Aaron Rodgers grew up idolizing San Francisco 49er Joe Montana. As a kid from Chico, California Rodgers desired to follow in Montana's footsteps someday. That someday almost came on April 23rd, 2005. Rodgers, and now friend Alex Smith, sat back stage in New York at the NFL Draft waiting for their names to be called. Speculation swirled about who would be chosen number 1.  “With the first pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select….” NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stated, “Alex Smith”. With those words, their fates were sealed. Smith received the immediate attention and the opportunity to become a starter while Rodgers fell to #24 where he was selected by the Green Bay Packers. 

When asked what his most memorable Packers/49ers game was, Rodgers responded, “The T.O. catch probably”. (Referring to the NFC Wild Card game, January 3rd, 1999. Steve Young threw a 25 yard prayer to Terrell Owens, who made an incredible catch to win the game, 30-27, and thus knocking the Packers out of the playoffs) “I don’t know who I was rooting for,” Rodgers recollects, “Because I was a Favre fan after Joe Montana retired but still kind of torn because I was a Steve Young, 49er fan.hat was a great game, great finish and a fumble actually on the last drive and no replay at the time….you probably remember that.” Rodgers finishes with a sheepish smile.

The two quarterbacks have encountered drastically different successes during their short careers. Smith gotthe opportunity to start 7 games in 2005. He suffered through 29 sacks in that short period of time and finished the season with a dismal quarterback rating of 40.8. Smith rebounded and took every snap for the 49ers in 2006.  The new 49er QB showed the promise that came with his high draft stature even though his team finished with a 7-9 record. The last couple of seasons he’s battled shoulder problems that have kept him off the field. This season, Smith stood patiently on the sideline awaiting his turn while Shaun Hill took the snaps as the starter. In week 7, Smith's chance came when Hill went down to injury in Houston. Smith has been the 49ers QB ever since with 1 win and 3 losses to his name. Smith has thrown 6 INT’s this year against 6 TD’s and has a quarterback rating of 79.5.

Aaron Rodgers story, well we all know that Rodgers rarely saw the field for 3 years while he waited behind one of the game’s all-time greats in Brett Favre. Playing time was scarce becuase Favre is not only a great QB, he’s the ironman. In fact; this Sunday, November 22nd, Favre will have started his 279th straight game. In the time Rodgers spent behind Favre, he learned the game, the quarterbacking nuances and perfected his craft best he could without seeing live action.  Then came the unceremonious divorce between Favre and the Packers last year.  That's when Rodgers found himself as the Packers starter and thrust into an unfriendly spotlight. #12, through all the media and fan pressure steadily quieted his critics with an impressive season in which the kid from Cal threw for 4,038 yards, 28 touchdowns, a 93.8 quarterback rating…all of which ranked in the top 10 in the NFL.

Is Rodgers bitter that he wasn’t chosen first on that April day back in 2005? “No, I got over it in a few days.” Rodgers reflects, “I wouldn’t change what happened. It was difficult to go through that one day in April but I think it’s made all the difference now. Looking back 4 ½ years later and where I’m at and the situation I’m in and to be living in a great city like Green Bay and playing for an amazing team with the tradition that the Green Bay Packers have with great fans and with a great opportunity here with a good group of guys to make a run this year. Obviously at the time you’re wondering what is God’s plan and all this…but looking back you can kind of see his hand in all of that.”

Two quarterbacks with enormous talent and the brightest of futures have followed two drastically different paths.  They will end up on the field of play this Suncay, facing one another as starters. Rodgers says that he still follows his childhood team and wishes Alex all the best, “It’s exciting, it’s fun. I mean once a fan always a fan and pulling for Alex as we got to know each other before the draft and became friends. I’m definitely happy that he’s gotten another chance and he’s doing well.”

Rodgers, in a recent interview, relates different aspects of his life to music. That day in April things seemed to come apart for Rodgers and the green room, behind the stage at Madison Square Garden, seemed so empty and he was so alone and so disappointed as he watched team after team pass on him and his ability, Then came the Packers.  Rodgers smiles and said that he now looks at that day thorough a song written by Garth Brooks called Unanswered Prayers.

   

Former Packers president, Bob Harlan is about to be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be held Friday evening, November 20th. 
Prior to his induction, Harlan spoke candidly with WTMJ's own Bill Michaels.
Harlan discusses his life and career in a fascinating retrospective.

