12: A Tribute to Aaron Rodgers' Legendary Green Bay Career

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates a 24-16 win against the Carolina Panthers

THE DRAFT Packers GM Ted Thompson makes call to draft Aaron Rodgers

Decision to take quarterback ‘easy’

BOB MCGINN • MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL • APRIL 23, 2005

The last time the Green Bay Packers took a quarterback from the University of California in the first round, his name was Rich Campbell and he was the sixth overall selection.

Damaged goods from the beginning because of an injured throwing shoulder, Campbell failed to advance past third string in four seasons for the Packers. He ranks right up there with Tony Mandarich as the most notorious busts in club history.

As the 24th pick Saturday by the Packers, Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers won’t have the same degree of pressure on him or a caustic offensive coordinator like Bob Schnelker with whom to deal. And, said general manager Ted Thompson, the course of his career will be far different as well.

“I just think when you look back five years from now you’ll say, ‘This was a hell of a pick,’” Thompson said after making Rodgers his first selection making the draft-day calls

in Green Bay.

Quarterback was well down the list of needs for a team that was weak on defense in 2004 and then felt compelled March 10 to release one of its best defenders, safety Darren Sharper. But when Rodgers’ free-fall reached about the 12th pick, Thompson began to reassess the situation.

“We really didn’t think it was going to happen,” Thompson said. “It just didn’t make sense.”

When Rodgers kept slipping, Thompson began to work the draft room.

“I’m a very weird guy in that I like to make sure of things over and over and over,” Thompson said. “I walked around the room again. I made sure I talked to people individually by themselves so they could speak their mind.

“I wanted to make sure everybody was comfortable with what we were doing. Everybody knows they can speak their mind.

In fact, I’ve reinforced that every time we get together. It’s their job to tell me what they’re thinking.”

Thompson conceded the inherent struggle involved with taking a quarterback that probably won’t have a bearing on the record next year for a team used to contending and with a coach (Mike Sherman) entering the final year on his contract.

“It would have been easier if I had been here for 10 years and had some sort of track record,” Thompson said. “But everybody in the room said this was the player we should take.

“I think we tried to put the interests of the Green Bay Packers first. It wasn’t necessarily that comfortable taking that position maybe as some other things we’d like to have done, but you make draft choices and draft-day decisions based on the long-term best interests of your organization. I think that’s what we did today.”

The Packers, like almost every other team in

TOM LYNN / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

OPPOSITE: Green Bay Packers 2005 first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers smiles as he walks off Lambeau Field for the first time, April 24, 2005. Rodgers, a quarterback from the University of California, was the 24th pick in the draft.

THE FIRST START

Unflappable Aaron Rodgers proves he’s ready

BOB MCGINN • MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL • SEPT. 8, 2008

Yes, the Green Bay Packers do have a real, live, legitimate quarterback. And, due in large part to Aaron Rodgers, they now have a leg up on the favored Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North Division.

With thousands of fans wearing Brett Favre’s No. 4 jersey and still angered by his departure, Rodgers stared down the past Monday night and showed his teammates they have a future with him in a hard-won, 24-19 victory over their border rivals at Lambeau Field.

“People need to get behind him,” tackle Chad Clifton said. “He’s a good football player. You would have thought he was a 10-year veteran tonight. Very calm, very collected. Played an outstanding game.”

The Vikings blitzed Rodgers early and he got the ball out. Then they played their “Tampa 2” zone schemes with safety Darren Sharper, among others, trying to bait him into an errant toss.

Nothing worked. Rodgers basically was unflappable.

His passer rating of 115.5 told a lot. So did his 81.8% completion percentage (18 for 22), fourth-best in club annals and exceeded by Favre just once (82.1%, 1995, at Cleveland) in his illustrious 275-game career.

“There wasn’t anything down the field where we said, ‘Oh my God, there’s three guys over there and we only have one,’” offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said, adding that Rodgers’ only questionable decision was changing a run to a quick pass to Greg Jennings for minus-1 in the first quarter. By winning as 2½-point favorites, the Packers served notice on the talented Vikings that they don’t intend to relinquish easily the division championship that they won by five games a year ago.

