players have to be around the league for quite a while to have been involved in game situations that require a change of pace/strategy. Learning how to finish games never comes from sitting behind someone, regardless of their status - in this case, Brett Favre.
Stats are stats, no one argues against them - but - the makings of a great Quarterback starts and ends at their ability to perform in game-deciding situations.
But - and here is where I think Aaron Rodgers CAN better Favre - cautiousness. Everyone surrounds themselves in the Favre magic hoopla - not saying that I didn't enjoy watching #4 play - but in certain game situations where throws need to be reserved - Aaron Rodgers is the man who can provide that for us.
Right from the get-go you can tell Rodgers is of a different mould to Favre, more traditional with a handy dose of mobility. Not saying that he is better or ever will be, just of a different mould. Harness these strengths to their fullest though, learn from experience and right there we have a winner. If you watch Rodgers throw, read defences, recieve the snap - you can see he has no visible weakness' in his game. All the tools/mechanics ooze Pro Bowl QB - and I for one know Aaron Rodgers will be an elite QB come next season
Did Favre have weaknesses in his game?
Maybe.
The gung-ho style sometimes didn't serve us too well - Watching Brett from 92-94 was like watching an untamed horse who you knew "If I could somehow get it to run in a straight line, we have the winningest horse of recent times"
Aaron Rodgers didn't force things last season during the first three quarters (Maybe the reason why we were so close to winning so many of the games we lost)
In finishing - I think the timing of A-Rod as a starter was perfect, the treatment of Favre, whilst admittedly bad management, might have been deemed necessary (afterall, he did officially retire) and I personally think that Rodgers cannot be compared to Favre because they are not of the same cloth.
Zero2Cool is my captain.