The Green Bay Packers have been plagued by penalties all season long; in fact they’re the most penalized team in the league (74 accepted penalties for 609 yards, 8.9 avg. penalties per game). Don’t expect that to change drastically anytime soon. 

I know....that angers many, including yours truly. This article isn’t in any way, shape or form a condoning of the penalties but merely an explanation as to why they’re going to continue and when to become irate as a fan.

The perception is that the same people are committing many of the same mistakes but as you can see, it’s not one guy. As a whole, if the Packers could cut out or minimize their Pre-Snap and Stupid penalties, they could have eliminated 31 of the 74 accepted penalties against them.  If that were achieved, they would be the LEAST penalized team in the league. I understand that’s not a completely realistic thought but certainly should be the area of concentration. Physical and Un-Talented penalties are going to happen, you don’t want them to occur but they will. Those are the penalties that are tossed out as “a part of the game”. 
As a fan, the Stupid and Pre-Snap penalties should not be tolerated. It’s the rest that you’ll have to reluctantly learn to accept.

     

With yesterday’s Packers victory come no apologies. Charles Woodson and Aaron Rodgers led their respective groups into a must-win situation against one of the best teams in the league and won. Style point weren’t warranted here, merely a “W”. Was it the prettiest win? Of course not but this team found something yesterday that it had been lacking as a whole for quite some time, something deep down that only elite teams play with, an edge, a will, their heart. 

Charles Woodson, what can you say about his performance? Statistically, 9 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass deflected, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception. He can leap tall buildings, rescue kittens from trees and works tirelessly on curing the world’s energy problems in his spare time as well. If there was any question as to who the leader is on defense, the bell was answered yesterday. 

Aaron Rodgers took his week of second guessing and criticism to heart as well. Rodgers, while not statistically flashy, took short pass opportunities, threw the ball away when necessary, looked at his check downs, ran with conviction when flushed from the pocket and managed the game properly when it mattered most. Rodgers engineered a late 3^rd quarter drive that went 15 plays, 80 yards in 8 minute and 38 seconds. That drive was the signature moment in the ball game. It was as if there was a realization that the vertical game isn’t the only form of necessary football available to this all or nothing Packers offense. Ryan Grant grinded out tough yardage and Rodgers converted a couple of big third down plays to keep the drive alive. One of the biggest returns was the YAC (yards after catch). This is something we haven’t seen in a while. Quick hitters to Driver and Jordy Nelson, Jennings and Lee kept the chains moving and Dallas’ defense on their heels. Rodgers biggest statistic was a 69%+ completion percentage and no interceptions. 

The blemishes on this game were unacceptable and loudly criticized by the Packer faithful throughout the game. 12 penalties for 100 yards became more than aggravating to the 70,894 in attendance. The Packers had penalties in 5 out of their first 8 drives and a sack and fumble in another drive. It wasn’t until that key drive in the 3^rd quarter that the Packers played penalty, mistake free football. The 3 drives, early on, in which they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot resulted in a missed 52 yard field goal, a made 48 yard field goal and a touchdown.

The question still remains, which team is this? Are these the Packers that embarrassed themselves in the first half vs. the Vikings at Lambeau Field and the group that took the field in the second half of the Tampa Bay game last week or are these the guys that showed up in the second half of that same Vikings game and the guys that rose to the occasion at Lambeau yesterday? Only time will tell but yesterday’s victory might have been an awakening, an awakening for the coaching staff and players. A realization that you have to bring it each and every week, each and every play, each and every moment in the NFL for you to be truly considered a contender, not a champion but merely a contender. It’s those teams that play mistake free football and raise to yet another level, those will be called champion. The Packers are nowhere near that level yet but beating the Dallas Cowboys in such fashion certainly allowed them to take a step in the right direction. Now we’ll see how they follow up success.

    

It was an ugly first half for both teams. The Packers defense certainly took last week’s disappointing loss to heart. Blitzes, stunts and pressure, something we haven’t seen much of, came from a Packers defense that’s missing Aaron Kampman and Brady Poppinga. Whether it’s energy or speed, it’s certainly a different looking defense. B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkens and Clay Matthews are impressive. 

The offense is still plagued by the same problems and ineptness. 

