I did some thinking about Mr. Rodgers this offseason, following a successful year in ’09 and the drama in ’08. As painful as it is for me to admit, Rodgers looks good; he was groomed to be an elite NFL QB and is so far coming into the part well. During the offseason drama that included a trade of franchise icon Brett Favre to the New York Jets, I was convinced that Aaron Rodgers was the personification of Ted Thompson’s best Ron Wolf impression – it was clear Thompson wanted the team to be completely his and his alone. Rodgers was his QB.
No worries – I won’t bring the hate in this post (anymore); in fact, I was pondering about how good Rodgers is.
Before we begin, you must understand how much it pains me to admit that Rodgers is a solid QB. To give you an idea of how much it annoys me, consider my Halloween costume last year – green and yellow flowered mini skirt, pigtails adorned with green and gold ribbon, green tights and the capper – a replica #12 Packers jersey with “ERIN” carefully stitched on the name plate.
I digress – point is, I still think Rodgers has much work to do before being considered a top NFL QB or MVP candidate. Like win. Favre, despite being in the doghouse for inconsistent play during his first few seasons in Titletown, never had a losing season and won his first playoff game in only his second season.
Still, Rodgers posted monster stats last year and looks to be using the tools Thompson knew he possessed before drafting him with Favre still in the driver’s seat. My question is – would he be the same quarterback today if Brett had kept his mouth shut and butt on his tractor in the summer of 2008?
It is my opinion that Aaron Rodgers is as good a QB as he is today – and viewed as such by those in and around the NFL – because of Brett Favre. Sure, the man has talent – and did when Thompson snagged him in the first-round in 2005. What he had when he took the reins in 2008 was that talent, plus 3 years’ experience behind Favre. . .and, perhaps more significant, a huge chip on his shoulder.
The years behind Favre were obviously invaluable in shaping the young quarterback. Working behind a legend – whoever it is – would be invaluable to any NFL novice. And regardless of how much or little Favre put his arm around Rodgers and instructed him, Aaron could still learn a lot during practice, film and game time with Favre; just listen to how much the Vikings players said they’ve learned in just one year of playing with him.
As for the chip, Favre may have very well created a monster. In his campaign to bust down the doors of Lambeau because he thought he was the best option for the Packers (guessing), he turned off the organization and most of the fan base from someone they held in such high regard for nearly two decades. Favre pushed us into Rodgers’ waiting arms, and the fans embraced him. Everyone – fans, the front office and his teammates – wanted Rodgers to succeed. That support, coupled with the indirect hostility and implied challenge from Favre set a raging fire under Rodgers. What helped his cause was keeping his head down and mouth shut (with the exception of this dig that was almost immediately forgotten). Even after he was out of Green Bay, Favre was still breathing down Rodgers’ back – from halfway across the country, but nonetheless on everyone’s mind.But Rodgers didn’t shrink from the spotlight, and the spotlight embraced him. The NFL was obsessed with Favre versus Rodgers comparisons in ’08. Because of that media attention, folks who follow, write about and live and breathe the NFL saw more of Rodgers and the Packers. Especially last year focus was back on the NFC North and, more specifically, the Packers-Vikings rivalry. Without such attention paid to Rodgers during the past two years, would analysts forecast Rodgers to be the 2010 MVP? Phillip Rivers, another young QB who posted impressive stats and took his team to the Divisional playoff round, isn’t as publicized or lauded as Rodgers. (The conspiracy theorist in me swears Thompson paid off his share of NFL analysts to hype his young investment; how else does Rodgers telling Packers fans to shut up not create more waves? C'mon, it could totally happen.)
It was not the compelling scenario between Favre and Rodgers that kept the Packers in the media, however. Rodgers made Thompson’s argument by coming out firing in September. Amidst the turmoil and controversy, the young QB put the team on his back and embraced it – he made it about the team, not the QB, which is exactly the opposite of what Favre did before his bitter dismissal from Green Bay. I’ve heard several accounts of how massive Rodgers’ ego is; had Favre not indirectly emphasized the importance of operating, practicing and playing as a team, Rodgers may have begun his career as a very different player and teammate.
It is, after all, that team mentality that has given the Pack success the past two seasons. C’mon, two of the best –and most critical – defensive starters in Al Harris and Aaron Kampman go down with season-ending injuries and the team still makes the playoffs last year – it’s the system, it’s the guys. They think together, play together and win together.
The lessons Rodgers learned behind Favre were invaluable in a football sense. What he learned during that infamous summer in Packers history was invaluable in a leadership and life sense.
Favre once had unbreakable chemistry with and loyalty for his teammates and organization in Green Bay; because he somehow lost that may be one of the biggest reasons Rodgers may become the next Lambeau legend. It's now completely up to Aaron to determine whether it's as "that dude who followed Brett" or something of his own.
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