Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/news_items_more.php?id=5566§ion_id=40 

ARLINGTON, Texas So much of his story, so much of his football life had been spent waiting.

Waiting for Division I college recruiters who never called. Waiting in the green room of the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City during the 2005 NFL Draft, when he fell from possibly being the No. 1 overall pick to being chosen No. 24. Waiting three years behind a waffling legend whose attempt to reclaim his job in the summer of 2008 divided a (Packer) nation.

And now, atop the Super Bowl XLV victory podium at midfield of Cowboys Stadium, Aaron Rodgers found himself waiting, again. Only this time, the Green Bay Packers quarterback and Super Bowl MVP -- was waiting for the opportunity to say what was on his mind amid all the revelry.

So as coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Ted Thompson and team president/CEO Mark Murphy stood together to accept the Lombardi Trophy for FOX Sports Terry Bradshaw to present, Rodgers waited patiently off to the side. Then, he told those three men what hed been waiting to tell them for much longer than just the opening minutes of the post-game show.

Thank you.

Thats what I did on the podium. I thanked Ted and Mark and Mike, really for believing in me and giving me an opportunity, Rodgers explained after leading the Packers to a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I told Ted back in 2005 (that) he wouldnt be sorry with this pick. I told him in 08 that I was going to repay their trust and get us this opportunity.

And while Rodgers was rewarding Thompson, McCarthy, Murphy and the teams passionate fan base with the franchises fourth Super Bowl championship and 13th overall NFL title, he didnt go home empty-handed after completing 24 of 39 passes (numbers skewed by several drops by receivers) for 304 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 111.5.

For his patience, Rodgers was rewarded with an uplifting celebratory ride on the shoulders of his teammates, a championship belt from linebacker Clay Matthews to commemorate his imaginary belt celebration, the Super Bowl MVP award and a new bright red Camaro convertible from Chevrolet, and a place in the hallowed lore of the NFLs most historic franchise.

Im very proud of Aaron. Hes a good player, a good teammate, Thompson said in the locker room later. I think people are going to write stories about him 10 years from now. Hes pretty special. Even though hes done so much, hes still just kind of getting started.

Rodgers got started fast on Sunday night, but he saved his biggest throws for the fourth quarter.

The first came with 13 minutes 16 seconds left in the game and the Packers clinging to a 21-17 lead. Facing third-and-10 from the Steelers 40-yard line after Jordy Nelson dropped what would have been a first down and more, Rodgers lined up in the shotgun with Brandon Jackson in the backfield and his four remaining wide receivers (with Donald Driver out with a high ankle sprain) spreading the field. He went right back to Nelson, who beat safety Ryan Clark for a 38-yard gain to the Steelers 2. Two plays later, Rodgers hit Jennings for an 8-yard touchdown and a 28-17 lead.

He played extremely well, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said, adding that Rodgers made a protection adjustment on the play just before the snap. If youre going to win a championship, youve got to make some plays in the fourth quarter when things are tough.

Rodgers made another such play on the Packers next possession, after the Steelers pulled within three points on Mike Wallaces 25-yard touchdown catch and the ensuing two-point conversion.

Facing third-and-10 at his own 25 with 5:59 to play, Rodgers threw an absolutely picture-perfect ball to Jennings across the middle, with the ball sneaking just over the outstretched hand of cornerback Ike Taylor and right to Jennings in stride, who caught the ball at the Green Bay 45 and turned it into a momentum-shifting 31-yard gain. Rodgers then hit James Jones for a 21-yard gain three plays later, and while the Packers settled for a 23-yard Mason Crosby field goal when the drive bogged down inside the 10, the Packers were back in control.

We put everything on his shoulders, said McCarthy, whose team set a Super Bowl record by having just 13 rushing attempts 11 by James Starks (for 52 yards) and two kneel-downs by Rodgers (for minus-2 yards) in the Victory Formation. He did a lot at the line of scrimmage against a great defense. He did a hell of a job.

The defense clinched the win from there, and Rodgers, who received 17.5 of a possible 20 MVP votes, joined Bart Starr (Super Bowls I and II) as the only Packers quarterbacks to win the MVP award in the sports greatest game.

Ive said it once and Ill say it again: No one person has ever won a game by themselves, Rodgers said. This is a team effort and a great group of men. Special guys. And Im just blessed to be one of the leaders on this team. Individually, its the top of the mountain in my sport, my profession. Its what you dream about as a kid and you think about in high school, junior college, D-I: Getting this opportunity.

