Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Friday, July 11, 2008
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sidesteps Brett Favre issue
MILWAUKEE — No matter what happens in the next couple of weeks — whether Brett Favre returns to play with the Green Bay Packers or another NFL team, or decides he doesn’t really want to come back after all — Aaron Rodgers will do everything he can to keep the uncertainty from affecting him.
Rodgers, Favre’s backup for three seasons, spoke for the first time publicly about Favre’s possible return during a conference call with reporters Wednesday morning in anticipation of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Rodgers said he wasn’t going to speculate about rumors and insisted that the buzz of Favre’s possible return hadn’t rattled him so far.
“I’ve been up in the mountains hanging out with my family, so I’ve been pretty much immune to it, any media reports out there,” Rodgers said. “So that’s basically what I am doing. I’m up here in Tahoe playing in the American Century Championship and that’s kind of my focus the next four or five days.”
Rodgers has been working out with receivers Brett Swain and James Jones in California, and said he had been in “constant contact in the offseason with coach Mike McCarthy and (quarterbacks coach) Tom Clements, so nothing has changed as far as that goes.”
McCarthy, meanwhile, made an appearance Wednesday at the Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay to make a donation. Although unwilling to address the topic with reporters, a daring 11-year old Miranda Black of Oconto Falls, Wis., asked the question of the moment: Is Favre coming back?
“I want to know which one of those media individuals made you say that,” McCarthy said, referring to reporters standing in the back of the room. “Those are things we’ll, obviously, we’ll get to down the line. But great question.”
Those are the only official comments from the coach on the subject so far.
Rodgers said he and Favre had not talked recently about Favre’s plans.
“I’m in the offseason right now so I have been away from most of (the distractions) for the most part,” Rodgers said. “I’ve been down in San Diego and up in Chico with my family and working out with a trainer up in Chico and working out in San Diego with a few of my receivers. So I’ve been really focused on what I need to do to get ready for training camp.”
Rodgers said he planned to arrive in Green Bay a week before camp opens to get acclimated to the time zone change. But that’s it. He won’t agonize over every detail that develops from here until July 28.
“I’m not going to change anything,” Rodgers said. “I’m going to be here this week. I’m going to be in L.A. next week. And I’ll be in Green Bay after that. That’s kind of the schedule and I’m sticking to it.”
One of Rodgers’ closest friends, quarterback Trent Dilfer, also spoke on the Wednesday conference call and said Rodgers had positioned himself well to take over for Favre.
“He’s incredibly mentally tough,” said Dilfer, whose highlight in a 14-year career was leading the 2000 Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl title. “He’s been very, very patient and I think his relationship with Brett has grown very strong over the years and he’s appreciated what he’s learned from Brett.
“But at the same time, Aaron was very energized by Brett’s retirement, was excited to kind of take the reins.”
Given all the steps Rodgers has taken to prepare to take over for Favre, Dilfer said, “I would think it would be frustrating for him, because quite honestly, Brett holds all the cards here. At the same time, like anything, (Rodgers) would deal with it.
“Just because Brett came back — if Brett were to come back — and play and start and all of those things, you’re only one snap away. And I know I’m saying that about the most durable football player in the history of the NFL but things can change very quickly.”
If Favre returns, Dilfer said he didn’t think making Rodgers sit for a fourth season would adversely affect his NFL future.
“No. There’s no shelf life. Not if you handle it correctly,” Dilfer said. “Which Aaron has done. In fact, I would say Aaron is the model for how you handle it. It’s funny, the two guys that I have seen handle it the best have come from Green Bay.
“The way Matthew (Hasselbeck) did it is the way Aaron has done it: a lot of playing time in the preseason. They handled a lot of the offseason because the starter isn’t necessarily involved. And then they’re leaders. They’re natural born leaders.
“They’ve been in a backup role but were still able to command a part of the football team. Aaron has done that wonderfully and because of that Aaron could wait in the wings for years. When it is his time to play, he’ll be fine, and very successful.”
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