Nice article.

Thanks, Boris.

Is this where we post about Brett Favre?

Crazy, Diggr, I could have sworn that article was about Aaron Rodgers.

quote:

Originally posted by Diggr14:
Is this where we post about Brett Favre?

No, this is where everyone starts posting about Rodgers' durability issues.

Nice article. I am hoping ARod shuts up all the naysayers and makes them eat that big 'ol plate of grilled crow. Good luck Aaron!

This article has some wisdom in it.

quote:

The history is this: The NFL has not been kind to quarterbacks who follow a legend, as Rodgers is trying to do after Brett Favre's retirement.

Rodgers hasn't studied it closely, but he has a theory, that in many cases, when a great quarterback retired or moved on, the team around him had grown old and its so-called window of opportunity was closing, anyway.

Aaron Rodgers says he had a good relationship with Brett Favre and that he learned a lot from the record-setting QB.

"My situation is probably a little different," he said Thursday during an interview following an OTA practice. "We have a great team already in place."

And a young one, too. The Packers reached the NFC Championship game last season with the league's youngest roster. So there is reason for optimism. Nonetheless, everyone, even those in the organization giving Rodgers their unconditional support, knows it's going to be different.

The last guy to come into a good situatuion, considering the guys around him, was Steve Young. Who did well and went to at least one SB.

quote:

Favre's shadow, of course, is a long one, and everyone knows there will be endless references.

"If (Rodgers throws) for three touchdowns, then the fan down the street's going to say, 'Well, Brett would have thrown for five,'" Thompson said.

Yet, Rodgers has enough confidence and thick skin that he'll likely be able to shrug that stuff off.

"I see a dude with all the tools that's just ready to show his talent," said James Jones, a second-year receiver. "He's not trying to do what Brett does, but just be himself and lead this team."

I want to second what Jones has said. No 2 people are exactly alike anyway. When Rodgers was in college, and a Cal game was on, i'd watch it because I liked watching AR. In those days, SI had an article where a Cal official apologized to a guest because AR had gone a whole quarter without throwing a TD pass. Some QBs go a whole game without throwing a TD pass. If GB lets him be himself, AR will do fine.

quote:

"Looking back, I know I wasn't ready (to play right out of college). At the time, you want to play, obviously, but a situation like this ... it prepared me very well, because I got to sit behind a guy and learn for three years, kind of like they used to do it with quarterbacks. I feel like now, I'm more prepared than if I had been thrown in right away."

Developing QBs the way they use to. Priceless. I remember those days. In doing so, Don Horn was the guy who was to follow Bart Starr. Had Lombardi hung around, he might have been good. But with the different coaching staff, it was hard to make any transition. Horn was ultimately traded.

I like AR. I liked him when he was drafted. I will be pulling for him and his success. The one question that comes to mind is, what Brian & Matt thinking at this point? I hope GB gets into the groom & trade MO for their backups until one of them is needed to start.

I'm excited about the new look Packers. It was time for Favre to move on, and Rodgers should be able to step in, and continue to lead the team to victory. He's got a good cast of wideouts, and overall offensive talent to work with, and a head coach who seems to know how to put people in position to succeed. If he plays within the system he'll be just fine.

We may look back on the Favre era and ultimately come to see that one of the biggest benefits of his long career was that by continuing to play well under MM for those last couple of years, it allowed the GBP to groom AR in the old-school way, one which IMHO is generally becoming obsolete. Teams that draft a QB high often face huge pressure to get him on the field, often before he's ready, and it works out to be a disaster for the organization and the player. Drafting AR a couple of years before they needed him - and I realize that TT at the time perhaps didn't realize when he would need to play - could be the difference between his ultimate success and failure. Of course, this is all dependent upon whether or not AR works out, but he's been given every advantage a QB could use:

1. A great, HOF mentor from whom he learned how to approach the game;
2. A coach with a history of developing QB's - look how MM helped refine Favre during their two years together, and look at what MM did with Aaron Brooks, who was last seen throwing backwards passes before selling insurance.
3. A huge nucleus of young players with tallant to work with while being groomed;
4. Time to learn the complicated offense;
5. For the MOST part, random haters aside, reasonable expectations based on the legacy he's following. We'll see if that holds water if GB starts 2-4, however.

It's all there for him - the maturity, time to learn, coaching, tallant around him and a positive environment. At this point, neither he nor anyone else could've hoped for it to go any better in terms of his preparation to take over the team. We'll see how he does from here.

If you want an NFL QB to be successful you don't march him out there day 1 and expect to win. Guys like Palmer, McNabb, McNair, heck even Favre had the benefit of studying the playbook and practicing well before they were thrown into the fire.

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:
look at what MM did with Aaron Brooks, who was last seen throwing backwards passes before selling insurance.

Was he a success for MM? Where is he these days?

quote:

Originally posted by Hauser:

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:
look at what MM did with Aaron Brooks, who was last seen throwing backwards passes before selling insurance.

Was he a success for MM? Where is he these days?

