February 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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As the Packers' quarterback in Super Bowl XLV, Aaron Rodgers' performance earned him the most valuable player award. As a guest analyst for NBC in Super Bowl XLVI, Rogers proved he could talk as good a game as he can play one. Rodgers and Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward served as guest commentators on the network's pre-game show on Sunday, joining "Football Night in America" regulars - host Bob Costas, co-host Dan Patrick and analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison. The night before, Rodgers picked up his award as the league's most valuable player. He had a productive weekend, to say the least."
February 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Michael Hunt
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From the midpoint of the 2011 NFL season, Aaron Rodgers was going to be the league's MVP. It was almost as if it were preordained. No one else was going to be close. Rodgers was doing everything to justify a runaway vote. He was having one of the greatest quarterbacking seasons in the history of the game. His numbers looked like misprints. Joe Theismann was calling him the most accurate thrower the NFL had ever seen. On a lower plane, debates were being held if Rodgers was the best quarterback the Packers had ever had. Clearly, he was the most athletically gifted, even if he had not accomplished all the things Brett Favre had done in a lengthy Green Bay career."
February 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was thrilled to win his first Most Valuable Player award, but he said it will take time to think about this season postively because of the way it ended. Rodgers, who garnered 47 1/2 votes to Drew Brees' 2 1/2 said he'll probably think about the playoff loss to the New York Giants more than the MVP award for awhile. "Unfortunately I have this memory where I'll often focus on the negatives first," Rodgers said in a hallway underneath the Murat Theatre where he received the award.. "I think i'll probably think about the missed opportunities in the playoff game against the Giants first."
February 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The not-so-subtle dig sifted through his acceptance speech with tight-spiral precision. In front of about 2,500 people at the Murat Theatre, Aaron Rodgers smirked and "thanked" the San Francisco 49ers for drafting him. No, that career-defining chip on Rodgers' shoulder isn't going anywhere. "This is special, this is important to me," Rodgers said Saturday night. "It's a staple of consistency. It means you played consistently well. And it took a lot of preparation and hard work to be nominated, and to be recognized is a special thing for me." He'd rather be elsewhere. Like, say, a couple miles away preparing for Super Bowl XLVI at the downtown Marriott. But this isn't a bad consolation"
January 31
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the most marketable player in the NFL, according to an exclusive survey of sports business execs, analysts and media personalities conducted by SportsBusiness Daily. The Super Bowl XLV MVP edged out Patriots QB Tom Brady, with three other QBs - the Colts' Peyton Manning, the Saints' Drew Brees and the Broncos' Tim Tebow - rounding out the top five. Rodgers was named on 41 of 50 ballots, five more than either Brady or Manning. However, Brady did receive 15 first-place votes compared to 12 for Rodgers."
January 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Mike Berardino
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That wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement Dan Marino gave Matt Flynn this week. Asked about Flynn, who just finished his fourth season as a backup quarterback for the Packers, the Greatest Dolphin of All-Time sounded lukewarm about his former team making a run at the likely free agent. "Some guys are just — I don't want to say it in a negative light — but sometimes there's a reason why guys are backups, you know?" Marino said during his weekly WQAM appearance. "I'm not saying he can't come in here and be a terrific player. Maybe he can be. But he didn't play somewhere the whole time.""
January 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Matt Flynn to the Miami Dolphins? Aaron Rodgers thinks it's a "strong possibility." In fact, Rodgers on Wednesday told a Milwaukee radio station he sees the Dolphins and the Seattle Seahawks as the "two top dogs" in the race for the talented backup, expected to become an unrestricted free agent in March. This is based on a conversation with Flynn "in the last few days," Rodgers said of his backup quarterback in Green Bay the past four years. "I think it's a strong possibility that [the Dolphins] would make a run at him," Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on ESPN Milwaukee. "I think it kind of makes sense. Joe [Philbin] in that system, which I'm sure is going to be very similar to"
January 16
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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It was a great storyline to look forward to: the Aaron Rodgers vs. Alex Smith matchup in the NFC Championship Game next week. It was hard to believe: After playing great all season, Rodgers lost his first playoff game played in Lambeau Field. It was surreal to watch: Rodgers running for his life when all of his favorite options, the talented receivers and tight ends, seemed covered. It just was not meant to be. Rodgers, who ranks No. 1 in NFL history with a 104.1 career passer rating, could only accept a handshake from team president Mark Murphy in the locker room after the game, nod his head in disappointment and cast his gaze downward."
