Aces in the bullpen.

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One of the story lines to the upcoming Packers-Eagles game will be about first year Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson having been a back-up qb with the Packers in the 1990's and 2000's. His seasons in Green Bay, in fact, were pivotal to him getting launched on an NFL coaching career.

http://www.chiefs.com/assets/images/imported/KC/photos/060315-PedersonFavre.jpg

Pederson spent 6 of his 10 years playing in the league with the Packers in two separate stints. Backing up Brett Favre gave him precious few opportunities to play besides in preseason games but he showed enough in those few appearances to make an impression.

He was the third stringer behind Favre and Jim McMahon on the 1996 Super Bowl XXXI world championship team. He moved up to number two after McMahon retired following the year. Pederson was active for 62 games with the Packers from 1996-98 and 2001-04. He completed 46 of 77 passes for 398 yds., 3 td's and 2 INT's. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PedeDo00.htm

He did have two notable regular season appearances. He came in relief of a struggling Favre in the fourth quarter of an already lost game against Minnesota in 1998. ( That was the game in which the Packers' 29 game home win streak was ended on MNF.) The Packers were already down 37-10 but Pederson threw 2 td passes, completed 10 of 16 for 103 yds. to make the final score look a little more respectable.

In 2002 Pederson took over in a midseason game against Washington when Favre was forced out of the game with a knee injury. The Packers had only a tenuous 8 point lead when he came in but he directed 3 scoring drives, completing 9 of 15 for 78 yds to extend the final to 30-9 for Green Bay.

When former Packers assistant coach Andy Reid took over as hc in Philadelphia he brought Pederson with him from Green Bay to start and mentor his young draftee Donovan McNabb. Pederson's association with Reid would lead him into his NFL coaching career. http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/The-Life-and-Career-of-Chiefs-OC-Doug-Pederson/32dd5f7f-b871-4400-8b67-b25a41714741

The Packers, of course, are known for their great starting quarterbacks: Bart Starr, Favre, Aaron Rodgers. And for some very good ones Tobin Rote, Lynn ****ey, Don Majkowski. But the Doug Pederson story reminds of a lengthy list of back-up qb's who proved valuable in emergency pinches and several of whom went on to significant careers as starters in the NFL.

Pederson is one of 6 Packers back-ups who became, to some degree or other, successful starting qb's with other clubs; there being no place for them to advance during the long run of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

While Favre had yet to step forward in the fullness of his career Ty Detmer and Mark Brunell were not only back-ups but prospective starters in the early seasons of coach Mike Holmgren.
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/oct-1993-green-bay-packers-head-coach-mike-holmgren-confers-with-picture-id287200

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Detmer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Brunell

Even when Favre was at his peak, with 3 straight MVP/coMVP seasons, GM Ron Wolf continued to find talent in his draft at the quarterback position.

Matt Hasselbeck came to the Packers in the 1998 draft. http://media.jrn.com/images/6284557-mike_mccarthy-_nws-_mark_hoffman.jpg.

And Aaron Brooks was taken in 1999. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ldl-t77rL._SS400_.jpg

The Packers had no real need on the field for either during their short stays with them. Hasselbeck was active as the back-up for all 32 games of his two years in town; he completed 13 of 29 passes for 144 yds., 2 td's, 0 INT's. Brooks didn't even register on the team stats for '99. Their principal value to the Packers was as trade material.

It may be fairly judged whether the Packers got real value in return for their trades. They sent Hasselbeck to Seattle (and their first round pick at #17) in 2001 for the Seahawks first round pick (#10) and a third rounder. Ron Wolf used the picks gained to select de Jamal Reynolds and s Bhawoh Jue.

Brooks was deal to New Orleans for a forgettable lb K.D. Williams and a third round pick that was traded to San Francisco and eventually became a 2002 4th rounder guard Bill Ferrario out of Wisconsin.

Brunell was traded to Jacksonville for draft picks that the Packers parlayed into fb William Henderson and rb and special teams star Travis Jervey.

Hasselbeck, with former Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren, became one of the best in the league
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Hasselbeck

Brooks, too, flourished, at least for a time, with the Saints in the hands of their offensive coordinator at the time Mike McCarthy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Brooks_(American_football)

Matt Flynn became a fan favorite as back-up to Aaron Rodgers when he twice saved Packers' seasons when pressed into relief duty when ARod was injured. In late 2010 Rodgers was concussed and out of a game at powerful New England. The Patriots had been crushing opponents and the injury depleted Packers seemed to have no chance. But Flynn put on a performance that kept the game competitive and, although they lost, it became the ignition for the team's late season charge into the playoffs and through to the Super Bowl XLV Championship. And a 19 game winning streak that carried through 2011.

In the final game of the '11 season, with the Packers having sewed up everything they needed for an anticipated Super Bowl repeat, Rodgers was held out and Flynn played the season final against Detroit; throwing a club record 6 td passes.

Those performances helped make Flynn a hot free agent prospect in 2012 and he signed a big contract with Seattle, only to be outdone by rookie sensation Russell Wilson. But when the Packers needed Flynn again in 2013 to their good fortune he was available.

Aaron Rodgers was out with a fractured collarbone and the Packers went into a nosedive as back-ups Seneca Wallace and Scott Tolzein were ineffective. Flynn was signed on and sparked the Packers to a pair of come from behind wins over Atlanta and Dallas that kept the Packers afloat in the NFC North for Rodgers to return and pitch the playoff clincher in the season's final game at Chicago.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/green-bay-packers-new-york-jets-lsu-tigers-matt-flynn-career-041916
http://www.packers.com/team/roster/matt-flynn/1b0661cc-7393-41ee-ad78-0132e47da2f0/

The all time "Super Sub" in Packers' history, though, is Zeke Bratkowski; back-up to Hall of Famer Bart Starr with the Vince Lombardi Packers. http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/001/592/074/de0a38ad5ddc64c24ee70a187a945d64_original.jpg?1403021201

The combo of "Bart & Brat" was crucial to the Packers' "threepeat" NFL world championship run of 1965-67. Though there was no question of Starr as the starter and the team being better with him running the offense; there was no panic if Bratkowski had to come in, as he frequently did, and the Packers machine would keep on rolling. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeke_Bratkowski

Before Bratkowski Lombardi had another ace in his quarterback bullpen: John Roach. https://packerspastperfect.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/1961fjroach.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Roach_(American_football)

Most people who ever think of David Whitehurst remember him as one of the mediocrities at quarterback the Packers had during the dismal 1970's. But Whitehurst was actually a Packers' back-up, pressed into service when starter Lynn ****ey was seriously injured and required almost 3 years to recover and return to action. "Whitey" had the longest period of starting duty of any Packers' back-up qb. http://www.packerlandtitletownusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/1078.jpg

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Whitehurst-had-his-run-at-the-top/e9ca7093-428a-4ea9-b35e-a545893ae9a4

The Packers' three greatest quarterbacks Starr, Favre and Rodgers also started their careers as back-ups. Starr was drafted in 1956 but didn't become established as the starter in Green Bay until the 1960. Favre started in 1992 behind Don Majkowski; taking over when "Majik" got hurt. And Rodgers warmed the bench behind Favre for his first 3 years.

With all these stories from history we can only wait to see what might be in the future about Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan or Scott Tolzein.
 
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Packerlifer

Cheesehead
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Matt Flynn Packers' highlights
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Mark Brunell: the man who almost was instead of Favre:
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A Mike McCarthy project- Aaron Brooks
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Matt Hasselbeck, one of Green Bay's gifts to Seattle.
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Number Two makes the Pack #1
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"Relief" spelled B R A T K O W S K I
 
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