The Cobra
01-21-2011, 03:48 PM
In a year where Brett Favre appears to be retiring for real, his former understudy is now one victory away from following in Favre's legacy and leading the Green Bay Packers to the Super Bowl.
Favre, who earlier in the week picked the Packers to win it all this season, also expressed his belief that Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL. Veteran WR Donald Driver, who has caught passes from both Favre and Rodgers agrees.
"He came [to this team] when he was a rookie, no one probably expected this to happen, but the guy has proven that he is one of the best," said Driver. "I've watched him grow from a young man to a grown man and I take my hat off to him."
"He's in a great rhythm right now," expressed head coach Mike McCarthy. "He's playing his best football of his career and that's what you want, especially at this time of year. He's definitely a big time quarterback, he's everything we hoped he'd be."
After being drafted 24th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, Rodgers began his career on the sidelines watching Favre quarterback the Packers for three seasons. In 2008, the team called on Rodgers to assume the starting duties and he answered throwing for 4,038 yards, with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
"All the stuff he does in the regular season, just how consistent he plays the game, he's one of the best quarterbacks right now," remarked WR James Jones.
Rodgers success hasn't been limited to the regular season. The 27-year-old is the only quarterback ever to have passer ratings above 120 and throw for 10 touchdowns in his first three playoff starts. His game against the Falcons last week (366 yards, three touchdowns) was among the best post-season performances in NFL history.
"The way I prepare, the time I put in, I expect to play well," said Rodgers. "The last couple weeks I've played the kind of football I think you need to play to win in the playoffs."
Rodgers has played his best football since sitting out in Week 15 due to a concussion. Finding himself once again watching from the sidelines made Rodgers reflect on what he's been through to get to this point.
"When you go from being a backup for three years to the starter, you relish those opportunities. And when it gets kind of taken away from you, it's just really tough to not be able to impact on the game," he explained.
While he was left of the Pro Bowl roster this season, Rodgers is hoping that he will have more important things to focus on, like a potential Super Bowl matchup. With a win in Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears, Rodgers could get his chance to follow in Favre's footsteps and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.
Favre, who earlier in the week picked the Packers to win it all this season, also expressed his belief that Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL. Veteran WR Donald Driver, who has caught passes from both Favre and Rodgers agrees.
"He came [to this team] when he was a rookie, no one probably expected this to happen, but the guy has proven that he is one of the best," said Driver. "I've watched him grow from a young man to a grown man and I take my hat off to him."
"He's in a great rhythm right now," expressed head coach Mike McCarthy. "He's playing his best football of his career and that's what you want, especially at this time of year. He's definitely a big time quarterback, he's everything we hoped he'd be."
After being drafted 24th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, Rodgers began his career on the sidelines watching Favre quarterback the Packers for three seasons. In 2008, the team called on Rodgers to assume the starting duties and he answered throwing for 4,038 yards, with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
"All the stuff he does in the regular season, just how consistent he plays the game, he's one of the best quarterbacks right now," remarked WR James Jones.
Rodgers success hasn't been limited to the regular season. The 27-year-old is the only quarterback ever to have passer ratings above 120 and throw for 10 touchdowns in his first three playoff starts. His game against the Falcons last week (366 yards, three touchdowns) was among the best post-season performances in NFL history.
"The way I prepare, the time I put in, I expect to play well," said Rodgers. "The last couple weeks I've played the kind of football I think you need to play to win in the playoffs."
Rodgers has played his best football since sitting out in Week 15 due to a concussion. Finding himself once again watching from the sidelines made Rodgers reflect on what he's been through to get to this point.
"When you go from being a backup for three years to the starter, you relish those opportunities. And when it gets kind of taken away from you, it's just really tough to not be able to impact on the game," he explained.
While he was left of the Pro Bowl roster this season, Rodgers is hoping that he will have more important things to focus on, like a potential Super Bowl matchup. With a win in Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears, Rodgers could get his chance to follow in Favre's footsteps and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.