ProFootballCentral.com

Every fan of the Green Bay Packers will not accept the fact that there hero, starting quarterback Brett Favre has retired from the NFL and is done with the Green Bay Packers. The sheer thought that third year veteran Aaron Rodgers is expected to be the heir apparent to Mr. Favre, has not even passed through there minds. Rodgers the 24th overall pick in the 2005 draft, expected to go a lot higher in the draft and was the second quarterback taken in that draft.

His slip to the 24th choice became one of the biggest stories of the draft due to posting impressive numbers as a junior with Cal throwing for 2,320 yards with a 67.5 completion rating. He tied an NCAA record when he completed 23 consecutive passes against the eventual national champions, USC. He threw for 23 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions in his last college season, impressing many NFL scouts.
Many believe his slip to #24 was due to the fact that he is considered short for a quarterback at 6′2″ tall, as well as the so-far unsuccessful NFL careers of most of his college coach Jeff Tedford’s previous quarterbacks. Tedford has coached Kyle Boller, Trent Dilfer, Joey Harrington and Akili Smith, all have not had successful NFL careers with Dilfer being a smear exemption with winning a Superbowl.

In August 2005, Rodgers, agreed to a reported five-year, $7.7 million deal that included $5.4 million in guaranteed money and could pay him as much as $24.5 million if all the incentives and escalators are met.
Rodgers spent a disappointing 4-12 2005 season as the Packers’ #2 quarterback behind Brett Favre. Rodgers had little playing time during the year, but did see time in a win vs. New Orleans Saints and in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

When Favre decided to continue his career into the 2006 season, Rodgers was forced to continue in his role as the second quarterback on the depth chart. On November 19, 2006, Rodgers broke his left foot against the New England Patriots in a 35-0 defeat at home while filling in for an injured Brett Favre and missed the remainder of the 2006 season. Rodgers made a full recovery and was ready for the start of the 2007 season.

Prior to the 2007 season, rumors surfaced about a potential trade involving Rodgers in which he would be traded to the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Randy Moss. However, Moss was traded to the New England Patriots during the second day of the 2007 NFL Draft, and Rodgers stayed in Green Bay. The Oakland Raiders received a 4th-round draft choice in the trade for Moss.

Rodgers stepped in for Favre when the latter was injured in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football on November 29th, 2007. Rodgers completed 18 passes for 201 yards, with no interceptions. He also threw his first touchdown pass, but was sacked three times. Rodgers
brought the team back from a 17 point deficit to a 3 point deficit, but the Cowboys went on to win 37-27.

The Packers are now heading into the 2008 season with a quarterback who has never started a NFL game and his life and has only played in seven games in three seasons. The Packers are also going into the 2008 season with a new offensive coordinator in Joe Philbin. Philbin does have experience with the team but never as the lead coordinator. One thing is for sure and that is Packer fans cannot expect Rodgers or anyone for that matter to be Brett Favre and if anyone expects that then they are in for a huge letdown.