| Michael J. Jones. 28th May, 2008 - 5:59 pm
 As soon as Brett Favre retired, it was clear who would be the next quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. However, the question in everyone’s mind is whether or not he will be able to take over a team and a city that has been Favre’s for so long. Well, the answer to that question is mere sentences away.
Since the Favre retirement topic and the thoughts of him returning to the game have slowly died down, the focus is now on Aaron Rodgers. Even with the Packers drafting Brian Brohm, it is still clear that this is Rodgers’ team for now. General manager Ted Thompson said it himself, “Aaron’s the guy. He’ll be fine. He knows this is his job.”
Now that this is Rodgers’ team for at least the 2008 season, other questions have sprouted up like weeds. One of those is how good can Rodgers be and how far can he take the Packers?
Rodgers will be hard-pressed to take the Packers to another 13-3 season. However, just like Favre in 2007, he won’t have to do it alone. He has Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, who combined for 14 TD's and close to 2,000 yards receiving, coming back at wide receiver. He also has tight end Donald Lee, who caught 6 TDs in 2007 and won’t have to share tight end duties with Bubba Franks this season. Finally, there’s Ryan Grant in the backfield, who gained 956 yards and scored 8 TD's, and a young defense that should still be as good as last year.
Packers' Coach Mike McCarthy also seems to believe that Rodgers can hold his own, telling the Chicago Tribune, “I understand the importance of the quarterback position in the NFL," he said. "But it's what's around him too. Do we have the ability to make that quarterback successful? I think we have the talent. We have a good solid team in all three phases to help the quarterback be successful."
Even with the help of his supporting cast, another question in his critics' minds is whether or not Green Bay fans and players will embrace and support Rodgers. He has the hard task of replacing a legendary figure in Favre, and many people aren’t ready to let go of the fact that he is no longer on the active roster. However, support starts in the home, and he clearly has plenty in his family and hometown of Chico, California.
ESPN.com reported that Rodgers has an amazing support system in his hometown. Everyone knows what Rodgers can do and is excited about the opportunity that he now has to show the rest of the country. Rodgers told ESPN, “It's always good to know you have people's support. I know I have people behind me here.” His father backed this statement when he told ESPN, “I have looked at Packers' chat rooms, and I think about 70 percent of the comments are that the fans love Brett. But he has decided to leave, and it's now Aaron's turn. I think there is support for him in Green Bay."
As for the Green Bay players, Driver has been heard saying that Rodgers is the man now. The new quarterback of the team has also received support from his teammates through text messages leading him to believe that he has the support of the locker room. He has even reached out to rookie quarterbacks Brohm and Matt Flynn and offered to help them if needed. It sure sounds as though Rodgers is on the right path to become the leader of this team.
Despite playing in only seven games in his three-year-career and the fact that there are doubts as to whether he can hold up physically, there is no question that Green Bay fans, players, and coaches all know that it’s Aaron’s time now.
Rodgers realizes that the ball is now in his hands. “If I play well, everything’s going to take care of itself. If I don’t, either Brian or somebody else will be replacing me. I’ll know before anybody else.”
On Sept. 8, after they retire his jersey, the Favre era will officially be over in front of the thousands of fans in attendance and the millions of football fans watching Monday Night Football that night. For Rodgers, things can either go bad or good, depending on how he performs in front of the nation. But until then it’s Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood, team and fate.
And for his sake, let’s hope he experiences nothing but beautiful days. |
