Aaron Rodgers can preach all he wants about not trying to live up to the legacy that Brett Favre. Anyone put behind center after the departure of someone who was and still is the face of the franchise is going to a rough time, to say the least. Check the past:
Jake Plummer was a very good quarterback, but nowhere near John Elway who, to add even more pressure, ended his career in Denver with two straight Super Bowl wins.
Does anyone outside of the lone-star state even remember who stepped in after three-time Super Bowl Champ Troy Aikman retired from the Cowboys? Was it:
A) Quincy Carter
B) Anthony Wright
C) Ryan Leaf
D) Clint Stoener
E) All of the above
If you chose "A" you are correct.
Steve Young, Jim Kelly, Terry Bradshaw, the list goes on for miles.
And now a sore shoulder might sideline Rodgers for what was to be only his fifth start. I know assumptions make an ass out of you and me, but I would assume that if Rodgers doesn't start on Sunday in a crucial game for the 2-2 Packers it will make an ass out of him too.
The numbers are there, but the results haven't been for Rodgers and the Cheese Heads. Defenses are at a disadvantage in the beginning weeks of the season. No tape to watch, new schemes, and new personnel on every team.
Hey I'm not asking him to be the new iron man of the NFL, but let’s just think about this from the perspective of the average fan, or better yet the average boss of any company.
"Hey Aaron, the guy who worked this position before you was at work every day for the past 15 years, and was one of the best workers this industry has ever seen. You're mediocre at yours and you're calling in sick after a month because of a sore arm?"
Rodgers can swear up and down that the he doesn’t feel the weight of an icon on his shoulders every day, but it’s nearly impossible not to.
"I don't need that, 'Oh, you've got to play because Brett played 250 in a row.' I don't need that. I have pride in myself," Rodgers said in a press conference earlier this week.
Rodgers has been under some scrutiny for the last few weeks during a slump that has seen the Pack's success decline on the offensive side of the ball. There’s one thing that will help Rodgers get through this year, it is to embrace the pressure.
Nearly everyone that has ever said "no pressure" has failed. Pressure is good if you know how to turn it into motivation.
Rodgers has been trying so hard not to be Brett Favre that he's doing himself an injustice. I know if I were a quarterback I would aspire to be like Brett. Most touchdown passes in the history of the NFL, 279 straight starts, Super Bowl ring, future Hall of Fame inductee, MVP, and All-Pro...Why not?
Nobody said go throw a touchdown pass under-handed with three defensive linemen dragging you to the turf, but please, at least try to excel; because if this is the best you can do, it will be the longest season and shortest career fans have ever seen.
16 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Zach Kruse 9 months ago
First of all, you should partially dislocate your shoulder, then try and dress yourself. It hurts so bad you can hardly do it by yourself. Now try and throw a football....What Aaron did on that touchdown throw rivals anything Brett ever did while injured. Second, he has excelled. He's been a comparable QB to Brett so far. Rodgers has had no run game and terrible pass protection. Give him more time before you judge.
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Gregory Sharpe 9 months ago
A "sore" shoulder, those were the words used by the Rodgers. Not mine. And yes i've actually done it before, got it popped back into place and that was that. If Leftwich played with a broken foot in college, where he's not even getting paid. And T.O. played in a Superbowl with a broken leg. I think A-Rod can suck it up and at least start tomorrow.
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Zach Kruse 9 months ago
greg, come on. Give the man a chance. Just as much as Favre was an ironman, he is also the LUCKIEST man to ever play professional football. Rodgers has had some bad luck injury wise. Just please give him a chance.
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MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
Teams and players use "sore" like how in hockey they say "upper body injury"--it's so no one knows how to target the problem. It has been reported as a separation by multiple outlets with inside info.
