History, especially in sport, is not all that it is cracked up to be. A team hung up on glories past, tend to forget about the realities of today and thus get carried away with expectations that are unrealistic, whichever way that happens to go. Take the fanbases of Liverpool and Newcastle for example, carried away by respective glories of the 70s and 50s, and now wanting far too much from their current crop, which will never be provided for them. On the flip side of the scale, you have anyone facing the Italian rugby team in the Six Nations this year. Past history tells you that you should walk all over them. But you can virtually guarantee that they will run one of the "bigger nations" very close at some stage during the Championship, such are the strides they have made under the captaincy of Sergio Parisse. Essentially, what goes before is a poor indicator of what happens now. Lucky then that fans of the Green Bay Packers have found a leader that makes them forget about their former favourite son.
I am talking, of course, about Aaron Rodgers, the man who took over the starting QB role when the legendary (yes, newcomers to the NFL, he was good once!) Brett Favre starting toying with the idea of retirement once too often for the management team. Rodgers can create some history of his own (not that it will do anyone any good 10 years from now!) on Sunday in Superbowl XLV, taking on Ben Roethlisberger's Pittsburgh Steelers at the Cowboys Stadium, just outside of Dallas.
On the face of it, the Steelers must start as favourites. They were seeded #2 in the AFC, to the Packers #6, meaning their regular season form was a lot better, despite the suspension of Big Ben for the first four games. They have also been to the Superbowl recently, XLV being their 3rd in 6 years. Both previous trips in the 21st century resulted in victory. They know what it takes to win a Superbowl, especially after their last ditch TD drive two years ago against the Arizona Cardinals. But for me, the dynamicism of Rodgers makes me root for Green Bay, and genuinely believe that they can emerge victorious in the early hours of Monday morning. When you analyse it, his skill-set is quite phenomenal. Not only does he possess great arm-strength and accuracy, allowing him to throw what is widely regarded as the "prettiest pass" in the game currently, he also has the speed and agility to extend plays and make first downs on his own when he needs to. His intelligence probably also gives him those oft-cited intangibles, although I don't think anyone can ever be completely sure what those intangibles are!
Then you look at the resources he has available to him. Shorn of TE Jermichael Finley and RB Ryan Grant since game one, Rodgers has had to expect the very best of a couple of veteran receivers (Greg Jennings and Donald Driver), whilst blooding some young talent at key positions (undrafted rookie James Starks, for example). He, and they, have delivered. There is no doubting that the leader of this offence gets the best out of those around him. And even when he himself is not at his best, such as in the NFC Championship victory over the Chicago Bears, you can guarantee that there is enough quality running through the roster to guarantee the Packers will remain confident of success. BJ Raji may have taken the headlines for what I can only assume was a shattering 17-yard INT return in that game, but the consistent threats on defence all year have been Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams.
The story of Rodgers is one of waiting patiently in the wings and eventually seizing the opportunity when it came to him. Drafted in the first round, he was always seen as the man to replace Favre. However, not many at Lambeau suspected he would have to wait three years for the starting opportunity, as No.4 continually dithered about retirement, eventually announcing the end of his days in March 2008. Only to reverse his decision at training camp once Rodgers had been inserted as the starter. The Packers stood by their man, traded Favre to the Jets and that, as they say, is history. Rodgers hasn't looked back since, and though the Packers struggled initially under his leadership, his individual reputation has grown year on year. In 2010, they were always billed as a favourite for the NFC Championship, but never really played to that level until the postseason. The great thing about Rodgers story is when you look at who was drafted above him. What could the San Francisco 49ers have achieved if they had drafted Rodgers over Alex Smith with the first pick overall? And would Favre have played out his days at Lambeau, rather than at Minnesota?
Still, no point in reflecting on what might have been - enjoy the Superbowl!
I am talking, of course, about Aaron Rodgers, the man who took over the starting QB role when the legendary (yes, newcomers to the NFL, he was good once!) Brett Favre starting toying with the idea of retirement once too often for the management team. Rodgers can create some history of his own (not that it will do anyone any good 10 years from now!) on Sunday in Superbowl XLV, taking on Ben Roethlisberger's Pittsburgh Steelers at the Cowboys Stadium, just outside of Dallas.
On the face of it, the Steelers must start as favourites. They were seeded #2 in the AFC, to the Packers #6, meaning their regular season form was a lot better, despite the suspension of Big Ben for the first four games. They have also been to the Superbowl recently, XLV being their 3rd in 6 years. Both previous trips in the 21st century resulted in victory. They know what it takes to win a Superbowl, especially after their last ditch TD drive two years ago against the Arizona Cardinals. But for me, the dynamicism of Rodgers makes me root for Green Bay, and genuinely believe that they can emerge victorious in the early hours of Monday morning. When you analyse it, his skill-set is quite phenomenal. Not only does he possess great arm-strength and accuracy, allowing him to throw what is widely regarded as the "prettiest pass" in the game currently, he also has the speed and agility to extend plays and make first downs on his own when he needs to. His intelligence probably also gives him those oft-cited intangibles, although I don't think anyone can ever be completely sure what those intangibles are!
Then you look at the resources he has available to him. Shorn of TE Jermichael Finley and RB Ryan Grant since game one, Rodgers has had to expect the very best of a couple of veteran receivers (Greg Jennings and Donald Driver), whilst blooding some young talent at key positions (undrafted rookie James Starks, for example). He, and they, have delivered. There is no doubting that the leader of this offence gets the best out of those around him. And even when he himself is not at his best, such as in the NFC Championship victory over the Chicago Bears, you can guarantee that there is enough quality running through the roster to guarantee the Packers will remain confident of success. BJ Raji may have taken the headlines for what I can only assume was a shattering 17-yard INT return in that game, but the consistent threats on defence all year have been Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams.
The story of Rodgers is one of waiting patiently in the wings and eventually seizing the opportunity when it came to him. Drafted in the first round, he was always seen as the man to replace Favre. However, not many at Lambeau suspected he would have to wait three years for the starting opportunity, as No.4 continually dithered about retirement, eventually announcing the end of his days in March 2008. Only to reverse his decision at training camp once Rodgers had been inserted as the starter. The Packers stood by their man, traded Favre to the Jets and that, as they say, is history. Rodgers hasn't looked back since, and though the Packers struggled initially under his leadership, his individual reputation has grown year on year. In 2010, they were always billed as a favourite for the NFC Championship, but never really played to that level until the postseason. The great thing about Rodgers story is when you look at who was drafted above him. What could the San Francisco 49ers have achieved if they had drafted Rodgers over Alex Smith with the first pick overall? And would Favre have played out his days at Lambeau, rather than at Minnesota?
Still, no point in reflecting on what might have been - enjoy the Superbowl!
Madden Predicts Packers Win
OK so John Madden actually hasn't given me exclusive access to his thoughts ahead of the big game. We've not gone that big at BtC (yet!). No, in a fit of procrastination, I decided to play out the Superbowl on Madden 11 as the Packers on the hardest seting and see what happened.
A long range Mason Crosby FG got the Packers rolling, before Donald Driver ended a long drive with a TD on 4th and 7. The Steelers then rallied with a Roethlisberger 82-yard bomb to Mike Wallace, with Heath Miller eventually picking up the 6. The score was tied at 20-20, 1:40 to play. 4th and goal on the 3. I stupidly decide to fake a FG and run it in with Matt Flynn. It worked. Big Ben was then sacked for the 3rd time by Ryan Pickett and coughed up the ball, allowing the Packers to seal a 27-20 win. And there you have my prediction!
You heard it here first!
RM
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