It also meant Rodgers wait on one other tidbit rebounding from a zero-touchdown, two-interception performance he deemed unacceptable in the teams NFC Championship Game victory over the Chicago Bears two weeks earlier.

It means I played better tonight, Rodgers said with a laugh. I struggled some in the last game. Guys made some plays tonight. I felt in a better rhythm. Mike had a great flow to the game (in his play-calling). Fun night.

One that was well worth the wait.

"JASON WILDE" wrote:


UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (1h) : *to be able
Mucky Tundra (1h) : and because it's not a dynasty league (which makes a lot more sense to be ability to trade picks)
Mucky Tundra (1h) : Oh I know; I was just exploring and it blew my mind that you could trade picks because of the whole reordering thing
Mucky Tundra (1h) : Zero, I think I preferred my offer: your 1st for my 15th rounder
Zero2Cool (2h) : Keep in mind, we do a draft reorder once all members locked in
Zero2Cool (2h) : You can have my 12th Rd for your 2nd round
Mucky Tundra (4h) : Hey i didn't know we could trade picks in fantasy
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Update: Rock has tried a cheese curd, promises it's not his last
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : watch it!! lol
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : you're right, we never did leave, the site just went down :P
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Rock claims to have never eaten a cheese curd
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : We did not leave.
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Family Night! WE ARE SO BACK!
Mucky Tundra (2-Aug) : To this day, I'm still miffed about his 4 TD game against Dallas on Thanksgiving going to waste
Martha Careful (2-Aug) : Congratulations Sterling Sharpe. He was terrific and I loved watching him play.
beast (2-Aug) : I believe it's technically against the CBA rules, but Jerry just calls it a simple unofficial chat... and somehow gets away with it.
beast (2-Aug) : Jerry Jones is infamous for ̶n̶e̶g̶o̶t̶i̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ chatting with players one on one... and going around the agent.
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Oo just saw a blurb saying that Dallas negotiated directly with Parsons and not through his agent
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I assumed that both guys will get paid, just a matter of when or how we get there
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : McLaurin nor Micah going anywhere. They will get money
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : the Synder years or do they take care of one of their own?
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Do the Commanders risk losing a top WR with an emerging QB just because he's turning 30 and potentially risk damaging the rebuild from
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Turns 30 this September, plays at a high level and Washington has some cap space I believe
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : More interesting is Washington with Terry McLaurin
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I would imagine Dallas will resolve this issue with a truckload of money
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : Micah pulling a Myles with trade request
beast (1-Aug) : Packers should make some cheese forks
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : GRAB THE PITCHFORKS~
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : CUT HIM
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : Socieltal collapse imminent
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : The West has fallen
Mucky Tundra (31-Jul) : After starting off camp with 25 straight made field goals, Brandon McManus has missed one
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : But it should be stable
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : It's probably gonna be slower.
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : We're gonna just full go on to the new host.
Zero2Cool (31-Jul) : What crap. Site issues galore
Zero2Cool (30-Jul) : if PH dies, there is packerpeople com available
Zero2Cool (30-Jul) : database is on new host, eventually website will follow
Mucky Tundra (30-Jul) : Zero, regarding Ewers, you are correct.
Zero2Cool (30-Jul) : Sadly, this might be our life for awhile. I could put it on another host, but seems it was slower, although more stable
beast (30-Jul) : How long will it be down?
beast (30-Jul) : RIP site 😭
Zero2Cool (30-Jul) : Site will die, I have to restart it.
Zero2Cool (30-Jul) : Quinn stinks. Lot of underthrows. (my guess)
beast (30-Jul) : How did Quinn Ewers effect where Golden was drafted?
dfosterf (30-Jul) : All I've experienced was late at night or early morning. I just figured you were doing something in the background
Zero2Cool (30-Jul) : Site sure seems to be down more than up
dfosterf (29-Jul) : 50 cent hookers? I'm moving to Green Bay. I thought it was just real estate that was more affordable there. 😂
Zero2Cool (29-Jul) : Sure seems site going down more than 50¢ hooker
Mucky Tundra (27-Jul) : Golden with two TDs in red zone drills today
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
1h / Fantasy Sports Talk / dhazer

10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

13h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

3-Aug / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / Zero2Cool

2-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

2-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

31-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

28-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

28-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

28-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

25-Jul / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.