January 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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This was supposed to be fun and games. A chance to give back. A chance to relax. On a 2008 off-season visit to an Alaska military base, Aaron Rodgers and other Green Bay Packers players stopped at a basketball gym on the base. Inside were a group of kids. Former teammate Ruvell Martin estimates they were 15, maybe 16 years old. The players asked if they could shoot around. The kids obliged. Hilarity ensued. Down low, Rodgers went up for a shot, and one of those 15-year-olds swatted it away. The quarterback got his own rebound, pump-faked and rose again."
January 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Michael Hunt
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The last time the New York Giants came to Lambeau Field was, coincidentally, the last time the Packers had a home playoff game. It would also be the last game Brett Favre would play for the Packers. The primary question for the 2007 NFC Championship Game was pretty much the same question that dominates your garden-variety tackle-ball event: Which quarterback would you rather have? In that instance, it was Favre or Eli Manning. Favre was still Favre, having led the Packers to 13 regular-season victories. But right before the playoffs in a game at Chicago, Favre, at age 37, showed for the first time in a Hall of Fame career he could no longer play to his standards in the bitter cold."
January 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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From his lofty perch seven floors above Lambeau Field, Joe Philbin can see it coming. Blitzing linebackers. Corners off the edge. Safeties coming up the gut. More importantly, Aaron Rodgers almost always sees what Philbin - his offensive coordinator - has observed. And that's bad news for opponents. Of all the things Rodgers does well, his ability to shred blitzing defenses might be second to none. Rodgers finished the regular season with a league-best 131.4 passer rating against the blitz. New England's Tom Brady was second at 110.9. "Love it. Love it, as long as we execute," Philbin said of facing the blitz. "We do devote a lot of practice time to it, and you hope things pay dividends."
January 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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In his peripheral vision, Aaron Rodgers spotted a legend. It was Fan Fest 2006 at Lambeau Field. Bart Starr closed in and Rodgers' heart raced. "Wow, that's Bart Starr," Rodgers remembers telling himself. "I got a little nervous. Just the fact that he was so gracious and so humble struck me right away. The friendship was built from there." Said Starr, "You meet him and you like him immediately. That's the kind of impact he'll have on you, the imprint he'll have on you." Past met present and the two Green Bay Packers quarterbacks forged a relationship that has endured. A lot has changed since that meeting. Rodgers took over for Brett Favre, led Green Bay to a Super Bowl triumph and - this"
January 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Bob McGinn
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As the finished product, Aaron Rodgers has played quarterback better than anyone else in the National Football League for the last year and a half. Those who have watched Rodgers on a regular basis simply have grown accustomed to a standard of excellence that is at the forefront of the Green Bay Packers' drive to a second straight championship. Pro football is all about the quarterback, and the Packers are all about Rodgers. At 28, Rodgers is at the peak of his physical powers. He is the complete quarterback. He has no discernible weakness. For Rodgers to be in this place, on the cusp of becoming the NFL's most valuable player, when it is remembered where he was earlier in his career is"
January 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Aaron Rodgers' "Discount Double Check" TV commercial for State Farm Insurance has proved popular enough to earn a sequel that's likely to begin airing this weekend. The relationship with State Farm is one in a string of endorsements by the Packers quarterback, who also has deals with Ford, Nike, Associated Bank and, more recently, Prevea Health. Rodgers also has been involved with the MACC Fund and has done a series of low-key informational ads with personal injury lawyer David Gruber. State Farm began discussions with Rodgers' agent, H Koal, a little more than a year ago."
January 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Before this National Football League season started, the ESPN Stats & Information group introduced a new metric to measure effective quarterback play, something it called "Total Quarterback Rating" or Total QBR. It considers this metric a more comprehensive measure of quarterback play than the passer rating system that has been used for years. We have noticed that the Total QBR metric, as a football innovation, has not been as warmly and universally embraced as, say, the virtual first-down line in game telecasts. Perhaps it will at some point gain common use in football lexicon."
