Just moments ago, 26-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers took a seat at a makeshift podium in Cowboy Stadium in Dallas, TX as one of the major attractions of an annual event, Super Bowl Media Day. With nearly 5,000 credentialed media members braving the icy conditions and alleged 19-degree temps in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area, the newcomer with a veteran air spoke to the press.
He wore his #12 Packers jersey, a yellow Packers baseball cap set backwards on his head, with a rolled-up towel draped around his neck, and looked quite relaxed, personally greeting reporters, cracking small jokes and laughing with them while also giving small insights on his life. He grew up watching Joe Montana lead the 49ers to four Super Bowls, he grew up in a Christian home, and hopes to embody the immortal words of Saint Francis of Assissi: "Preach the gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words." He said his family is coming to town on Thursday, and said everyone has said the same thing: "Enjoy media day." He added that one of the keys to keeping himself mentally and emotionally even-keeled was treating the game, the preparation for the game, and the entire week the same as any game during the regular season. He said the entire Packers team has strove for their normalcy.
Rodgers missed two games to a concussion this season, which caused him to miss (albeit barely) the 4,000-passing yards plateau for the first time since he became the Green Bay starter when Brett Favre left after the 2007 season. For 2010, Rodgers amassed 3,922 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and a passer rating of 101.2. He also rushed for 356 yards and four touchdowns.
Rodgers, who is as close as he'll ever be (aside from winning a Super Bowl--it would be the Green Bay franchise's fourth) to climbing out of the shadow of future Hall-of-Famer Favre, said he sought advice from former Super Bowl-winning QBs Steve Young and Kurt Warner, and said he and his teammates watched, among other things, film of the 2008 Super Bowl that was won by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers' 2010 Super Bowl opponent. He did specify that he thought it far more important to watch film of Steelers' games from this season rather than that memorable Pittsburgh victory over the Cardinals.
"I grew up in southern California, watching the 49ers win four Super Bowls. I've been dreaming of this since I was a kid." -Aaron Rodgers
The Packers boast NFL Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Clay Matthews on defense, and wide receiver stars Greg Jennings and Donald Driver on offense, but Rodgers is indisputably the Packer's main weapon and the main reason they've reached the title game. He will be the primary target of the Steelers' hallowed defense, which includes Defensive Player of the Year winners Troy Polamalu (2010), James Harrison (2008) and stalwart Lamaar Woodley, among others. Rodgers will, of course, be squaring off against Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl-winner who is widely known for his ability to scramble, avoid tackles, and make plays late. The two quarterbacks have been called the best in the NFL at improvising.
The Super Bowl is set for Sunday, February 6, and 6:30 p.m. in Cowboy Stadium.
Well, Dan, my Boys didn't get there so they have to watch two other teams christen the new stadium. I know the Packers will and have watched game film of the playoff games as will the Steelers. Although the offenses are both good it will be the defense that wins this game and it won't be the black and gold. I think the defense of the Packers will be the deciding factor.
ReplyDelete