Matthew Stafford is banging on the door, but the conversation about the top quarterback in the NFC North begins and ends with two names: Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre.
There may be some Jay Cutler apologists out there muttering that last season was an aberration and that he is ready to prove himself once again this fall. I beg to differ because his utter refusal to be accountable for his performance does not bode well for future success in Chicago, the country’s second biggest market.
What follows is a list of key factors in the decision-making process for the top spot in the division for the sport’s most important position.
By Patrick Herbert
The first comparison between Rodgers and Favre begins with credibility. The former has it, while it is lacking to the nth degree with the latter. Favre’s constant flip-flops have alienated him with the coaches, fans, and players around the league. Athletes usually stick up for their fellow brethren, but Joe Montana snuck in a passing blow about Favre’s lack of decisiveness on The Dan Patrick Show this week. Granted, this was amongst compliments about Favre’s play.
Rodgers and Favre each threw seven interceptions during regular season play last year. The one that is fresh in the fans’ minds is the one Favre threw near the end of the NFC championship game. This is true to his nature. He threw more than three times as many interceptions during the previous season with the Jets, matching his touchdown total. Favre’s much talked about reputation as a “gunslinger” can be a blessing and a curse. Edge: Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers definitely holds the upper hand in terms of mobility. Favre is in the midst of his twentieth season while Rodgers is only in his sixth. Brett Favre has a tremendous football IQ. This allows him to be mobile enough to elude pass rushers in time to avoid serious injury. Rodgers has surpassed four thousand yards in each of the last two seasons that he has started. His mobility has allowed him to complete some of these passes that others around the league cannot.
Nothing is more annoying than watching an analyst’s “keys to the games” at the beginning of the telecast. Turnovers are going to be on the list no matter what the teams are. Another common bullet point relates to intangibles. Both of these players have what it takes to perform at a Pro Bowl level. Favre is a Super Bowl champion while Rodgers is still establishing himself outside of Favre’s shadows in Green Bay. Edge: Favre
The future is a major factor in this comparison.
Athletes are often paid based on their performance in the past. This is certainly the case with Favre, who will make north of a million dollars a game with the Vikings this season. He has changed the postseason outlook for the franchise, but Rodgers could be the better of the two this year. This is even more of a probability with the recent health questions regarding Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice.
Brett Favre won only one of the five keys for the top quarterback spot in the NFC North. Packer fans should not be too elated at this news because injury for any key player is only a snap away. In addition, this will not come to fruition simply because a humble writer predicted it.
That is the beauty of the NFL.