Rodgers’ best play: Favre is forgotten

Associated Press

Green Bay, Wis.

On the list of Aaron Rodgers’ accomplishments in three seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback, one stands out as being something that really didn’t seem possible when he first took over as the starter.

He made Brett Favre an afterthought in Green Bay.

Going into Sunday’s NFC championship game against the Bears in Chicago, Rodgers is the undisputed face of the Packers, and his success in the playoffs is winning over almost anyone who still had doubts about his place among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.

“I think he’s definitely the quarterback we all hoped he would become,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “He was a young talented quarterback, had a very bright future, and now we’re in year three of his development and he’s definitely developed into a special player. He does it the right way. He’ll break them down physically, mentally. He’s in a great rhythm right now.”

He certainly made a believer out of veteran Packers wide receiver Donald Driver.

“I love him,” Driver said. “I don’t know if you can put words to it but he’s playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the game, if not the best.”

Rodgers might not have made the Pro Bowl this season, but there’s no shortage of praise coming his way after a dominant performance in last Saturday’s playoff rout of Atlanta. Rodgers has been particularly sharp since he sustained his second concussion of the season and sat out the Packers’ Dec. 19 loss at New England.

Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said he isn’t bothered by all the national attention on Rodgers.

“No, that’s all it is, it’s a sign of respect for what the Packers and Aaron Rodgers have been able to do,” Briggs said. “They have been doing a lot of that this whole year. Credit is due.”

Rodgers appreciates the praise from fellow players, fans and pundits, but doesn’t think he deserves it — not yet.

“We have to put some more hardware around here,” Rodgers said.

It once seemed as if Rodgers would never escape comparisons with Favre. But with No. 4 now retired — perhaps even for good this time — Rodgers finally is free.