Aaron Rodgers is reportedly close to officially receiving a considerable contract extension. The Super Bowl XLV MVP has publicly stated his desire to remain with Green Bay for the duration of his career; a career that nearly never got off the ground.
Rodgers found himself drafted by the Packers a year after Ben Roethlisberger began the trend of effective rookie QBs that led their team to the postseason despite lacking experience.
Unlike Rothlisberger, or the young guns that would follow in the coming years like Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, Rodgers was not expected to start from day 1. Instead, his role was to patiently wait as Brett Favre approached what appeared to be the final chapters of his historic career.
But we all know that the Favre swan song saw more refrains than perhaps even the Packer Front Office could have anticipated. Staying on board through 2007, Favre kept Aaron clutching a clipboard on the sidelines and left the league to wonder what the young, untested QB had to offer. Would his opportunity, arrive too late?
But Rodgers would get his chance and officially took the reigns in 2008. In his first season as a starter, he would accumulate over 4,000 passing yards and 28 TDs. While ultimately failing to return the Packers to the NFC Championship game, he proved to fans and analysts that Green Bay's winning ways would not necessarily depart with Favre.
Coming off of a season in which Rodgers led a struggling and injury ridden Packers unit to a bewildering Super Bowl run, the 7th year QB notched 4,643 passing yards, an astounding 45 TDs, and only registered six interceptions.
Heading into 2012 he'll be leading a team that for most of last season looked like the most powerful club in the league. Behind Rodgers's arm and his arsenal of receivers, the Packers were able to compensate for a secondary that not leaked but gushed.
Ultimately, a trip to a second consecutive Super Bowl was not to be. But the Packers are contenders for XLVII because of a stunted backup that made up for lost time.
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