Aaron Rodgers: Swagga Up!

My nephew Steve is a Bears fan. Don’t Judge, it’s happening in families all over America these days, and there doesn’t seem to be a cure. In any case, being a typical Bear’s fan I take most of his criticism about the Pack, with a grain of salt. His current bone of contention is Aaron Rodger’s cockiness. He thinks Aaron has grown too big for his britches.

He sights Aaron’s brash nature with the media. Telling them off after the 42 point offensive "ownage" of the 2011 season opener versus the Saints. Remember? Strike shortened season... coming off the Super Bowl win... Saints got together under Drew Brees to practice on their own... Packers didn’t and still won.? Aaron said this at the presser afterward, "But I've got to ask myself, 'What could've happened if we had offseason workouts? Could we have started out any faster and scored more points than that?"

I in turn argue that, "Number one, he has every right to be Cocky! Besides... It aint braggin’ if you can do it. And number two, I kinda like a little swagga in my QB."

Allow me to elaborate on point one of my hypophysis.

"All that and a Bag of Chips"
The Aaron Rodgers Story

The Early Years
His last two years of High School, Aaron Charles Rodgers started at quarterback, passing for 4,421 yards. He set records for passing his senior year (2,446) and touchdowns in a game (6). Oh... and he scored 1300, 1310 and 1400 on his SAT’s. Thank you Wikipedia. Even with those gaudy numbers, no Division I school wanted him. In a 2011 interview he attributed the relative lack of interest to the recruiting process and the fact that he was only 5'10" and 175 lbs. But you can't keep a man like Aaron Rodgers down. He was recruited to play at Butte Community College. A Juco in his very own backyard. I guess Aaron enjoyed the home cooking so much that he went and got bigger, he's listed at 6'2" and 220 now. Rodgers threw 26 touchdowns in his freshman season, leading Butte to a 10–1 record, the NorCal Conference championship, and a No. 2 national ranking. Jeff Tedford from Cal, watched Aaron play and immediately recruited him for the Bears.... the Cal Golden Bears that is. The rest, as they say, is history. Aaron went on to a stellar college career and his future looked bright in the NFL.


The Draft
As all us Packer fans are aware, Aaron and Alex Smith were considered 1 and 1a on the Mel Kiper 2005 NFL Draft Big Board. Ironically, the 49ers had the first pick and the Packers current head coach, Mike McCarthy, was the 'niners O Coordinator. He had his choice and he chose Alex Smith. Aaron was considered "not athletic enough". Because the teams that followed did not need a QB, Aaron fell to the Packers with the 24th pick. We all recall, because they remind us every year, how Aaron had to agonizingly wait in front of a national TV crowd, to hear his name called. But again.... you can't keep a good man like Aaron down. He willing joined the Packers and full filled his baseball cap wearing, clip board holding, back-up quarterback position behind Brett Favre. A place that was considered the graveyard of back-up quarterbacks. Just ask Matt Hassellbeck, Ty Detmer, Mark Brunell, Kurt Warner, etc.


Favre's Understudy
Aaron took the job of "Legend Backer-upper" very seriously. Studying at the cleats of the master who, was quite unwilling to mentor the rookie upstart. Heck, Brett was pissed about the Pack drafting a QB and he didn't mind expressing it. Brett Favre was iron man long before Robert Downey, Jr. made it cool and Aaron seemed destined to go by the "Favre back-up" wayside. He only got two chances to play (when Favre got hurt during the game) and got injured both times. The one time he played however, a loss to the Cowboys in the playoffs, Aaron excelled for the half he did play. I'm convinced that it was this showing in that game that gave the Pack's coaching staff the confidence to go with A-Rod when Favre finally retired. The first time.


Favre's Retirement.... sort of
When Brett tearfully retired, the Packers handed the starting QB keys to Aaron. But then Brett had second thoughts. Then thrid thoughts. He wanted to un-retire and come back to the Packers.... or possibly play for the Vikings. In any case, the Pack had moved on and Favre was left without a team. Even his hoping a jet to Green Bay was designed to put heat on the organization and to make things even worse on Aaron during mini-camp. The boo bird Favre sycophants were more than happy to let their voices be heard. It seamed the organization had its very own Red State/Blue State situation on their hands. So they traded the future Hall of Famer to the Jets and Aaron went on to to start his own future HOF resume.


Super Bowl MVP... 'nuff said!
Of course we all remember the Super Bowl run of 2010. Early in the run, Aaron was redunkulous versus the much favored Falcons and he earned the MVP honors of the Super Bowl versus the Steelers. And by the way.... living in Central Pennsylvania like I do, I can assure you that Steeler tears are the best! With the MVP comes the car and the Disney trip and Aaron was crowned King of Quarterbacks by Trent Dilfer. In 2011 Aaron led the Packer's to a 15-1 record and last year he was named the NFL's best player in the top 100 countdown.


Aaron has earned the right to his cockiness
He was always told he wasn't good enough and his whole life he's had to prove his critics wrong. So when you read a story about Aaron being brash... like when he said "Greg who?" when asked about Jennings departure to Minnesota this off season, remember... It aint bragging if you can do it... and Aaron Charles Rodgers has proved he can do it!