The Packers had penalties in the 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th drives of the half. The 6^th drive, Aaron Rodgers was sacked and fumbled the ball. The drive ended in a punt. The 2^nd and 7^th drives had no negative mistakes. The result; a missed 52 yard field goal and a made 48 yard field goal. 3-0 Packers at the half.

The 48 yard field goal before the half was only the 2nd field goal over 45 yards made by Crosby at Lambeau Field this season.

Take that Rich Rod and you Michigan Wolverines. Badger fans remember the years that Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr pulverized the Badgers and took the opportunities to run up the score. Today at Camp Randall, sweet revenge was extracted when Brett Bielema’s crew drubbed the Wolverines 45-24 on Senior Day.

If you’re a Bucky fan, you’ve got this to look forward to; Scott Tolzien, John Clay, the entire offensive line, Montee Ball, Nick Toon..on and on..they’ll all be back! While I believe that Rodriguez will turn around the Wolverine’s program, that is if the Michigan boosters don’t get restless and can his butt, this is a Badger victory that tastes so sweet. To be a senior and go out at home with a win over Michigan, no matter what the state of the program, you’ll remember this day for the rest of your life. 

After watching last year’s seemingly insurmountable Wisconsin lead dissipate at the Big House, the redemption felt today is well deserved for Brett Bieliema who has put together a better than expected season. His recruiting classes are starting to come of age, Bielema himself has shown a growing wisdom as the mistakes that plagued this team last year have faded during this 8-2 (5-2 in the Big Ten) quest for a New Year’s Day bowl continues. 

The 45 points hung on the Wolverines today was the most ever by a Wisconsin team. In addition, the Badgers extend Michigan’s pain with their 6^th straight conference loss. Wisconsin did it the old fashioned way; they kept grinding Clay and Montee, over and over again until the run game was too much for a weary Wolverine bunch. John Clay racked up 151 total rushing yards. 

That’s called twisting the dagger Bucky! Congrats seniors!

   

With the Packers reeling at 4-4 and the come to Jesus meetings taking place behind closed doors, fans around Packer Nation are wondering if the “airing of grievances” will really have an effect on this team’s run towards the post-season.

Let me stop there for a moment. I’m asking you to pause and set your sights southeast towards the building on 4^th and State. Has anyone noticed a spark of light? Has anyone noticed a vibe, an energy, a swagger? What’s that you ask? Could it be….yes, I think it is. The Bucks are playing. Not only are the Bucks playing regular season games but they’re winning, 3 in a row and that’s including a 108-102 signature win over the Denver Nuggets last night.

I know that the Packers woes have most people embattled with whom to fire and when but there is something special taking place at the BC if you’ll only re-direct your attention for a moment. You’ll find a young man, a rookie, named Brandon Jennings who’s now getting national recognition for his play on the court. 

With a 12 point lead last night, the Bucks watched as Denver chipped away and pulled within a point,91-90, with 4:23 left in the game. Normally the Bucks of old would have folded and submitted to, what would be considered, the superior team. Even with a turnover and an ill advised shot helping Denver claw back into the game, Brandon Jennings brought something to the court, a swagger, a confidence that hasn’t been seen around here in quite some time. With Andrew Bogut playing some of his best basketball, the two lifted the Bucks upon their shoulders and rebounded, played defense and hit shots down the stretch to yank victory from the jaws of defeat.

Jennings dropped a career high 32 points on the Nuggets and 9 assists last night but that’s not the only thing that this rookies been able to do. He’s handled the basketball with all of the speed of A.I. when he first came into the league and he’s worked extremely hard, with Kelvin Sampson, on his mid-range jumper. Jennings plays defense and has some attitude without being arrogant. 

I know that we’re only 6 games into the regular season and it’s a true marathon in the NBA but there are already adjectives being tossed around regarding this rookie like “electric”, “thrilling” and “exciting”. It’s a shame, at this point, that very few people really appreciate what skills this kid does have.   Bucks basketball hasn’t exactly been fascinating to watch over the last few years but if you have an opportunity to get to the BC and watch this kid, this team and the way they play the game, it’s actually in the same style as this community; hard working, confident, no flash and more substance. Givem’ a shot and let me know what you think. Dare I say it, there’s “fun” back at the Bradley Center. As one emailer put it, “He’s BUCK-ing FANTASTIC”.