Leftwich is a man for what he did, but he didn't have to throw with that ankle. TO's leg was no longer broken. And you say "that was that" with your injury, but did you throw a football 30 yards between two defenders with 300+ pound guys barreling down on you? I didn't think so. I don't want Aaron jeopardizing our chances if he can't put zip on the ball.
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MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
And Rodgers did suck it up, and perform well (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/65525-have-injuries-already-ruined-packers-season). Too bad his teammates didn't.
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GreenGold GreenGold 9 months ago
Ok ZACHHHH get one thing straight Aaron Rodgers has not and will not ever rival Brett Favre in anyway, shape, or form. We all knew that Rodgers was so injury prone it was not even funny and OH look he's hurt....WHAT A SUPRISE!!!.....Rodgers is going to be benched or traded after this season for sure if he can even play. He should have stayed a back up quarterback that was where he belonged!!! Everyone can say what they want about Favre, but the stats do not lie.....Favre is a legend!!!
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MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
In Brett's first full year as a starter, he threw 19 TDs and 24 or 25 int's. Rodgers may not rival the experienced Favre, but he rivals the inexperienced one. Zach is right, it is WAY too early to be throwing him under the bus. Which is exactly why he should not start: there are too many of you fair-weather fans prepared to jump on every mistake he makes, and if he throws a bad pass because he doesn't have arm strength, you'll want his head. Wouldn't it be better to support the guy so we didn't waste a first round pick?
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Zach Kruse 9 months ago
I love Brett JUST as much as the next guy, but I'm a Packer fan first. Favre now is a distant second. Don't let Brett cloud your head, take a look at what Brett did his first season: something like 18 TD's, 24 INT's. GET OVER FAVRE, he is never coming back. This is Aaron's team--for a long time. Be a Packer fan first, or don't write about Rodgers.
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Nick R 9 months ago
For the record - I managed to play an entire season as a D-1 NCAA catcher with a torn rotator cuff that would cause my shoulder to periodically dislocate during games when I threw the ball. If I could do it, a professional athlete should certainly have no problem SUCKING IT UP!
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MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
I am sorry, but let me set you straight on two things:
1. You were playing Division I, not NFL. Performing at this level is different--if I told you what I did in high school that you couldn't do at Division I, would you consider that legit?
2. You were playing baseball! The ball you threw was not a quarter the weight of the one he throws, and there were no 300+ pound men landing on you!
Read above: people like you waiting to crush the guy is exactly why he shouldn't play.
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MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
And Rodgers did suck it up, and perform well (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/65525-have-injuries-already-ruined-packers-season). Too bad his teammates didn't.
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Dustin Rayner 9 months ago
Looks like the Packers are the only ones sucking it up. They better win every game from here on out to finish 13-3 and get a Superbowl appearance. That is the only way that trading Favre becomes a good decision. What I'm seeing right now is a team that has the ability to make it to the big game, but that opportunity has been thrown aside to "build for the future". Looks like the Lions will have some company as they build for the future as well.
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MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
C'mon! Rodgers was not the problem--he threw for over 300 yards and 3 TDs! How is it based on the QB? It's obviously the hurting defense and offensive line. See my article for the substantiation of Rodgers play so far: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/65525-have-injuries-already-ruined-packers-season
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Zach Kruse 9 months ago
People are so blinded by Favre it's not even funny. If we have Favre this year, we have the SAME exact record. We'd be 2-3, and Favre would be second guessing his decision to come back. We have tons of injuries, something Favre didn't have to deal with last year.
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Dustin Rayner 9 months ago
The first six weeks last year, Favre and the Pack ran the spread offense with no running game. If you can remember that far back, you'll realize that Favre did carry the team. 300 yds and 3 TD's is not enough if you're losing at home to the Falcons. Yes I expect a lot out of Rodgers and the Packers, but they are the ones that set the bar high, there can be no excuses for not performing.
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KA Adams 6 months ago
he sucks as a quarterback. every play he makes is because of the awesome leaping catches by the receivers.... never directly to them. UGH!
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