Get To Know Aaron Rodgers

 

After weeks, or is it really months, of hearing about the whole Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre, Ted Thompson, blah, blah, blah… What? I’ve just started to tune it all out. However, now it seems there may be an open competition at training camp to determine who will be the starting quarterback. Since I can’t stand this story anymore, and I think Aaron Rodgers is perhaps getting short shrift, I thought you might want to get to know him here – since it appears you may not have the chance to this year in play as you originally thought.

Stats:

• Date of Birth: December 2, 1983 (age 24)
• Height: 6′2″
• Weight: 223 lbs.
• Position: Quarterback
• Drafted: 24th pick in first round of 2005
• College: California

His player summary on the Green Bay Packers website still says: “Composed, confident quarterback has waited patiently for his opportunity to be an NFL starter, and his time has arrived.” He continues to state that he’s being told he’s the starter, but that if that changes and the team allows open competition, he’ll do his best. He says all the right things, including that he’ll support Brett Favre if Farve prevails in taking that starting position from Rodgers at camp. He shows real class.

One interesting tidbit, is that Rodgers was coached by Jeff Tedford, who also coached Akili Smith, Trent Dilfer, Joey Harrington, and Kyle Boller. Some others that caused a raised eyebrow here are that he plays the acoustic guitar and piano, listens to country music and names The Princess Bride as one of his favorite movies.

And although he can look like this, he can also look like this.

He’s also engaged in numerous charitable and volunteer opportunities, showing a real commitment to giving back.

This past May, held the third ‘Aaron Rodgers Fore Kids Golf Classic’ in Chico, Calif., with money benefiting Chico Area Young Life

Over the winter, along with teammates Noah Herron and Ruvell Martin and several other pro athletes, visited the Fort Wainwright U.S. Army base in Fairbanks, Alaska, working out with young troops and participating in a dogsled race. The trip was organized by Unlimited Potential, a Christian outreach group

Has regularly signed autographs and interacted with fans at the Green Bay Packers Fan Fest and at the Green Bay Packers Draft Day Party

Has participated in the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon, the Brett Favre Celebrity softball games, and the Vince Lombardi Golf Classic

On two different occasions videotaped an introductory greeting for the Packers’ ‘Fit Kids’ program, a joint effort between the Green Bay Packers, CBS-5 WFRV and the Green Bay Area Public School District involving a year-long school program with a curriculum that focuses on the whole child and each month covers a theme based on either nutrition, physical fitness or social health

Visited Webster Stanley Elementary School in Oshkosh, Wis., where he read to students and their parents during the ‘Literacy Is Fun’ event

Took part in the NFL Hometown Huddle event, moving furniture into a new place for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and then bowled with the group

Signed autographs in exchange for cash donations to the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Katrina relief fund

While at Cal, he and wide receiver Geoff McArthur participated in fundraiser ‘Touchdown for Kids,’ with money donated to local youth programs for every TD pass connection authored by the two

Awww. Here’s to you, Mr. Rodgers! Hope to see you this year. And if by chance Brett Favre does end up playing for the Minnesota Vikings, I (almost) hope you win in the match-ups.