Packers Now Turn to A. Rodgers
During the Green Bay Packers' news conference Tuesday, General Manager Ted Thompson and Coach Mike McCarthy declined to answer questions about whether the club would try to add a veteran quarterback to go with Aaron Rodgers now that Brett Favre has told team officials he's retiring.
It would make sense as an insurance policy, given that Rodgers played little during his apprenticeship backing up the most durable quarterback in NFL history. But the Packers seem to feel good about their prospects for remaining a top contender in the NFC with Rodgers taking over as the starter.
The former first-round draft choice played well in a relief appearance this past season at Dallas after Favre was knocked from the game with injuries to his right elbow and left shoulder. Favre had gotten off to a bad start in that game, but Rodgers came in and settled down the Packers. They didn't win, but they remained competitive on the road with a tough opponent minus Favre. That's a promising sign as Rodgers now prepares to take over and the Packers begin planning for next season, when they'll try to duplicate their surprising success of this past season.
McCarthy said he spoke briefly with Rodgers early Tuesday to inform the young quarterback of Favre's decision. Rodgers took the news in stride, McCarthy said, and asked mostly about Favre and how the legendary quarterback was doing. It's never easy to succeed a player of Favre's stature, but Rodgers at least has been around readying for the assignment. Thompson and McCarthy have built a good team around their new quarterback, and the Packers even began to develop a running game in the latter stages of this past season. That could help Rodgers, for it would be asking a lot of a young quarterback if the club has to rely on the passing game as much as it did at times this past season.
By Mark Maske |
March 5, 2008; 11:20 AM ET
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Packers
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Posted by: Jason Campbell | March 5, 2008 2:04 PM
I was spotted groping other men at a Green Bay-area bowling alley
Posted by: Aaron Rodgers | March 5, 2008 5:43 PM
Aaron Rodgers can play. I went to every home game while at Cal, and was always amazed with the poise and accuracy he possesses. It's probably safe to assume that there will be a drop-off at the QB position, but I don't think it will be as dramatic as many people expect.
Posted by: Steven Storage | March 6, 2008 6:59 PM
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Why didn't the Packers draft me instead??? Favre lives just down the street from my family! Now I'm stuck learning the WCO and Rodgers has a better shot at the title than me AND Alex Smith this year.