Zero2Cool
13 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/122203969.html 

The NFL lockout has led to a very quiet three months since the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6.

Most players haven't been seen or heard other than a few comments on social networks or quick comments at charity events.

So Packers fans took the opportunity to ask Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers topical questions during his MACC Fund event Tuesday night and he had a few updates.

He's trimmed down a little, losing four pounds this off-season during conditioning.

He thinks the lockout is having a detrimental effect.

"It takes time away from being together," said Rodgers. "Normally we'd be in to our IPWs - Individual Position Workouts. ...

"But I've been working out, getting myself into shape. If this drags in June, we're going to have to find a way to get together; other teams have been doing it a little bit."

And he mentioned he might add a new twist to his belt celebration this season, while he explained the history behind the belt, which was started when he was a backup on the scout team.

"It's tough to get guys motivated, especially older guys," said Rodgers. "So I made it my goal to get those guys to have as much fun as possible knowing we had to give the defense a good look and I had to bring it.

"So I said, every time we make a big play, we're celebrating. Everybody. It made it fun for us and also it ticked off the defense real bad. So they started playing harder. For me that was great, I could work on my timing, I was going against Al Harris and Charles Woodson, the best corners in the league."

Otherwise, many Packers fans know Rodgers' story from junior college player to Brett Favre's successor to Super Bowl XLV MVP pretty well.

But Rodgers also shared a few stories with questioner Trent Dilfer and the audience:

• He has heard the critics from the beginning. "Along the way a lot of people told me I couldn't do it," said Rodgers. He had parents and close friends who supported him. "I think my story hopefully can inspire kids that, you know what, at some point, you tell those critics to shove it if you believe in yourself."

He turned the skepticism into motivation.

"I'd wake up at 6:30 when I was in eighth grade and I'd say you know what? There are kids out there who are probably better than me," said Rodgers. "But I know they're not waking up at 6:30.

"When I was in high school, they'd have a list of the top 100 quarterbacks in the state. And I wasn't on there. And I was ticked. So I said I'm going to work out twice. In the morning, then I'm going to go to class, then workout again because I know - I know - those kids in the top 100? They aren't doing that.

"And I had enough people say to me, 'You can do it, I see how hard you're working, I see how much you want it.'"

• He credits quarterbacks coach Tom Clements for developing him. "We play quarterback in a chaotic environment, but we practice in a perfect environment," he said. Rodgers studies how he plays the game as much as the opponent.

• He was very proud of his game at Atlanta in the playoffs and said part of the reason was because the Packers try to make practice feel like a game environment.

"But those throws, throwing across my body to Donald Driver or getting one to Jordy Nelson on the run - those are throws we work on in practice," said Rodgers. "I don't know that other teams are doing that."

• He's a little embarrassed by that YouTube video that circulated awhile back of him on stage dancing with Rascal Flatts. "I can't dance. But I love to dance. I make a fool of myself, I don't care."

• Dilfer and Rodgers shared a good laugh over such acronyms like IPWs. They are, apparently, a coach Mike McCarthy specialty.

"McCarthy has a term for everything," said Dilfer. "Give me a break! He's drawing from (Bill) Walsh, (Marty) Schottenheimer, (Mike) Holmgren - it's like he sits at home and says, Individual Position Workouts. I can make this sound more football-ish.

"Hmm. IPW."

"That is 100 percent correct," said Rodgers. "Mike is the king of shortening things up. And then it's his own."

• Golfer Andy North said Rodgers and a few teammates were invited to the Wisconsin at UW-Green Bay college basketball game in 2009. Rodgers ended up not showing. He sent North a text message: "I'm into Bears film, and I don't think the other guys would appreciate it I wasn't working." The Packers beat Chicago, 21-14, at Soldier Field that week.

• Finally, everyone knows the story of Rodgers' agonizing wait as he fell to No. 24 in the 2005 draft before the Packers took him. It turns out a Packers linebacker helped Rodgers get adjusted.

"When we were going through our pre-draft training, we did research on the area we thought we might get drafted. I thought I was going top 10; so I researched the top 10 teams.

"I could name off their main attractions in the city; their general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterback coach.

"When Green Bay finally took me - I'll be honest - I had no idea where it was. I knew Brett was the quarterback. ..."

So Rodgers hopped on a plane from New York to Detroit, where the native Californian saw snow. In late April.

"Man, where the heck am I?" he thought. "Mind you, I didn't study the Green Bay Packers - my pre-draft interview actually didn't go very well, and I didn't think there was any chance they were going to take me.

"I sit next to Na'il Diggs on the plane and N'ail was great. He was only with me one year, but he was like a big brother the entire season. He looked out for me and it started with that trip. The rest is history."

• Rodgers recalled one more story. Most quarterbacks don't get cheered after a losing season - unless they throw for 4,038 yards as a first-year starter in the shadow of Favre's legacy.

"I'd like to say one of my greatest moments was beating Detroit in 2008 at home. We finished 6-10; they were 0-15 at the time," said Rodgers. "If I had told myself before the season that I would get a standing ovation as I leave the field being 6-10, I would have said I must have got hurt. ...

"To have that kind of reception - after such a tumultuous season and off-season - it really made you all as fans have a special place in my heart."

Lori Nickel wrote:


shield4life
13 years ago
Great story, would love to meet AR one day.
Glad To Be A Packers Fan.
StoicFire
13 years ago
I'm excited to see the potential twist on the celebration. Not sure how he's going to improve on the Title Belt.
"the Quarterback can run if he wants to, but with this rocket attached to your body... who would?" -Aaron Rodgers
porky88
13 years ago
I love the tidbit about the 08 season finale. That was actually a fun game to watch for a pair of teams with losing records.
Greg C.
13 years ago

I love the tidbit about the 08 season finale. That was actually a fun game to watch for a pair of teams with losing records.

Originally Posted by: porky88 



My sister was at that game, and she said it was really great. The fans really did give the team a boost going into the off-season.

blank
Packers_Finland
13 years ago
All I remember from the final game of the '08 season is that one Lions player covering his face, with the entire crowd chanting "0-16".

For any other NFC opponent that would've made my day, but not the Lions. Even if they start dominating with their new young team, they'll always be the dog that's been kicked too many times for me.
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Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Who?
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : uh oh
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (1-Apr) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : A big step in the right direction. Just put in the college system is very very good.
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : NFL has passed a rule that allows both teams to possess the ball in OT during the regular season
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : Touchbacks on kickoffs will now bring the ball to the 35-yard line.
beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
beast (29-Mar) : Lol, I was thinking username would be better, as then I wouldn't have to keep an email up to date lol 😂
beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (29-Mar) : sure is
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Monopoly is a rip off of The Landlord's Game
wpr (27-Mar) : 28 days until the draft
earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
earthquake (27-Mar) : That’s wild, when I was a kid my friend lived in the same apartment complex in De Pere
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : He is a former Packer. Drafted out of Northern Illinois. Didn't do much in GB.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Giants country, let's be the tall beings of lore!
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : would it be better to use EMAIL or USERNAME to log into a site?
wpr (25-Mar) : Thanks Zero
Zero2Cool (24-Mar) : New forum has the ability to Thank a post now.
beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Zero2Cool (23-Mar) : I don't think it's completed yet. it was just announced last month, right?
dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
Zero2Cool (21-Mar) : And it is glorious!
beast (21-Mar) : Unsigned FA QB Rodgers is supposedly in the Steelers building
Martha Careful (19-Mar) : But I don't own a car! So can I still use it in my apartment?
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : btw, new site auto updates
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : Woohoo!
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