Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

Rodgers still has one big step to take 
The Packers QB will escape the shadow of Brett Favre if he can have another strong season -- and make a long playoff run.


By MARK CRAIG, Star Tribune
Last update: September 12, 2010 - 9:21 AM

GREEN BAY, WIS. - Preparedness, pinpoint accuracy and the league's smoothest deep ball have made the Packers' Aaron Rodgers one of the NFL's best quarterbacks at the still tender age of 26.

But personal stats and pretty passes won't make him a legend. Not in Titletown, USA.

To emerge from the considerable shadow of Brett Favre, his predecessor, Rodgers needs to win a Super Bowl. Sorry, but that sure seems to be the unwritten rule in a city that's celebrated 12 NFL championships, including Super Bowls I, II and XXXI.

"I don't know about shadows or eclipses or any of that stuff," right tackle Mark Tauscher said. "All I know is Aaron's a good player who is getting a lot better. He's already his own quarterback, not the guy who replaced Brett. He's had success, and I expect he'll have a lot more success before he's done."

The Packers play Sunday at Philadelphia in the opening game of a season many experts believe will culminate with the Packers winning Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas. Concerns about the offensive line and the pass defense often are cast aside because of the efficiency and sheer explosiveness of Rodgers and the passing attack.

"If the defense slacks, they can count on us 100 percent," tight end Jermichael Finley said. "We're going to put that thing in the air, and we're going to get in the end zone real fast. I don't think we can be stopped, to tell you the truth."

Rodgers is the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. He's also 17-16 with no playoff wins as a starter, so the next logical step in his career evolution is experiencing postseason success.

This could be the year. This is the best team he's had around him and, besides, he turns 27 in December. That's the same age Favre was when he won Super Bowl XXXI on Jan. 26, 1997.

"The bottom line is we have a great quarterback," receiver Greg Jennings said. "He's got great physical skills, great leadership skills, and he can get the job done. The chemistry is great. He's got a lot of weapons. We're getting into open spots and he's putting the ball right on the money no matter where we are."

It was another near-flawless preseason for Rodgers. He completed 77.4 percent of his passes (41 of 53) for 470 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks while playing parts of only three games.

The Packers are hoping their pass protection holds up through the regular season. The past two seasons, including playoffs, Rodgers has been sacked 89 times and lost eight of his 21 fumbles. The Arizona Cardinals returned one of those fumbles for the game-winning touchdown in a 51-45 wild-card playoff victory last season.

"I think the offensive line will be fine," Rodgers said. "And with the weapons we have, we feel we can score every time we touch the ball. All I have to do is be accurate. Whoever gets open will get the ball."

Including playoffs, Rodgers has completed 64.3 percent of his passes with 62 touchdowns and 21 interceptions the past two years. He's also averaged 7.9 yards on 1,119 attempts.

The seamless transition at quarterback from Favre to Rodgers didn't happen by accident. It took Packers General Manager Ted Thompson drafting Rodgers 24th overall in 2005. It took Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy having enough confidence in Rodgers to risk their careers by unloading Favre when he decided to unretire in 2008. And, oh yeah, it took a lot of time and effort by Rodgers during the three years he was Favre's backup.

"It was 100 percent hard work," Rodgers said. "I'm a full-time football guy. I'm a March 15 to every-day-in-the-OTAs to training-camp kind of guy. I think that full-time work pays off. Good old-fashioned work has paid off for myself and the team."

And now Rodgers will try to wrest the NFC North from the Vikings and Favre. At 40, Favre is a part-time kind of guy who skips everything from February through mid-August, yet he still managed to beat Rodgers and the Packers twice last season.

Rodgers isn't interested in comparisons between Favre and himself.

"He has nothing to do with me or this team," Rodgers said.



Not an original idea or even word in this piece. But this site is first and foremost a repository of Packers-related articles for Kevin, so here's another one.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (6h) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (7h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (8h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (13h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (13h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (13h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (16h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (16h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (18h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (18h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (19h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (19h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (19h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (20h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (20h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (20h) : umm... what?
wpr (21h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (21h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (21h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (21h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (21h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (28-Aug) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
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