Green Bay is Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood now

by Alex Marvez

Updated: June 18, 2008, 8:45 PM EST 176 comments

Green Bay's starting quarterback was enjoying himself so much that at times it felt like Brett Favre was still under center. But the only No. 4 jerseys were being worn by two defensive backs during a passing drill and some of the fans crowded inside the Hutson Center.

Favre is retired. This is Aaron Rodgers' team now. And it shows by his enthusiastic approach.

"That's kind of my personality," Rodgers said afterward. "I know I'm blessed to be able to play this game. It's a kid's game. I just try to keep that attitude and perspective."

Sound familiar? Even into his late 30s, Favre's pep was his trademark en route to becoming the NFL's all-time passing leader.

Rodgers learned plenty of other lessons while spending three seasons as Favre's understudy. He also became fully aware of the immense pressure that awaited once Favre ended his 16-year career in March.

"Everything will be compared to Brett," Packers general manager Ted Thompson acknowledges. "If Aaron has a great game opening night and throws four touchdown passes, there will be some who will write that Brett would have thrown five."

Rather than bristle, Rodgers has embraced his circumstance.

"If I'm mentioned in the same sentence as him, that's an honor," Rodgers says. "His legacy is the legacy of the Packers. I hope to continue that legacy."

The Packers are giving Rodgers every chance to do so. The team didn't acquire a veteran this off-season to backup Rodgers or even push him for a starting spot. Instead, Green Bay drafted two quarterbacks in Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn.

The approach is considered a major risk by a talent-rich franchise that fell just short of reaching Super Bowl XLII in Favre's final game, losing to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game.

"You can never really do my job worrying about what the pundits or fans might say," Thompson said. "Before, the criticism was we had Brett Favre but didn't have a good enough team. Now, we have a good enough team but don't have Brett Favre. It's always something."

"If I'm mentioned in the same sentence as (Brett Favre), that's an honor," says Aaron Rodgers. (Matt Ludtke / Associated Press)

Thompson then laughed, which is Rodgers' same reaction when discussing how much life has changed since Favre's retirement. On and off the field, Rodgers already is facing even heavier scrutiny than when television cameras captured his torturous draft-day slide in 2005.

Start with his recent haircut. Trimming his longish locks previously would have received scant notice. Now, Rodgers had to answer media questions about whether the buzz stemmed from his new leadership role.

"Absolutely not," a bemused Rodgers said. The reason, Rodgers explained, was because his hair began requiring "too much maintenance" and because he was attending a wedding.

Not his own, either. A local television station erroneously reported last weekend that he had gotten married, causing Rodgers to get deluged with telephone calls and text messages from shocked friends asking why they weren't invited.

"They're trying to kill my game in Green Bay," a smiling Rodgers said. "I love the media and I know they do their job well 99 percent of the time. It's fun being in the public eye and I know it's a responsibility. I'm just going to try and keep it positive."

That shouldn't be a problem — provided Rodgers' performance last November against Dallas was an accurate gauge of his talent.

Playing behind a quarterback with an NFL-record 275 starts (including the playoffs) provided Rodgers scant opportunities to play. But when Favre suffered a second-quarter elbow injury, Rodgers almost led a Packers comeback. He was 20-for-28 passing and showcased an element missing in Favre's later years by rushing seven times for 29 yards.

"Aaron helped himself a lot in that game, not only for his own confidence but everybody else's," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "The players practice against him every day, so they all think he can play. But for the Packer Nation, everyone is saying, 'This guy has a chance.'"

Rodgers might not have fared so well were he forced to play earlier. Rodgers initially wasn't a stickler in the team's off-season conditioning program, which may have led to some previous injuries, and had a passing release point that needed adjusting.

Rodgers also had to show inside the locker room that he was worthy of being Favre's successor. To help the process, Rodgers has invited teammates and their significant others to three catered dinners at his house this off-season. Among the featured entrees were seafood and "fried chicken and everything we have down South" for what tight end Donald Lee called "soul-food night."

"It's important to be a connected team," said the 24-year-old Rodgers, who was more in tune with younger Packers than Favre in later seasons.

"Look at the teams that have made good runs the past couple of years. They've all maybe not been the most talented team. On paper last year, the Patriots are probably more talented but the Giants had a lot of veteran leadership and seemed a real tight-knit group.

"I just want us as a group to be very united off the field and get to know each other a little better so we can connect better when we're on the field."

The bonding will continue Wednesday night with a desert menu following what should be another spirited Rodgers-led practice.

"He's a fired-up guy," Lee said. "That's one thing you've got to love about him. He's always smiling out there. Even when we're in blitz period and the bullets are flying, he's always got jokes.

"Everybody was sad because Brett left. Brett's a nice guy and our leader while he was here, but Brett's gone now. It's Aaron Rodgers' time."