In short, the Packers were sick and tired of reading and hearing about how good the Vikings were supposed to be, partially at their expense.

“To beat an opponent that was illustrated in such a positive manner as the Minnesota Vikings, to play well like he did and lead his

team to victory, that’s important,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

“Aaron managed the game. Not taking chances. Play to the play call. Taking what the defense gives you. I was pleased.”

The Packers extended their winning streak over the Vikings to five games, which also corresponds to McCarthy’s record against Minnesota coach Brad Childress.

“We beat a good opponent, it’s our home opener and we’re 1-0,” McCarthy said. “That’s the facts.

“We made a lot of mistakes. It’s a long year. There’s a lot of football in front of us.

“But I like our team. I like the way they work.”

With his team clinging to a 5-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, Rodgers directed a four-play, 77-yard drive. His eighth rush of the game, a 1-yard sneak, provided the winning points and gave him four first downs rushing and 35 yards.

“I thought it was going to be easier playing against Rodgers than Favre,” defensive end

OPPOSITE: Aaron Rodgers welcomes his teammates for his first start as the Packers quarterback before their NFL game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Sept. 8, 2008. JEFFREY PHELPS / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

OPPOSITE: Aaron Rodgers enjoys his first Lambeau Leap of the season after his sneak for a touchdown in the second half of their NFL game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Sept. 8, 2008.

Jared Allen said. “But it was easier playing Favre (last year) because he was not as mobile. (Rodgers) froze the defensive linemen with the play-action and his movement.”

Philbin said Rodgers’ ability to run “keeps drives going. They (opposing rushers) better be more disciplined in their lanes. It slows down games and twists. It helps an awful lot.”

The Vikings retaliated with an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, then forced the conservative Packers to punt with 1 minute 51 seconds left. McCarthy’s faith in his defense was repaid when safety Atari Bigby intercepted a wayward pass by Tarvaris Jackson with 54 seconds left to seal the outcome.

“We believe in our defense,” McCarthy said. “They came out running the ball very well but our defense did a good job hunkering down.”

Neither team did much of anything in the scoreless first quarter, but at least the Packers were fortunate not to have lost a pair of fumbles. Rodgers hopped on the first, a poor exchange between him and center Jason Spitz, and then Jennings recovered a fumble by Brandon Jackson on a third-and-13 run.

Green Bay’s offense also was penalized

C-A YDS TD RATING vs. Minnesota Vikings

Sept. 8, 2008 • W 24-19

six times (five were accepted) in its first two possessions, including three against tackle Chad Clifton.

Early in the second quarter, Jennings went deep against nickel back Charles Gordon, who had him covered. But Rodgers threw it anyway and Jennings looked back for the ball with strong hands to pull it in for a gain of 56 to the 6.

“He just went up and took it away,” general manager Ted Thompson said. “He was pretty well covered but Jennings is a pretty gifted guy.”

The Vikings were penalized three times within the span of three plays, moving the ball to the 1. On third and goal, Rodgers patiently went through his reads before finding fullback Korey Hall in the end zone half a step ahead of linebacker Ben Leber.

“Aaron did a really good job buying time,” McCarthy said. “That’s his third option on that play.”

Midway through the second quarter, McCarthy junked his conventional two-back sets for a one-back, three-wide receiver set. That led to Mason Crosby’s 42-yard field goal and the Packers led, 10-3.

Rodgers directed a sharp 2-minute drive, completing four of five passes for 57 yards and scrambling for 21. Facing third and 10 from the 15 in the waning seconds and with one timeout left, McCarthy decided against

another pass and ran the clock down to kick a field goal.

“Didn’t like the down and distance,” he said. “I was focused on getting the game to a twoscore game.”

The strategy backfired, however, when a 33-yard attempt by Crosby was blocked off the left edge by Cedric Griffin. Mike Stock, special teams coach, said Crosby hit the ground first and kicked it low.