I think that's kind of the point. He's no where these days. He was at least an efficient quarterback every year MM was with him. When MM left for SF, Brooks became a much less disciplined player, and quickly lost his job.

MM was in New Orleans from 2000 to 2004.

2000, age 24, 8 games, 9 TDs, 6 INTs
2001, age 25, 16 games, 26 TDs, 22 INTs
2002, age 26, 16 games, 27 TDs, 15 INTs
2003, age 27, 16 games, 24 TDs, 8 INTs
2004, age 28, 16 games, 21 TDs, 16 INTs

2005, age 29, 13 games, 13 TDs, 17 INTs
2006, age 30, 8 games, 3 TDs, 8 INTs

In addition to Brooks, McCarthy coached Delhomme for a few years in New Orleans where he was a backup.

quote:

2005, age 29, 13 games, 13 TDs, 17 INTs

DAMN, Tavarias Jackson would kill for those numbers.

It will tough without #4 in the huddle and under center. But I am cheering for Rodgers. It will be very interesting to see what transpires this season.

We have our feet.

It's gonna be a fun season.

I, for one, am very excited about seeing AR & the Packers this upcoming season. I like what I see of him as a person in his interviews and his limited playing time on the field. I think the team, for the most part, is ready for the Favre era to end & the Rodgers era to begin. I know I am.

Rodgers doesn't have to be great. He just has to be good. The rest of the team should/will pick up the slack.

quote:

Originally posted by Liam:

quote:

Originally posted by Hauser:

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:
look at what MM did with Aaron Brooks, who was last seen throwing backwards passes before selling insurance.

Was he a success for MM? Where is he these days?

I think that's kind of the point. He's no where these days. He was at least an efficient quarterback every year MM was with him. When MM left for SF, Brooks became a much less disciplined player, and quickly lost his job.

MM was in New Orleans from 2000 to 2004.

2000, age 24, 8 games, 9 TDs, 6 INTs
2001, age 25, 16 games, 26 TDs, 22 INTs
2002, age 26, 16 games, 27 TDs, 15 INTs
2003, age 27, 16 games, 24 TDs, 8 INTs
2004, age 28, 16 games, 21 TDs, 16 INTs

2005, age 29, 13 games, 13 TDs, 17 INTs
2006, age 30, 8 games, 3 TDs, 8 INTs

In addition to Brooks, McCarthy coached Delhomme for a few years in New Orleans where he was a backup.

I looked up Brooks' numbers a while back, and I kind of smiled a bit. Those are pretty fair numbers for a rather mediocre qb in a McCarthy led offense. Rodgers has more talent than Brooks ... mainly in terms of accuracy, and should really be able to do well. We'll see how it works out, but these numbers might bode well for Rodgers.

quote:

Originally posted by Gun4Arm:
I, for one, am very excited about seeing AR & the Packers this upcoming season. I like what I see of him as a person in his interviews and his limited playing time on the field. I think the team, for the most part, is ready for the Favre era to end & the Rodgers era to begin. I know I am.

I think this team wants to show it wasn't "all Brett Favre" last season. Most of the young guys really had no connection with Brett due to the age gap. I'm anxious to see what a bunch of young hungry guys with something to prove do this season without the old venerable #4 under center. I'm sure it got old always having to talk about him in every interview they did.

Aaron Rodgers is a very bright young man which is the biggest thing going for him. I think he does realize exactly what he's in the middle of and I get the sense he's fired up about proving the world wrong about him. A lot of guys who should've gone at the very top of the draft and fell have played with a chip that led them to magnificent careers.

This really is a unique season for Packers fans. 17 years of Favre. Shoot, I was a kid when the Favre era started. For the first time there's change. I think it'll be for the better.

quote:

Originally posted by PackLandVA:
Rodgers doesn't have to be great. He just has to be good. The rest of the team should/will pick up the slack.

Am I the only person worrying about aging corners?

We don't have any Asian corners.

Nobody does. Great at math, but damn those folks can't cover worth crap.

quote:

Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
Nobody does. Great at math, but damn those folks can't cover worth crap.

Blair Kiel channels Reggie White....

Can you build a car with paper clips?

I think a lot of people are concerned about their Asian corners, or aging corners, whatever your preference.

That's why they selected Lee early in the draft and I think they have high hopes for Blackmon assuming he stays healthy.

I am also excited to see what Rodgers can do because I was a big fan of the pick when it happened and while he lacks Favre's experience, proven leadership, and obvious arm strength he also brings a few things to the table that Favre was lacking at this point in his career- namely his scrambling ability and (good) decision making.

The way I see it Rodgers doesn't need to be Favre in terms of putting up Favre-like numbers but in this offense if he can do his job and reduce or eliminate mistakes I think he'll be just fine. The talent is certainly there and he seems like he has a good head on his shoulders so that's a start.

Uh, guys, I believe Lee is an Asian name? Duh.

I just wonder how Rodgers will balance his time between starting and that show he's on.