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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wpr (30-May) : It's all good.
beast (30-May) : Yeah, and I enjoyed your comments and just attempted to add to it. Sorry if I did it incorrectly.
wpr (30-May) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (29-May) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (29-May) : Whoa
beast (29-May) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (29-May) : 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
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