Packers camp report: Patient Rodgers rises above Favre legacy - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
GREEN BAY -- Aaron Rodgers sits at his locker and is told the name "Brett Favre" will only be mentioned a few times, per presidential decree. Rodgers smiles and, as always when it comes to the Brettster, he is patient.
In fact, that word describes Rodgers well. He patiently sat behind Favre for years before getting his chance. Never complaining or demanding a trade, which makes him rare in today's sports world. He patiently waited for His Brettness to retire and unretire. Several times.
When Favre went through the summer 2008 drama that eventually ended with him first playing in New York and then Minnesota last season, Rodgers patiently sat through Favre-related questions as the Favre soap opera officially traversed into All My Children overdrive. How is this affecting you? Is Favre being selfish? Don't Favre's actions make you mad?
Rodgers didn't do what many athletes would in those moments and tell the world to shut the hell up. Or lash out at Favre. Or throw something. Or punch someone. Instead, he patiently answered and answered and answered some more. When Packers fans questioned if Rodgers was ready once Favre was gone, Rodgers didn't take offense. He took snaps and kept quiet.
And trust this: The rest of the league noticed. From NFL locker rooms to the league offices in New York there was a great deal of admiration for how well Rodgers handled the Favre craziness. There still is.
When Favre unretired again this week, Rodgers patiently waited for the Favre questions he knew would come and patiently answered them. And now, yet again, he is being asked about Favre. And now, yet again, he answers free of attitude or bitterness.
"It was a tough time, I'll say that," Rodgers explained. "I wasn't going to bash Brett publicly because that's not me, but I wasn't happy with some of the things going on. That's all I'll say on that.
"I wasn't going to change who I was. I didn't want to step out of character no matter how frustrated or angry I got. I just stuck to football and by doing that it allowed me to keep my composure. But I'm not saying it was easy."
It was that philosophy -- along with his talent -- which allowed Packers fans to slowly move beyond Favre and fully embrace Rodgers.
Now, many other words are being used to describe Rodgers: leader, uber-talented, and the next future star. Last year he became the first quarterback in league history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. There's a good chance he'll put up similar numbers this season.
Whether the Packers made the right decision to cut ties with Favre is something that's still debated. Favre did beat his old team twice last season and he almost led the Vikings to the Super Bowl.
What's inarguable is that the Packers have a player who has evolved into the leader of the next generation of young quarterbacking talents. His mechanics, accuracy and ability to throw on the run put Rodgers ahead of most throwers in football not named Manning, Brady or Brees.
The evolution of Rodgers from a more quiet young kid unwittingly thrust into Favre-a-palooza to the confident leader he is now remains one of the least discussed but most important stories in the NFL.
The 2010 Rodgers describes the 2008 Rodgers this way: "Leadership isn't forced and when I became the quarterback in 2008 I felt like I wasn't one of the leaders of this team yet. I kept quiet in meetings. I didn't really speak to the team much even though I was the quarterback. I wasn't going to force it.
"In 2009 things changed. I proved myself, so I became more of an influence in the locker room. Coaches started asking me for my opinion and so did players. I started speaking up more. I'm a leader on the team now but it took two solid years."
"He's really earned it," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think what really helped him was guys saw how poised he was during all the Favre stuff and their respect for him grew tenfold. Then when he got on the field he played his butt off. That didn't hurt."
Now, surrounded by weapons on offense, a better offensive line, and helped by a defense that should be much improved over last season, the Packers are a definite Super Bowl contender.
The Favre questions will still be there especially if the unlikely happens and Favre reaches the Super Bowl. But a more mature and confident Rodgers will be ready for them. Right now he seems ready for anything.
"I don't think I can be surprised by anything at this point in my career," he said.
GREEN BAY -- Aaron Rodgers sits at his locker and is told the name "Brett Favre" will only be mentioned a few times, per presidential decree. Rodgers smiles and, as always when it comes to the Brettster, he is patient.
In fact, that word describes Rodgers well. He patiently sat behind Favre for years before getting his chance. Never complaining or demanding a trade, which makes him rare in today's sports world. He patiently waited for His Brettness to retire and unretire. Several times.
When Favre went through the summer 2008 drama that eventually ended with him first playing in New York and then Minnesota last season, Rodgers patiently sat through Favre-related questions as the Favre soap opera officially traversed into All My Children overdrive. How is this affecting you? Is Favre being selfish? Don't Favre's actions make you mad?
Rodgers didn't do what many athletes would in those moments and tell the world to shut the hell up. Or lash out at Favre. Or throw something. Or punch someone. Instead, he patiently answered and answered and answered some more. When Packers fans questioned if Rodgers was ready once Favre was gone, Rodgers didn't take offense. He took snaps and kept quiet.
And trust this: The rest of the league noticed. From NFL locker rooms to the league offices in New York there was a great deal of admiration for how well Rodgers handled the Favre craziness. There still is.
When Favre unretired again this week, Rodgers patiently waited for the Favre questions he knew would come and patiently answered them. And now, yet again, he is being asked about Favre. And now, yet again, he answers free of attitude or bitterness.
"It was a tough time, I'll say that," Rodgers explained. "I wasn't going to bash Brett publicly because that's not me, but I wasn't happy with some of the things going on. That's all I'll say on that.
"I wasn't going to change who I was. I didn't want to step out of character no matter how frustrated or angry I got. I just stuck to football and by doing that it allowed me to keep my composure. But I'm not saying it was easy."
It was that philosophy -- along with his talent -- which allowed Packers fans to slowly move beyond Favre and fully embrace Rodgers.
Now, many other words are being used to describe Rodgers: leader, uber-talented, and the next future star. Last year he became the first quarterback in league history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. There's a good chance he'll put up similar numbers this season.
Whether the Packers made the right decision to cut ties with Favre is something that's still debated. Favre did beat his old team twice last season and he almost led the Vikings to the Super Bowl.
What's inarguable is that the Packers have a player who has evolved into the leader of the next generation of young quarterbacking talents. His mechanics, accuracy and ability to throw on the run put Rodgers ahead of most throwers in football not named Manning, Brady or Brees.
The evolution of Rodgers from a more quiet young kid unwittingly thrust into Favre-a-palooza to the confident leader he is now remains one of the least discussed but most important stories in the NFL.
The 2010 Rodgers describes the 2008 Rodgers this way: "Leadership isn't forced and when I became the quarterback in 2008 I felt like I wasn't one of the leaders of this team yet. I kept quiet in meetings. I didn't really speak to the team much even though I was the quarterback. I wasn't going to force it.
"In 2009 things changed. I proved myself, so I became more of an influence in the locker room. Coaches started asking me for my opinion and so did players. I started speaking up more. I'm a leader on the team now but it took two solid years."
"He's really earned it," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think what really helped him was guys saw how poised he was during all the Favre stuff and their respect for him grew tenfold. Then when he got on the field he played his butt off. That didn't hurt."
Now, surrounded by weapons on offense, a better offensive line, and helped by a defense that should be much improved over last season, the Packers are a definite Super Bowl contender.
The Favre questions will still be there especially if the unlikely happens and Favre reaches the Super Bowl. But a more mature and confident Rodgers will be ready for them. Right now he seems ready for anything.
"I don't think I can be surprised by anything at this point in my career," he said.
