NFL: 10 Reasons Aaron Rodgers Will Be the NFL's 2011 Most Valuable Player
The 2011 Super Bowl turned into the Aaron Rodgers Bowl, and now, the Green Bay Packers are the World Champs.
Rodgers was incredible in the big game, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He was a victim of six drops, and his yardage could have surpassed 400 yards.
Nothing but lasers came out of his right arm, and his performance will forever be remembered as one of the best ever.
That's all in the past now.
What should we expect from the Super Bowl MVP next year?
Here's why we should expect an NFL MVP trophy for Rodgers' mantel in the 2011 season.
10. Increased Confidence
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Rodgers has shown his supreme self-assurance since day one as the starting QB in Green Bay. He somehow was able to step out of Brett Favre’s shadow and keep the Packers afloat, now surpassing the gunslinger.
Veteran teammate Donald Driver, a longtime friend of Favre, says Rodgers has always shown his confidence and poise since joining the Packers.
“He's the same guy. Day in and day out," Driver said. "Now he just has a little more swagger about him. That's what I told him earlier, 'You've always had this cockiness and confidence.' Now it's even bigger.. He's one of the best quarterbacks in the game."
Expect the swag to be even higher next season.
9. Receiving Corps Returns
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Let’s be honest, every team in the league would love to have the Packers' receiving corps.
Greg Jennings is a reliable No. 1, who has earned Rodgers' trust.
Donald Driver is the veteran, who has been through it all.
Jordy Nelson is the 25-year-old young guy, who ended up with a whopping 140 yards in the Super Bowl.
James Jones is a year older and a bit more consistent.
Add it all up, and the Packers have four legitimate starters who aren’t divas and are now playoff tested. Sure, there may have been six drops in the Super Bowl, but it sure beats a guy pouting on the bench after not catching enough passes.
The Packer receivers are cool, calm and collected—just like their QB.
8. Super Bowl MVP Respect
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Rodgers enters 2011 (assuming we have a season) as the favorite to win league MVP.
He will have endured six months of being told how great he is and will bask in the glory of being a household name in America.
This is what happens when you have one of the greatest performances by a QB in the Super Bowl.
If the MVP race comes down to Rodgers and another guy with very similar numbers, advantage Rodgers. He already has a leg up on the competition.
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7. Pass-Happy Offense
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The Packers throw the ball like there's no tomorrow.
In 2010, Green Bay attempted 541 passing and 421 rushing attempts. They threw the ball even more in 2009.
It’s incredible the Packers were 16th in the NFL in passing attempts, but fifth in passing yardage. That’s as efficient as it gets.
Rodgers will have every opportunity in the world to be among the statistical leaders in every major passing category in 2011.
RB Ryan Grant's return will at least make the Packers' running game respectable, opening up the passing lanes even more.
6. Rodgers Has Car Keys to the Packers Offense
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Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has had supreme confidence in Rodgers since he came out of college.
Okay, that's a complete lie.
McCarthy was the offensive coordinator of the 49ers during the 2005 draft. He decided Alex Smith was the best QB, and Rodgers fell to the Pack at 17.
While it's truly ironic and also upsetting for 49ers fans, McCarthy hasn't wavered in his stance on Rodgers since becoming head coach of the Packers in 2006.
He admitted his entire Super Bowl game plan was all about Rodgers. The Green Bay offense relied on him, and McCarthy had no problem doing so.
The unwavering confidence and support has gone a long way in Rodgers' continued development.
5. Durability/Toughness
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Two concussions kept Rodgers from only missing one full game in 2010. Considering the ridiculous amount of attention head injuries received during the season, there was no way the NFL was going to allow him to come right back after his second one.
In his three full seasons as the starter, Rodgers has only missed one other game.
He has played through a plethora of nagging injuries and has put his toughness on display for everyone.
The 2011 MVP has to play in a minimum of 14 games to be considered—not an issue for Rodgers.
4. Down-to-Earth and Even-Keeled
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You can see it in his body language and demeanor.
Rodgers is confident in his ability and has never shown any signs of weakness since taking over for a legend.
He says the right things and has proven to be a model citizen. Being free of controversy isn’t an easy thing for starting QBs in the NFL.
That’s the beauty of Rodgers. He makes being a top-tier QB on and off the field look so easy.
3. Ability To Win on the Road
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Rodgers has solidified his "Road Warrior" label after guiding his six-seeded squad to road wins over Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago before beating the Steelers in the neutral Cowboys Stadium.
He also collected road wins over Philly and the New York Jets during the regular season. Rodgers doesn't get rattled on the road, completing 64 percent of his passes and only throwing five picks away from Lambeau in 2010.
After a rocky 2-6 road record in his inaugural year as a starter, Rodgers has finished above .500 on the road in 2009 and 2010.
2. The Clutch Gene
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Rodgers is very comfortable in the heat of the moment. In the fourth quarter this season, he completed 66 percent of his throws and only threw two interceptions, with a QB rating just a hair under 100.
Rodgers led the Packers to a game-clinching fourth quarter TD drive and fended off the Steelers with a clock-killing final field goal drive.
All things considered, Rodgers put the team on his back and showed them how it’s done, even if the spotlight of the Super Bowl also overwhelmed him.
1. Still Young and Improving
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He has been to the playoffs in two of his three years at the helm and now has a Super Bowl MVP on his resume.
And the guy is only 27 years old.
Who's to think he won’t be even better next year? We may be looking at a dynasty with Rodgers and the Pack.
He possesses the focus, talent and dedication to be one of the best players in the NFL for the foreseeable future. The monkey has been lifted from Rodgers' back, and the sky is the limit.
He is the overwhelming favorite for MVP of the 2011 regular season.
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