[img_r]http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/2126/rodgersravens2.jpg[/img_r]GREEN BAY Joe Philbin doesnt even remember it. Aaron Rodgers would like to forget it, but he cant and in a way, thats a good thing.
You know, Rodgers said, its all about the journey.
And what a journey its been for the Green Bay Packers quarterback, from that cold December Monday night in Baltimore his rookie year of 2005 when he saw his first extended NFL action in mop-up duty in a humiliating 48-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens to now, as he prepares to face the Ravens again on Monday Night Football in a game crucial to the Packers postseason aspirations.
Looking back, as Rodgers did earlier this week, you may not have predicted based on his performance that night that Rodgers would be where he is now. He enters Monday nights game with the kind of numbers 625 completions in 975 attempts, 7,503 yards, 51 touchdowns, 19 interceptions that would make him the NFLs highest all-time rated passer if he qualified. Rodgers career rating is 96.88; Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young is officially the all-time leader at 96.81. (The NFL requires 1,500 pass attempts to qualify.)
That night in Baltimore, Rodgers rating was, oh, only about 60 points lower. Entering the game with 11 seconds left in the third quarter and the Packers trailing 34-3, Rodgers first play was a handoff to Noah Herron. The quarter ended after that play.
I remember I had probably one of (my) top 10 sports moments as I walked from the third quarter to the fourth quarter, Rodgers recalled. We switched ends and I came up alongside (then-Ravens cornerback) Deion Sanders, whod been one of my top 10 players when I was growing up as a kid. And I just got to talk with him and walk with him the entire length of the field. That was a pretty special moment for me.
And then I went out and played like dog dog Rodgers paused, censoring himself. Trash.
That he did. On the next play, Rodgers was promptly sacked on his first drop-back by Adalius Thomas and fumbled, with the Ravens Bart Scott recovering to set up a Jamal Lewis touchdown run that made it 41-3. By the time the night was over, Rodgers had gone 8-for-15 for 65 yards with no touchdowns and one interception (36.8 rating).
(Talking to Sanders) was the highlight of the game. Unfortunately. Not any plays that I made, Rodgers said. It was my first extended play. I took my lumps and learned from it. Id like to say it got better, but my next opportunity to play I didnt play very well either.
His night ended much like it began, with him losing a fumble although the second one was returned for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the game, sealing the 3-11 Packers most lopsided loss since a 61-7 defeat at Chicago in 1980.
That game, that season completely unraveled on us, veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher recalled Saturday. But I wasnt thinking anything about Aaron (that night). When Aaron got here, getting a chance to watch him practice, I knew right away he was going to be good. And even though he didnt play well, it was probably great for him to go through that.
Rodgers, who had made his NFL debut during an early-season blowout of New Orleans (he threw one pass) and made a brief relief appearance in the regular-season finale in what was thought at the time to possibly be Brett Favres final game in Green Bay, didnt see extended action again until Nov. 19, 2006, when he took over for an injured Favre (elbow) in another blowout a 35-0 loss to the New England Patriots.
In that game, Rodgers played the final two snaps of the first half and all of the second half despite breaking his foot early in the third quarter and finished 4-for-12 for 32 yards (42.4 rating).
It wasnt until Nov. 29, 2007, when he was thrust into a key late-season game at Dallas after Favre suffered second-quarter elbow and shoulder injuries that Rodgers finally showed how good he could be. Trailing 27-10, Rodgers came in with 9:53 left until halftime and nearly rallied the Packers to victory. As it was, he pulled them to within 27-24 and had the ball early in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie or take the lead. He finished 18-for-26 for 201 yards and a touchdown (104.8 rating).
You know, I dont even remember (that Baltimore game). If you had asked me what (his first game was), I would think of Dallas in 07. Thats when I think about him playing, said Philbin, the Packers offensive coordinator now but the teams tight ends coach in 05. That night (in Baltimore) was such a nightmare, I wouldnt have even known that (he played).
But he did, and hes come a long way since. He enters Monday night having completed 249 of 380 passes (65.5 percent) for 3,136 yards, 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions (104.9 rating) a long ways from that night in Baltimore.
It does seem like a long time ago, Rodgers said. Everything was moving so fast for me, I felt like I was stuck in cement. There were guys coming from all over the place. It was a tough game. We got thrashed on Monday Night Football. But it definitely was a stepping stone in my journey to where I am now.