Some QBs have a certain moxy or leadership quality that separates them from everyone else. Rodgers has it and Smith doesn't. I think it's unfair to say that Rodgers would be out of the league right now or close to it had he went to San Francisco. We simply don't know. Rodgers has worked as hard as any player off the field and continues to improve when he needs too.
The criticism of him not playing well in the clutch was quickly halted by a clutch pass to Greg Jennings to beat the Bears in week one. He hasn't had many chances since then, but none the less, he proved something on that throw. He progressed.
Midseason and it's clear he needs to get rid of the ball faster and go to the short game more. The last three games he's done that and I'm not sure he's been playing at a higher level.
Rodgers has taken his game to new levels and I think it's unfair to just give Mike McCarthy all the credit here. Rodgers deserves credit when it's due and he's turning into one good QB.
It'd be a sham if the NFC Pro Bowl QBs this year aren't Brett Favre, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers.
That's some nice company to be in.
Yes, he benefited a lot from playing and observing Brett Favre for so many years and getting coached by a solid QB coach in Mike McCarthy, but he also has proven enough to me that I think he's just a better player than Smith either way. I think it's clear San Francisco made a mistake.
"porky88" wrote:
I do think that's the NFC Pro Bowl this year for QBs. :thumbright:
Rodgers also has a chip on his shoulder for two reasons, and it's a GOOD thing. I strongly think in life you're better off with a chip on your shoulder. I'd get into the whole Class thing here but it would be unappropriate, but it's a dang good analogy.
The two reasons now:
1) what happened on his draft day. He did get slighted. And don't let any words fool you, he was pissed and disappointed that day.
2) It's the whole Joe vs Steve all over again. You got a guy who's replacing a Hall of Famer that a lot of people don't want to see leave. So he's got to prove himself.
Only, Niner fans handled it with a bit more tact. At first glance, that might be insulting to Packer fans but now that I look at it years later, it's more because Packer fans are more rabid and Niner fans are more passive, which is in a way a good thing.
So Rodgers has something to prove. Had he been drafted by the Niners, I don't think he would have that chip on his shoulder. After all, he would have been the #1 draft pick and I bet most people have no idea who the starting QB for the Niners was in '04. I had to even look it up.
I think those two things have forced him to have a little bit more "moxy," however, moxy is something from the inside. It had to be there in the first place.
My man Donald Driver
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