January 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Tom Silverstein
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As one of the 50 reporters and broadcasters who submitted his ballot by noon Tuesday for The Associated Press NFL coach of the year and player awards, I take my job very seriously. I like to do as much research as possible, including talking to NFL personnel people, before filling out my all-pro team and the awards that go with it. The one vote I don't usually seek guidance on is most valuable player. That's because the candidates are always going to be guys whose statistics speak volumes and whose games I'm able to catch on television because of their stature. There's a lot to consider, but sometimes it comes down to a gut feeling. This year, I took Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron"
January 2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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It wouldn't be quite accurate to say that Aaron Rodgers was in Matt Flynn's ear all day long Sunday, but it wouldn't be far off. Flynn and his receivers deserve all the credit for a performance that set Green Bay Packers records for most passing yards (480) and most touchdowns (six) by a quarterback in a single game. Starting in place of Rodgers, who was given the day off, Flynn was brilliant in the Packers' 45-41 season-ending victory over the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. But behind the scenes, Rodgers was on the headset calling plays for Flynn every time coach Mike McCarthy called for a no-huddle offense. "I think Matt just kind of wanted Aaron there to help out a little bit through"
January 1
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The record Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on the cusp of setting hasn't received the same amount of attention as the single-season passing yards or touchdown marks. But if Rodgers sets the NFL record for highest passer rating in a season, it would put him in the exalted company of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Steve Young and Joe Montana, holders of the top four ratings in history. It certainly would be confirmation that his 2011 season was one of the best ever for an NFL quarterback. "A second Super Bowl would be pretty important," Rodgers said last week when asked how important it would be to him to set the mark. "I wasn't really aware of that until (it was mentioned) just"
December 31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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If Aaron Rodgers does, in fact, take the field Sunday for the Green Bay Packers, it isn't expected to be for long. Although one of Rodgers' teammates said the quarterback obviously wasn't going to play, coach Mike McCarthy ducked the question if Rodgers would start against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. McCarthy met reporters at 12:40 p.m. Friday, about 20 minutes before his weekly "game management" meeting with staff. "The most important thing with Aaron is he's ready to play," said McCarthy. "Whether he starts, we'll talk about that today. We repped all three of them this week, so I'd like to see all three play in the game. (That) was the initial plan as we started the week." The"
December 28
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Last year, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was left off the NFC Pro Bowl team and then made those who ignored him realize their mistake by lighting up the opposition in the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl XLV most valuable player award. This year? Voters didn't have any choice but to make him the NFC starter given his record pace toward the all-time record for single-season passer rating. That and the 14-1 record the Packers have forged in their follow-up to a title made him a difficult guy to vote against."
December 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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His 20-15 vision should last until his 40s, at least. His pinpoint accuracy is his calling card. His fastball and arm strength could hold up into his 30s as long as he doesn't get seriously injured. His judgment will always be exceptional. There's no reason to think Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who turned 28 years old on Dec. 2, cannot continue to play at this elite level for years to come. But there is another aspect to appreciate in his game right now, something that makes Rodgers one of the most dynamic players in the NFL and is a big part of Rodgers' overall success as a quarterback."
December 19
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Aaron Rodgers admitted he "looked forward to the talk of being 16-0." But that's just the sideshow part of the NFL. "Our goal is to win the Super Bowl," the Green Bay quarterback said Sunday after the 19-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Packers' first setback following 19 consecutive victories stretching to last season. "The Super Bowl is the goal," Rodgers said. "Sixteen-and-0 is three games from the ultimate goal." Still, he admitted he would like to finish the regular season 15-1 with victories against division rivals Chicago and Detroit. The Packers probably won't need them to clinch their next goal, which would be home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but Rodgers wants"
December 14
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who does a weekly radio program on 540 ESPN, reacted strongly to the news of a positive drug test by his close friend, Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder and National League MVP Ryan Braun. Here is an excerpt of the exchange with ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde. On his reaction to the Braun news: "I thought, first of all, it was inappropriate that the second question in my football postgame press conference was about Ryan. That's why I didn't want to answer it in that context, I thought it was highly inappropriate. Ryan and I are good buddies, probably my best athlete friend, and we keep in touch obviously throughout the year. I spend a lot of time"
December 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Aaron Rodgers said he "halfway expected" Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy to call a draw on the first play of the final drive that won a 38-35 thriller Sunday for the 12-0 Packers. Really? Instead, with 58 seconds to go against the New York Giants, it was pedal-to-the-metal for McCarthy when he knows he's playing with the best quarterback in the game. "He called the play and said, 'Let's go,'?" Rodgers said. "In the huddle there was a lot of confidence." And why not when you've got the runaway MVP directing those plays? "I'm running out of things to say about him," McCarthy said. The first play - the 24-yard pass to Jermichael Finley - took some confidence because the Packers' gifted tight"
December 1
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was interviewed on "Inside the NFL" on Showtime and Brady was asked about Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the undefeated Packers. The interview is to air Wednesday night on Showtime. "It's so impressive when you watch a team that can string together that many victories going all the way back to last season," Brady said. "It really tells you what the character and the make-up of the players on that team are. So them getting off to the start that they've gotten off to is very impressive. And the way Aaron's playing, it's impossible to play the quarterback position any better than he is playing it right now.""
