Will Aaron Rodgers step out of Favre’s shadow this year?
It’s always hard to replace a legend, which is what Aaron Rodgers was asked to do when Brett Favre retired for the first time in 2008. Favre retired in March after 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, in which he set career-passing records and led the Pack to a Super Bowl championship.
When Favre changed his mind and decided he wanted to play another season, the Packers stuck with Rodgers saying they had to think of their long-term future. The decision was met with mixed opinions at the time, but some are starting to see now that the Packers made the right move.
If the Packers weren’t willing to turn to Rodgers when they did, then there was likely no future for him in Green Bay. Two seasons later and Favre is still playing, so had he stayed in Green Bay, Rodgers may still be on the bench and would not have gotten the chance he deserved.
Rodgers has flourished as a starter and has become the first quarterback to post back-to-back, 4000-yard seasons to begin his career. He is quickly becoming one of the best pivots in the game and the Packers have to be given credit for willing to move on and take a chance on a young quarterback.
Right from when Rodgers was named the starter he said right away that he wouldn’t be able to be like Brett Favre because he would play like Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has proven to be a great NFL quarterback.
After a disappointing first season in 2008 in which the Packers struggled to a 6-10 campaign, the Packers rebounded in 2009 with an 11-5 record and made the play-offs. The Packers lost in the opening round in a thrilling 51-45 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Rodgers had a terrific play-off debut, completing 28 of 42 passes for 423 passing yards and four touchdowns.
The only negative out of last season was that the Packers failed to beat Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in both their meetings. Rodgers played very well on both occasions but Favre stole the show, dominating his former team on both occasions. While the results were based on how well the two teams played, the story was always about Favre versus Rodgers and Favre won the battle on both occasions.
Rodgers will get another crack at Favre this season. And this may be his last chance, as this will likely be Favre’s last season. Rodgers will be looking to beat the Packers’ legend and will try to lead the Packers to the NFC North title. The Vikings have taken the division in the last two seasons and their season sweep over the Packers was the difference last year. As unfair as it may sound, if Rodgers wants to step out of Favre’s shadow he’ll have to beat him at least once, even if Favre is 40 years old.
The Packers are becoming a popular pick to win the Super Bowl this year as Rodgers continues to look great and the Packers’ offence appears to be one of the league’s best. Combined with their great defence, that spells success for them in 2010.
The way Rodgers is going to build his own legacy is simply by winning. He may never be able to break Favre’s passing records but he does have a chance to win more Super Bowls than Favre did. In his 16 seasons in Green Bay, Favre won one championship and at age 26, Rodgers will have plenty of chances to pass Favre in that category, which is ultimately the most important.
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