GoPack1984
15 years ago
http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/12638518/rodgers-moves-into-mvp-neighborhood-not-that-youve-noticed 

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It's something Aaron Rodgers has done all year, efficiently and quietly, and that's make the perfect throw in the right moment.

The latest example came when the Packers defeated Baltimore on Monday night. Rodgers threw two interceptions, but he also connected on at least a dozen throws that were so perfectly made, it looked like he could be Drew Brees and Peyton Manning's quarterback love child.


On one, he called an audible out of a run play and threw a missile to Donald Driver. On another, he lobbed a beautiful threw to Jermichael Finley. There were strong-armed deep passes and nice short ones; sweet lobs and sideline bullets.

Again, quietly, it was another game where Rodgers displayed he has just as many tools and capabilities as any quarterback in football.

And this is the shame with Rodgers: He's mostly ignored in the media's MVP discussion because many in the press are in the bag for Brett Favre. So many writers have fetishized their Favre slobbering, they refuse to see just how great -- yes, great -- Rodgers is currently playing.

After all, if you're fetishizing Favre, how could you dare say anything nice about Rodgers?

Rodgers won't talk about any MVP discussion because that's not his nature. He's not a chest thumper. Rodgers just rolls along, playing in the wonderful but isolated football paradise that is Green Bay, mostly out of hailing range of the major media football hubs.

But around the league, in the locker rooms, where it matters the most, Rodgers is making an impact.

"I don't know if he's the MVP," Baltimore safety Ed Reed said, "I just know he's good. He's up there."

Brees is the leader for MVP and should be. Peyton Manning is right behind him, but Rodgers should be third, followed by Favre and Philip Rivers.

By the end of the year, Rodgers will have had a better season than Favre. You did read that right; a better season.

Because Rodgers is smarter with the football and Favre isn't, and over a season it'll show. It always does.


Rodgers is the most hidden of MVP candidates, yet one of the most obvious. He doesn't have a cache of weapons at his disposal or a comfortable dome to work in like Brees. Same with Manning. Rodgers doesn't have the best running back in football, like Favre does, or the best tight end in Antonio Gates, like Rivers.

Rodgers' running back lacks explosion, his receivers are solid but not spectacular and his offensive line has improved but remains a little shaky. Everything around Rodgers is OK. It's Rogers who has turned the 8-4 Packers into a dangerous force, maybe the most dangerous team in football outside of the elites.

Other MVP candidates have fallen apart and that's helped Rodgers' stock. Tony Romo isn't a winner, except with supermodels. Maurice Jones-Drew is fantastic, but the Jaguars are a temperamental bunch, which makes them unreliable. Chris Johnson is a beast, but the Titans are done. And anyone who mentions Jared Allen as an MVP candidate should be smacked upside the head.

The fact Rodgers has 25 touchdowns to only seven interceptions with a 103 passer rating despite getting his ass kicked on a weekly basis behind a previously leaky offensive line, says a great deal about Rodgers as a player and person.

He's kept his head and refused to lash out. Now, he's growing into an elite thrower.

The Favre sycophants will likely never accept Rodgers, but they need to accept the fact that Rodgers is not just a top five quarterback. He's a bigger MVP candidate than their hero Favre himself.

Rodgers is just doing it oh-so quietly.

For more from Mike Freeman, check him out on Twitter: @realfreemancbs



Great article. Obviously I don't think Aaron will be winning MVP, but I agree with just about everything Mr. Freeman wrote.
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El3ment12
15 years ago
He said Our WR's are solid but not spectacular. I disagree. Our WR's are spectacular, and we have alot of weapons. I don't want to say our winning as of late is ALL Rodgers, because that is taking the credit away from everyone else on the team. I want to say this whole team is contributing to our winning. I would definitely say he is an MVP though. We can't utilize all of our weapons with a crappy qb, and with a shaky o-line he has been playing great.
15 years ago
i agree about Grant, obviously, and i know Jennings is having a quiet year...but how could you say the year DD is having is anything but spectacular? fucking hell, what are the prerequisites? acting like a cunt in the media? jesus h, people.

I agree with Twinkiegorilla.

bozz_2006 wrote:


mi_keys
15 years ago
I agree that Rodgers isn't getting as much of the media spotlight as he might deserve right now for his play. That said, I'm not even sure Rodgers is the MVP of the Packers. Through 12 games, I think that honor goes to Woodson. It's a shame no defensive player really ever gets considered for the MVP because honestly I can't remember someone being this dominant defensively since maybe Reggie White. Back to the topic at hand though, if you're talking quarterbacks right now the only two I say are clearly ahead of Rodgers are Brees and Manning. At that point I think it's an honest discussion between Rodgers, Favre, Warner, Brady, Roethlisberger, and Rivers.
Born and bred a cheesehead
Greg C.
15 years ago
It's good to see Aaron get some props, but it's unfortunate that this guy had to take the "Rodgers is better than Favre" angle. Favre is having a fantastic season, and his team is 10-2. I can't stand the guy, but I have to admit that he's playing lights-out.

I agree with other posters that the Packers have a lot of offensive talent. One of the things that irritated me during the Favre era, which was not Favre's fault, was that so many people assumed he was our only good player. So here we go with the same crap all over again.

I do think that Rodgers could sneak into the MVP conversation if he and the Packers finish strong. He's not quite in the conversation yet, but he's knocking on the door. I think he is in the same league, talent-wise, as the elite QB's. He just doesn't have as good a team around him right now as they do. Well, the Patriots aren't looking so hot this year, but Brady has three Super Bowl rings, and that does count for something.
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millertime
15 years ago
Freeman is an idiot. His articles are typically horribly biased and slanted.

But he's pimping Rodgers on this one, so I'll let it slide....

just this one time....
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member
15 years ago
Won't happen for the same reason Favre didnt win it for a couple years before he finally got #1. Not because Rodgers hasn't had an MVP quality season, but because he has to get enough years in to get past the "competing with icons" popularity factor.

It sucks, but it's reality.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
aa-rod_is_cool
15 years ago
The MVP is too much of popularity contest. Rodgers doesnt have a chance and they'll probably end up giving it to Peyton Manning again like they did last year.. Who barely had MVP like numbers last year in 27 Tds 12 Ints and 4002 yards. Hell Aa-rodg had better stats them him last year.
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Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
I would guess he will not receive it until after Favre retires for real.
UserPostedImage
GoPack1984
15 years ago
I shouldn't have said I agreed with everything written in the article, because as you guys pointed out he undersold the rest of our team. We already had a great offense with our passing game, but it has been the defense that has turned the Packers into a "dangerous" team. Our wide receivers are more than just solid. I thought it was nice to see Aaron getting some love for a change in the national media, and particularly I liked how he mentioned how well Aaron has played despite the offensive line issues. It is also nice to see Ed Reed giving him some props.
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Mucky Tundra (14h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (16h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (16h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (17h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (17h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (17h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (18h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (18h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
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wpr (18h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (18h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (18h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (18h) : DEAL IS DONE
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wpr (28-Aug) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
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beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
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Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
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dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
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