OFFICIAL AARON RODGERS THE LIVING LEGEND THREAD

[Fritz]

I was curious, like NewsBruin, about how long until the sheen wore off in NY. But as I've said, I'm confident this is exactly the kind of motivation Rodgers thrives on - he'll build it up so everyone's counting him out and done, and he'll rehab his ass off to come back next season, maybe midway through, and try to lead them to the playoffs and a title. Heck, he might've bought Saleh another season, if the Jets do reasonably well this year.

I can see Rodgers's mind going to that narrative and busting his ass to make that happen.

If he does come back, say mid-season next year, that means he's only got eight or so games to rub everyone the wrong way and start rolling his eyes at his receivers and all that. He might be able to contain himself for eight games.

But I have a feeling by then I won't really care so much any more. The Packers get a second rounder, and that's a bummer.

I don't think Rodgers is a great person - seems arrogant and judgemental - but he's not a mother raper or a father raper or a child raper, so he's a better person than a few NFLers who've passed through the league over the course of history.

And really, truth be told, if a player is a great player, everyone will forgive whatever kind of human being he is, as long as he's good. Heck, I still think Ahman Green was one of the best running backs I've ever seen - love the guy - but he beat on his wife and was apparently therefore not a super stellar dude. So why do I like him more than Rodgers?

Because I'm a flawed human being. A little fucked up.

[RashanGary]

There are a lot of things i admire and respect more than being good at football.

I still do appreciate what they’re able to do, just not gonna fawn over them being great guys.

[Fosco33]

I’d say that’s where I’ve been since Favre, Tex.

[texaspackerbacker]

Uh, having a huge ego pretty much goes with being a huge success. There's a helluva lot more humble losers than there are humble successes, even percentage-wise hahahaha.

As for idolizing Favre (and Rodgers too), you and others damn well should. All that shit you mentioned is 1. totally irrelevant and unimportant compared to the greatness on the field and 2. amplified if not outright made up by the God damned shitheads of the media who live to dig up crap like that and fling it around - against everybody, but mostly against the most successful.

And maybe idolizing is the wrong word. Acknowledging and respecting the results on the field and mostly ignoring the irrelevant shit, that's what ought to be fans' outlook on the whole situation.

[Fosco33]

Both had huge success and huge ego.

I liked Favre and as a 12yr old incorrectly idolized him. He was a throwback warrior. But he was also a frequent cheater on his wife, kicked an addiction before the NFL would’ve suspended him in future years, the dickpic, the welfare scandal, etc. He actually retired, and cried, multiple times. And after the drafts…Then forced his way back to the team - which had to shop him off - to one year later - playing for the Vikings…

I’m not even sure how that’s remotely closed to Aaron. You can be mad about his level of expectation and make fun of him for things that many people agree with (balance, mental health, alternative medicine) and others that are controversial (but was he wrong to not take an experimental drug that now appears to be completely useless). And sure - he left his family - but we don’t know why. Yes / he was rightly pissed about the front office drafting his replacement without a common courtesy. And yes - he wanted to help drive personnel and play selections. Most of the latter he seemed to be right about based on back-back MVPs. He took ~2mo to make the last decision (before the draft) and mutually parted ways.

I’m not idolizing athletes anymore and as an NFL fan - was disappointed with his injury. I’ll never understand the opinions of others. I quite like and agree with most things that ARod says and does.

[bobblehead]

Brett Favre was a lot more likeable and the every man. Rodgers comes off as a weird dude to the every man. I still like both.

I don't know. The stories about how he treated staff at the local cafe after a night of drinking were legendary in Green Bay.

[bobblehead]

Maybe cuz Brett left after 13-3 and had a great season excluding the last game?

What makes you the expert on if Rodgers is a jerk? I got to see it first hand the year he took over, 2008. He will always be a champion and former Packers QB. No one is wishing away the good times and you aren’t baffled you just want to be prickish. Like what I did there.

Didn't you kind of answer your own question there??

[MadtownPacker]

That’s a very balanced take on it NewBru. Thank you for not being all emotional like Harlan and bobble. They both must’ve got their . at the same time.

[NewsBruin]

I think there was a lot more mixed reactions to both QBs than each of us wants to claim. Sports cable/radio depends on loudmouths (who may or may not currently be newsbreaking journalists) who choose a viewpoint (sincerely or not) and then get their army of listeners to chime in "Yeah, that's what I think!"

Sometimes, they just take some generic idea and then stick whatever current event is going on onto its pointy end.

The difference with Brett is how thirsty he was to be everyone's friend or Valentine. Aaron comes off as expecting everyone to turn on, doubt, or want something from him, so he'll blow up all his relationships in a matter of months or a few years. I was looking forward to his time in Jersey to see when the honeymoon was going to wear off.

Very little of it had anything to do with how they approached being a quarterback. The biggest thing they had in common was aging past having many friends on the roster.

[Fritz]

I'm kind of confused by all the Rodgers hate. When Favre left he was an all time selfish asshole and people on this site were worshipping him. Rodgers wasn't even in the ballpark of prickness and everyone hates on him. People never cease to baffle me.

Hate? I just posted a picture of him looking like Jesus!

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm kind of confused by all the Rodgers hate. When Favre left he was an all time selfish asshole and people on this site were worshipping him. Rodgers wasn't even in the ballpark of prickness and everyone hates on him. People never cease to baffle me.

There is nothing confusing or baffling about the widespread dislike of Rodgers the past 3 years. Plenty of people remain admirers, but you've read the criticisms a thousand times.

If there is any mystery it is why it took so long for Arod's full assholery to emerge. Guess he was a late bloomer.
Maybe when he kicked his great buddy Jason wilde to the curb that was an early warning. That and the baby seal clubbing.

[texaspackerbacker]

Maybe that's why they wait 5 years to put somebody in the Hall of Fame - to let the silly shit wear off that a lot of detractors like to bring up.

I don't give a shit about "likeable" or not or "weird dude" or not. What counts is that We the Packer Fans were blessed to have two of the three greatest QBs in NFL history on Our team.

[call_me_ishmael]

Brett Favre was a lot more likeable and the every man. Rodgers comes off as a weird dude to the every man. I still like both.

[MadtownPacker]

I'm kind of confused by all the Rodgers hate. When Favre left he was an all time selfish asshole and people on this site were worshipping him. Rodgers wasn't even in the ballpark of prickness and everyone hates on him. People never cease to baffle me.

Maybe cuz Brett left after 13-3 and had a great season excluding the last game?

What makes you the expert on if Rodgers is a jerk? I got to see it first hand the year he took over, 2008. He will always be a champion and former Packers QB. No one is wishing away the good times and you aren’t baffled you just want to be prickish. Like what I did there.

[sharpe1027]

I'm kind of confused by all the Rodgers hate. When Favre left he was an all time selfish asshole and people on this site were worshipping him. Rodgers wasn't even in the ballpark of prickness and everyone hates on him. People never cease to baffle me.

Hate is a strong word. Not worshiping him as a person and fine that he left, sure.