Green Bay Packers: A Look at Aaron Rodgers

The dust has settled a bit from Brett Favre’s retirement. Some people just won’t let go, and keep insisting that he will return to the NFL. Hopefully these people will catch up come September when the Packers take the field without him. Yes folks…the Aaron Rodgers era is here. How long it lasts is up to Aaron Rodgers.

There are things that are in his control and some that are not. How he seizes this opportunity is in his control. We can say that the team that he will be leading is a big part of that opportunity. The Packers were pretty good last year. He could definitely be walking into a worse situation.

Out of his control is the drafting of that guy that many think was one of the most NFL-ready quarterbacks in the 2008 NFL Draft. Stepping into Favre’s shoes wasn’t pressure enough, huh? Well, the gig is said to be his, which makes it his to lose. It will be interesting to see how this evolves.

The Jabber heads were polled on how long Aaron Rogers would last as the quarterback in Green Bay. Let’s have a look at some results, shall we?

• Beyond two years (57%-85 votes)
• Two years (23%-34 votes)
• Not through his first season (11%-17 votes)
• One year (8%-12 votes)

So a majority feel that Aaron Rodgers is in this for the long haul. It really is a mystery as there has not been much to gauge how he will do as an NFL quarterback yet. For a refresher let’s look back on his career.

• 2003-Rodgers transfered to Cal from Butte Junior College to play for NFL quarterback Bust Farmer, Jeff Tedford (Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, Kyle Boller). Gets the starting job in game five against Illinois. In his second game they upset USC. Golden Bears go 8-6 on the season.
• 2004-Goes 10-1, dropping their only loss to USC. Stellar performance (a record 23 consecutive completions) until the final two minutes. It was first and goal…three incomplete passes and a sack later, and the Golden Bears lose. Golden Bears also drop the Holiday Bowl to Texas Tech. Aaron Rodgers is done with college football, he is going to the NFL to get paid.
• 2005-Rodgers is in the “who will go first” conversation of the NFL Draft, pitted against that Alex Smith kid. As the draft gets closer it appears that the 49ers (ironically with an offense led by Mike McCarthy) are going to go with Smith. Rodgers gets to be the falling star as he is not taken until pick twenty four by the Green Bay Packers. He is looking at bench time because they already have a quarterback who is pretty good. Gets to play a little, on the season he goes 9-16, 65 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. Rumors of a Brett Favre retirement after terrible Packers season.
• 2006-Brett Favre does not retire, Rodgers thinks, “Well…this sucks.” Goes 6 of 15 for 46 yards in two games. Rogers breaks his foot against the Patriots, continuing things that suck.
• 2007-Brett Favre does not retire. Rumors fly around draft time about a trade that would send Rodgers from the Packers to the Raiders for Randy Moss…doesn’t happen. The highlight of Roger's career comes against the Dallas Cowboys when he enters in the second quarter for an injured Favre. Rodgers completed 18 passes for 201 yards, with one TD and no interceptions. Packer fans are pleased.
• 2008-Brett Favre retires, Rodgers inherits starting gig. During the NFL Draft the Packers select Brian Brohm in the second round. Rodgers has to think, “Well…this sucks…” but doesn’t say it. Staff says he has the job.

Well, this pretty much brings us up to date. Not a whole lot to go on, huh? Oh yeah, we should cover that injury prone thing. People say it...because he has been injured. Rogers addressed it recently on Jim Rome’s syndicated radio show:

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“The most frustrating thing is the connotation with the phrase ‘being injury prone," Rodgers told guest host Grant Napear, echoing what he said when he met with the media after an organized team activities practice on Wednesday.

“It’s almost inferring the player is a little soft,” Rodgers said from his native California. “The injuries I’ve sustained have been pretty much bad luck. It’s frustrating. There’s high expectations when you follow a guy who started over 250 straight games at quarterback, which is unbelievable and very lucky, because you see injuries all the time that players can’t avoid, like Carson Palmer (in a 2006 playoff game against Pittsburgh).”

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