The Vikings cut their deficit to 10-6 early in the third quarter on Ryan Longwell’s 27-yard field goal. Al Harris, not known for his tackling or run support, probably saved a touchdown by dragging down Adrian Peterson in the open field after a gain of 7 just before the field goal.

A few plays later, Donald Driver hauled in what appeared to be a 68-yard touchdown pass only to see it called back when guard Tony Moll was penalized for being illegally downfield.

“They give you a yard past,” McCarthy said. “My understanding, the engagement of the block, he ended up falling forward and got too far downfield. We shouldn’t have been engaged there based on the way we block that.”

Then Will Blackmon fielded a low punt by Chris Kluwe, danced past three tacklers, cut back and burned 76 yards for a touchdown.

“Big plays are important, especially in bigtime games,” McCarthy said. “We thought we had some favorable matchups on special teams and they played big tonight.”

With Jackson avoiding rushers and scrambling effectively, the Vikings went 79 yards in 15 plays. The touchdown came on fourth and 1 when Sidney Rice found himself alone in the secondary for a 23-yard pass.

JEFFREY PHELPS / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

“We believe in our defense. They came out running the ball very well but our defense did a good job hunkering down.”

COACH MIKE MCCARTHY

RIGHT: A fan shows her support for Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, who threw 3 TD passes to help the Packers beat the Detroit Lions 48-25 at Ford Field, Sept. 14, 2008.

BENNY SIEU / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

LEFT: Aaron Rodgers spikes the ball after he scored in the second half of their NFL game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Sept. 8, 2008. JEFFREY PHELPS / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

THE FIRST MVP AWARD

Aaron Rodgers caps ‘phenomenal’ season

Quarterback is fifth Packers player to win NFL honor

TYLER DUNNE • MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL • FEB. 4, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS — The not-so-subtle dig sifted through his acceptance speech with tight-spiral precision. In front of about 2,500 people at the Murat Theatre, Aaron Rodgers smirked and “thanked” the San Francisco 49ers for drafting him.

No, that career-defining chip on Rodgers’ shoulder isn’t going anywhere.

“This is special, this is important to me,” Rodgers said Saturday night. “It’s a staple of consistency. It means you played consistently well. And it took a lot of preparation and hard work to be nominated, and to be recognized is a special thing for me.”

He’d rather be elsewhere. Like, say, a couple miles away preparing for Super Bowl XLVI at the downtown Marriott.

But this isn’t a bad consolation prize.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback was named the National Football League’s most valuable player Saturday, earning 48 first-place votes. New Orleans’ Drew Brees received two. New England’s Tom Brady was shut out.

Rodgers became the fifth Packers player to

win the MVP honor, joining Paul Hornung (1961), Jim Taylor (1962), Bart Starr (1966) and three-time winner Brett Favre (1995, 1996, 1997).

The drama was somewhat deflated. The Packers’ Super Bowl title defense ended in the divisional playoffs against the New York Giants. After winning the MVP award, Rodgers admitted he’s still thinking about “missed opportunities” in that game.

Still, the loss doesn’t cloud a regularseason’s worth of near-flawless play. Rodgers threw for 4,643 yards and 45 touchdowns with only six interceptions. His sizzling 122.5 passer rating was an NFL record. He had heated competition, too. Brees set fire to Dan Marino’s NFL passing mark in a memorable pedal-to-the-metal, yearlong clinic. Brady? On Super Bowl Sunday, he may immortalize himself as the greatest quarterback ever.

It all makes Rodgers’ season that much more impressive. With Green Bay’s defense allowing the most passing yards in NFL history, its quarterback was forced to be

perfect. And most of the time, he nearly was. Green Bay won 19 straight games spanning the 2010 and 2011 seasons and finished 15-1 in the 2011 regular season.

“He had a phenomenal season,” Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings said. “Just his performance and the way he was able to carry the team. His touchdown-to-interception ratio was off the charts. Everything he did this year was just phenomenal.”

