Zero2Cool
14 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:


UserPostedImage
shield4life
14 years ago
Great story, would love to meet AR one day.
Glad To Be A Packers Fan.
StoicFire
14 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
14 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.
14 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
14 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.
This is a placeholder
Fan Shout
beast (5h) : Yeah, and I enjoyed your comments and just attempted to add to it. Sorry if I did it incorrectly.
wpr (7h) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (9h) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (9h) : Whoa
beast (9h) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (10h) : Henderson, who admits to taking cocaine during the Super Bowl against the Steelers, might dislike Bradshaw as he lost two Superbowls to him
wpr (28-May) : Hollywood Henderson said Bradshaw “is so dumb, he couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the C and an A.”
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Cooper stock=BUY BUY BUY
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Also notes he’s playing with more confidence.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : @AndyHermanNFL MLF says there was a time last year where Cooper was at 220 pounds. Now he’s at 240 and still flying around.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : And don't even get me started on Frank Caliendos "impersonations"
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I got tired of them being circle jerks with them overlaughing at each others jokes.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : It used to be must watch TV for me. now it's "meh" maybe to hear injury update
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I haven't watched the pregame shows in years and I don't feel like I've missed a thing
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Love says knee affected him all season, groin injury didn't help matters.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : I used to enjoy him on FOX Pregame. Now it's like a frat party of former Patriots.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : LaFleur on Watson: “Christian is doing outstanding. I would say he’s ahead of schedule.”
Martha Careful (28-May) : Bradshaw is a dumb ass cracker. I am so tired of his "aw shucks" diatribe. He should shrivel up and go away.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : He wad all butt hurt because Aaron duped the media saying he was immunized.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : Bradshaw needs to retire. He's been ripping on Rodgers ever since the covid crap. He was all hury
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Terry Bradshaw doesn't want Rodgers in Pittsburgh lol wow
Zero2Cool (27-May) : one day contract, which he also feels is pointless, but if Packers came to him, he would
packerfanoutwest (27-May) : Aaron Rodgers talks possibility of retiring with Packers, just another rumor
dfosterf (27-May) : Go watch 2001
Zero2Cool (26-May) : 1984
dfosterf (26-May) : That movie sent a chill through many. 1968.
dfosterf (26-May) : "Open the pod bay doors, HAL"
buckeyepackfan (25-May) : Haven't we all seen thus movie? It doesn't end well!! Lol
Zero2Cool (25-May) : lol Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline
dfosterf (25-May) : Claude Opus 4
dfosterf (25-May) : AI system resorts to blackmail when its developers threaten to take it offline
beast (22-May) : Colts Owner Jim Irsay has passed away
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Well, emailing should work now. After not working for almost a year. Oops.
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Brotherly Shove did not get enough votes.
Zero2Cool (20-May) : lol our email hasn't worked in months. 7 pages of unverified users
Zero2Cool (20-May) : MySpace Screaming Lord Byron ... Brett Favre.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : Packers have signed first-round pick Matthew Golden, leaving second-round tackle Anthony Belton as their only unsigned draft pick
beast (19-May) : Supposedly he has to take his image, and name off of it... but otherwise could keep selling wine if he wanted to.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : he giving up his win business?
beast (19-May) : Speaking of Woodson, sounds like he'll be a minority owner (0.1%) of the Browns
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Zero, regarding Woodson, that'd why I find the timing with Williams peculiar
dfosterf (15-May) : Ryan Hall y'all does a great job of tracking thesr
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Fear not!! I planned to do 33mi bike ride tomorrow morning, so ... yeah
Zero2Cool (15-May) : We got some dark clouds and nasty winds right bout now.
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Madison they had hail 4pm.
dfosterf (15-May) : Sure looks like these tornadoes are headed towards Green Bay
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Woodson of Charles fame was reluctant and then loved it. that didn't really come out until post career
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : IE "We bought into the Bears and they let us down, we have no choice to seek alternatives"
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Or that Williams and his family are preparing an exit ramp if they don't like how things are going in a few years
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Either Williams thought it would make him look good (reluctant but then embraces the city and franchise)
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
13h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

27-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

27-May / Random Babble / Martha Careful

24-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

24-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / greengold

23-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / earthquake

22-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

22-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

21-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / greengold

21-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / earthquake

20-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

19-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

19-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

16-May / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

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