November 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Sundays are different for Jim Kelly. Each game the Hall of Fame quarterback watches, he puts himself in the pocket. "I'm looking at coverages. Is it Cover 2? Is it man coverage? What are the corners doing?" the former Buffalo Bills great said earlier this season. "I always put myself in the position of the quarterback." And when Kelly peers through Aaron Rodgers' lens, he likes what he sees. He admires the Green Bay Packers quarterback's "flawless mechanics," his leadership ability, everything. And yet, Kelly also knows how quickly everything can be snatched away. In his 11 NFL seasons, he suffered six concussions. That sixth hit ended his career. The final image of Kelly at Rich Stadium"
November 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Bob Wolfley
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On a day when Aaron Rodgers left his Superman cape at home, other Green Bay Packers players became the objects of praise by the Sunday National Football League observers on television. And when you run your record to 10-0, as the Packers did by beating Tampa Bay, there is going to be a surplus of praise. Start with wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Even before he had six receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns against the Buccaneers, Cris Carter singled him out for particular praise on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown." "They are the only undefeated team in the National Football League," Carter said. "They should be the storyline every week. Over the next couple of weeks, they could separate"
November 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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In 2009, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke a 27-year-old NFL record by completing 70.6% of his passes, becoming just the fifth quarterback in league history to break the 70.0 mark. Only once in the 15 games he started did Brees complete more than 80% of his attempts. In a victory Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 80% of his passes for a third consecutive game, raising his NFL-leading season completion percentage to 72.9% (higher if the team didn't have roughly 15 dropped passes). It has almost become rote for Rodgers to do what so many other quarterbacks can't, and it speaks directly to the success the Packers"
November 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Suffering a concussion against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 22 may have changed the way Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers runs with the ball, but it has not changed his willingness to run it. Just when it looked as if Rodgers couldn't do much more to win a game, he carried the ball eight times for 52 yards and three first downs in the Packers' 45-38 victory over the San Diego Chargers Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium. One of those rushes was a kneel-down for minus-1 yard, so Rodgers actually averaged 7.4 yards per scramble, which is slightly under the rate Philadelphia's Michael Vick, the NFL's leading rusher among quarterbacks, is averaging this season."
November 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Aaron Rodgers grew up in California and attended the state's flagship university. He lives in San Diego in the off-season. He had lots of friends and family at the game against the San Diego Chargers. So there weren't a lot of surprises Sunday, except for one. "You look at the schedule and see San Diego in November, you expect better weather," the Green Bay Packers quarterback said. "I was surprised by the rain." But the constant precipitation and the kickoff temperature of 53 degrees - cooler, actually, than the same time in Green Bay - was no biggie for the Packers' quarterback. Then again, what has been a detriment in a season in which the defending Super Bowl MVP is zeroing in on an"
November 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Bob Wolfley
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We all understand that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is popular in Wisconsin. A quarterback with a Super Bowl championship who follows it up with a 7-0 start in the next season is going to be a popular guy. But according to a recent poll, Rodgers is not just popular in Wisconsin. He's insanely popular. According to Public Policy Polling (PPP), based in Raleigh, N.C., Rodgers is viewed favorably by 89% of the 1,170 Wisconsin voters it surveyed from Oct. 20-23. Only 4% had an unfavorable opinion of him. A total of 7% answered not sure. PPP said it has never in its polling experience encountered a favorable percentage as high as the one for Rodgers."