Historically, Rodgers’ season may rank as the best ever. In 2007, Brady threw 50 touchdown passes to just eight interceptions. Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, the league’s only four-time MVP winner, threw 49 touchdown passes in 2004. But Rodgers’ final passer rating may trump both seasons.

Even Brees concedes Rodgers did something rare this season. Each Monday, he marveled at the highlights.

“One of the greatest of any player to play the position,” Brees said. “It was fun to watch. Obviously we all battle it out on Sunday, and then one of the more fun things is to come in on Monday morning and watch those guys

OPPOSITE: Aaron Rodgers calls a play during a no huddle offense that resulted in a touchdown throw to Jordy Nelson during the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field, Dec. 11, 2011. MARK HOFFMAN / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers relishes chance to ‘make up for lost time’ with Brett Favre

JR RADCLIFFE • MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL • OCT. 26, 2018

Aaron Rodgers joined the Mike Tirico Podcast as a guest in an episode that arrived Thursday, and the Green Bay Packers quarterback discussed his relationship with Brett Favre and the Week 1 injury Rodgers sustained against the Chicago Bears.

Tirico asked how worried Rodgers was about the severity of his injury, when he was carted off the field in the first half. Rodgers famously returned after the break and led the Packers to a stirring comeback victory.

“I was worried after we went into that secret blue tent and the doc said he wanted to get it X-rayed and get a better look at it,” Rodgers said. “I was worried it was significant because I was in a great deal of pain.

“I was definitely worried about this being the first game, was it going to be significant, was I going to be out? But once we went back to the locker room and got it checked out, I just felt like we could play through the pain

and get back out there.”

As for Favre, Rodgers said both sides have gained greater understanding of the tension in 2008, when Rodgers was anointed as Favre’s replacement as starting quarterback at a time when Favre still wanted to play.

“As I look back at my career, one thing that was very important to me at some point was rectifying that relationship with Brett and getting back to where we were in ’07 when he was starting and I was a backup,” Rodgers told Tirico. “We had a great time and really enjoyed hanging out with each other and being teammates. All this stuff happened in ’08, and then we had an onstage handshake at the Honors that one year (the 2013 NFL Honors presentation) that kind of started the healing process, and now I consider him a close friend.”

Rodgers said he and Favre communicate regularly.

“I went down and visited with him for a couple days in the offseason, and that has really meant a lot to me, to find that friendship with Brett again and honor him as a friend and former teammate and Packer quarterback the way he deserves to be honored. … As much as it was tough the first year, they drafted this young kid from California, (Favre) is 36, turning 37, not ready to retire. The strains that put on the relationship. Now we can look back and have a lot better appreciation for each other, for me understanding what he was going through, for him understanding what it’s like to be 21 and play with one of your idols. It’s been great to make up for lost time with Brett, because he meant a lot for me and my development as a player.”

Rodgers also said he first recognized his “love affair” with the fans at the end of the 2008 season.

OPPOSITE: Brett Favre hands the reins over to Aaron Rodgers in the final few minutes of the fourth quarter to seal a win against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL playoff game, Jan. 12, 2008, at Lambeau Field. RICK WOOD / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

“We played an 0-15 Lions team we were expected to beat, and we beat them 31-21, kind of pulled away at the end,” Rodgers recalled. “We were 6-10, and I remember walking off the field getting a big-time ovation. Still to this day, that gives me the chills, and sometimes chokes me up, because I think about how it was difficult at times during that offseason and during the year, but that moment will always stay with me about how special I felt. That connection really start there and how it’s grown.”

RIGHT: Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, right, buddies up with Brett Favre during a workout in Green Bay, May 31, 2006. BENNY SIEU /

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

OPPOSITE: Leigh Ann Nelson, Bart Starr’s long-time executive assistant, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Packers quarterback Brett Favre watch a video tribute to Bart Starr during a halftime ceremony honoring Starr, Sept. 15, 2019, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. JOSHUA CLARK / MANITOWOC HERALD TIMES REPORTER