Aaron Rodgers has the unenviable task of replacing Brett Favre as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. And you know what? He can do it.
In week 13 last year, the 10-1 Packers went to Dallas to take on the 10-1 Cowboys in one of the most hyped games of the year. Favre left with an elbow and shoulder injury in the second quarter, and in came Rodgers. On the road against the best team in the NFC at the time, Rodgers went 18-26 for 201 yards and a touchdown. That was in just over a half, mind you. Even though the Packers lost, Rodgers gained confidence and flashed the ability to play at the highest level.
Rodgers has been Favre's understudy in Green Bay since he was drafted in 2005. He's had 3 seasons to stand on the sidelines and watch one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Three seasons to watch Favre in practice, see the way he interacts with teammates and coaches, sit with him in the film room, and witness his preparation week-in and week-out. That has to be worth something.
And it's not like he's taking over a bad team. The Packers have plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Rodgers already knows Mike McCarthy's West Coast offense, now all he has to do is execute and trust the weapons around him--like running back Ryan Grant--to make plays. Wide receivers Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Koren Robinson make up one of the best receiving corps in the NFL. Rodgers is money, baby! He's so money and he doesn't even know it.
Cheeseheads need to be patient and let this guy develop, unless they'd like to go on a never-ending search for a quarterback to replace the legend (cough, Miami!). Rodgers can't be Brett Favre, but with a little experience, he can be a winner in Green Bay.
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