By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
GREEN BAY, Wis. Brett Favre holds nearly every major NFL career passing record. But the new Minnesota Vikings quarterback can't claim what Green Bay Packers successor Aaron Rodgers and a musician buddy created this offseason a record label.
Rodgers established himself as a legitimate franchise quarterback with the unflinching way he stepped into Favre's shadow, becoming the first quarterback since Kurt Warner in 1999 to throw for 4,000 yards his initial season as a starter. Then, Rodgers established himself as a franchise. Period.
General manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy traded Favre to the Jets last Aug. 6 because they felt Rodgers was ready to rock and roll.
Little did they know the 25-year-old and buddy Ryan Zachary would start an alternative rock label, Suspended Sunrise Recordings.
The duo signed an Atlanta group called "Joy in Tomorrow."
Rodgers is a self-taught guitarist whose playlist runs from Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder to Ryan Adams to country music.
"I'm definitely into singer/songwriters, a Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Pete Murray," Rodgers said. "We came up with the name Suspended Sunrise because when you think of a sunrise, it's suspended in air, suspended in time. It's a cool image because it represents the beginning of a new day. Anything can happen."
Sounds reminiscent of his hopes for his other band, the 2009 Packers, determined to rebound from 6-10 disappointment.
Rodgers wants to grow his new venture similar to how he's blossomed as a leader, distinct from Favre in how Rodgers invites teammates to his home weekly to foster team chemistry.
"Aaron came up with the Suspended Sunrise name and that new beginning is especially true after what he had to persevere through," Zachary, 25 said.
The Packers hadn't started anew at quarterback in 16 seasons.
But when Favre did his unretirement vacillation last summer following his tearful March 2008 retirement, management moved on.
"It's a transition we hoped would have went smoother," McCarthy said. "It didn't.
"We're just blessed Aaron Rodgers handled it the way he did."
After the Packers selected him 24th in the 2005 draft out of California, the Chico, Calif. native bought a guitar.
"I love to play, love listening to music," Rodgers said.
"I have a lot of respect for the storytelling, coming up with not only melodies, but the lyrics and meshing it into something that sounds good and can evoke emotion."
Rodgers didn't neglect his primary craft. After buying a home in San Diego in April, he enlisted personal trainer Todd Durkin, whose clients include New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
"To work out with Drew Brees, who had the second-most passing yards in NFL history in a single season I saw what it takes to take it to the next level."
Rodgers completed 63.6% of his passes with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
He has been even sharper in leading the Packers to a 2-0 preseason start, completing 68.4% of his passes (13 of 19) for 200 yards with three touchdowns and a 142.4 quarterback rating.
"The kid's a hell of a quarterback, productive, smart, tough," McCarthy said.
There was no playbook for handling last summer's Favre circus.
"I feel like the entire Brett situation gave Aaron that extra chip," wideout Greg Jennings said.
Then, Rodgers gutted out six games with a partially separated throwing shoulder.
"It hurt every time I threw," he said.
"I think my teammates gave me some respect for that, seeing how much pain I was in."
Suspended Sunrise is a post-football bridge in contrast to Favre's struggle with what's next.
"That's what the record label is all about," Rodgers said. "I'm passionate about football. I love my family, friends and music.
"There's going to be a point where my body won't be able to hold up...
"I don't think anything is going to live up to football But music can get pretty close to being with your family, being a father, a husband."