Aaron Rodgers has shed Brett Favre’s shadow. Now it’s on to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
The Green Bay Packers passer joined the Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks club on Sunday. Rodgers helped Green Bay jump to a 21-3 lead, then put away the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final minutes with his third touchdown pass of the 31-25 victory.
Rodgers was a maestro, rarely showing nerves while fulfilling everything the Packers envisioned when they let Favre depart in 2008. Rodgers no longer worries about Favre’s legacy, just as Steve Young replaced Joe Montana in San Francisco with his own Super Bowl ring.
“That’s been my career here,” Rodgers said, “waiting for an opportunity and make the most of it.”
Rodgers, 27, is the NFL’s next superstar. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has two rings, but Rodgers clearly outdueled his Pittsburgh counterpart. Drew Brees was last year’s version of Rodgers but saddled with a less-talented team in New Orleans that makes it harder to gain elite status. The last of Brady’s three titles was six years ago. Manning is 9-10 in the postseason with just one ring.
Now with a Super Bowl MVP award, too, Rodgers is eager for more.
“I’m always looking for challenges,” he said. “The challenge now goes to repeating. … Let’s go get another one.”
Green Bay is certainly primed for a long run. The Packers have a young roster with only safety uncertain for next season. Comparatively, the New York Jets have 17 free agents.
“I feel like we’re reloading,” Rodgers said. “The core, the nucleus of this team is intact to make runs like this the next four or five years.”
Said Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy: “Success is the hardest part of this business. I haven’t given much thought to the offseason yet. It’s a great core group. Winning definitely helps it. I’ll be excited to start coaching when it comes around.”
But Rodgers is the centerpiece three years after emerging from behind Favre. The Packers willingly let the future Hall of Famer depart to move onto Rodgers. The latter hasn’t disappointed. Indeed, McCarthy entrusted Rodgers as his offensive linchpin in the Super Bowl.
“The gameplan was all on Rodgers,” McCarthy said. “We were going to put the ball in Aaron’s hands. He’s been so consistent throughout the season, even more so in the playoffs.”
Rogers’ upside is staggering. He has 86 touchdowns vs. 31 interceptions during his three years starting. The passer ratings were 93.8, 103.2 and 101.2. Those aren’t just stats but the resume of the next great Packers passer. Green Bay fans will skip Favre comparisons and go straight to Bart Starr.
“All his best football is in front of him,” McCarthy said.
Soon, Brady, Manning and Roethlisberger may be as forgotten as Favre.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
