Rodgers Gives Packers Fans Hope For Future
Yesterday's Cardinals-Packers match-up was a duel between two of the NFL's best quarterbacks, albeit at the opposite ends of their career. Kurt Warner is in the process of putting the finishing touches on what should now be considered without a doubt a Hall of Fame career. He already has a Super Bowl ring and if yesterday was any indication, he could be well be on his way to another.
As great as Warner was yesterday and it was one of the great postseason performance of all time, I was just as impressed with Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, making his first career playoff start, threw an interception on his first pass. He finished the first quarter with a total of two yards. Trailing 31-10 midway through the third quarter the game looked like it was beyond the reach of any comeback attempt the Packers could mount.
After looking like a deer in the headlights until that point, Rodgers led an inspired comeback, tying the game at 45 and just missing what would have been a game-winning strike on the first play from scrimmage in overtime. Two plays later Rodgers was hit, fumbled the ball and the Cardinals' Karlos Dansby caught the ball off a bounce and ran it in to win the game for the Cardinals.
Rodgers made mistakes in the game no doubt, but when you finish the game 28/42 for 422 yards, 4 TD and 1 INT in your first career playoff start, it's hard to call it a failure.
Rodgers showed poise, got out of the pocket when he felt pressure to give himself extra time and his receivers opportunities to get open and make plays. More than anything Rodgers inspired confidence among his teammates with his play when the game looked finished and was the catalyst for the Packers in their "close but no cigar" comeback bid.
The hardest thing in sports is replacing a franchise quarterback. I have to look no further than the Bills who haven't been able to find a replacement for Hall of Famer Jim Kelly since his retirement in 1996. Since then the franchise has been mired in mediocrity. With Green Bay letting Brett Favre go two seasons ago and pinning their hopes for the future on Rodgers there was the possibility for a similar decline in their fortunes.
Whatever doubts that remained about Rodgers as a quarterback or a leader after two impressive years behind center, Packers fans can breathe easier after Rodgers' impressive performance yesterday. With Rodgers behind center for the next decade, Green Bay has ensured itself of being a constant threat in the NFC.
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I dont think there is much of a question...
He’s the real deal and Alex Smith is not – well played Niners.
Well...
I will say that if you wanted to show the “right” way to develop a qb that you would point to aaron rodgers and if you wanted to show the “wrong” way you’d point to Smith.
I still want to see alex get more than 1 year with the same Offensive coordinator in the same system
PSTIM1
Master of Everything
Yeah. I gotta say I feel bad for Alex considering how much change he’s been put through. I remember he showed strides in his second season under center and then they abruptly changed offensive coordinators. Let’s also not forget that Mike McCarthy dude that’s coaching Green Bay was Alex’s OC his rookie season and has done a fantastic job with Rodgers. While Alex clearly deserves some blame for his current standing I think the carousel that has been the Niners’ offensive coordinator position is also partly to blame.
Yes of course – Alex Smith got the worst possible situation to start in the league and Rodgers got the best possible scenario (except for that whole Favre staying/going situation) – but just looking at the two guys standing next to each other and I’d take Rodgers everytime… As someone once said “Alex Smith is a born loser – look at him!”
well he sure hasnt proven himself to be a winner...
but i dont want to write him off just yet. I think we are in a lose lose with Sing as our coach because he has shown himself to be a poor head coach in terms of preparedness and communication (we called a timeout before the first play of a game this year).
PSTIM1
Master of Everything

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