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Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Green Bay Packers No. 12 Aaron Rodgers

By Russell S. Baxter

Jul 31, 2016; Green Bay,WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers practices during the team
Jul 31, 2016; Green Bay,WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers practices during the team /
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The Countdown to Kickoff series continues on with a profile on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

There are exactly one dozen days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl 50 rematch. At the moment, we are in the midst of the third week of the preseason.

Here at NFL Spin Zone, we have been profiling a player each day as we countdown the days to the kick off of the league’s 97th season.

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We began months ago by previewing the rookie defensive end of the San Diego Chargers in No. 99 Joey Bosa (who remains unsigned, by the way). On Friday, it was No. 13 of the New York Giants in wideout Odell Beckham Jr. If you’re looking for the entire countdown, you can check it out right here.

Aug 18, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during warmups prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during warmups prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s safe to say that No. 12 is one of the more fabled numerals in NFL annals, most notably when it comes to the quarterback position. When it came to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there are legends Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Jim Kelly, Bob Griese, Ken Stabler and Joe Namath. As for the modern-day warriors, there’s four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns controversial wide receiver Josh Gordon.

There’s also Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, who one year after capturing his second league MVP trophy in four seasons struggled somewhat in 2015. That is, if you call throwing 31 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions a struggle. Still, minus favorite target Jordy Nelson for the entire season, Rodgers’ completion percentage was a disappointing 60.7 percent.

Regardless, this is a Green Bay team that reached the playoffs this past year for the seventh consecutive season. And their star quarterback is a major reason why as the Packers’ defense continues to have its ups and downs. Throw in the fact that running back Eddie Lacy had a rough 2015 and even more pressure was put on Rodgers’ shoulders.

The career statistics are impressive. In 11 years in the league, his 257 career scoring tosses rank 17th in league annals. But a closer look at that number reveals amazing production. In his eight seasons as a starter dating back to 2008, the talented Rodgers has thrown exactly four times as many touchdown passes (256) as interceptions (64). He’s thrown 30-plus TD passes in four of the past five seasons and in each of those years, he was picked off eight times or less.

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And that’s why it is understandable why many feel that Rodgers is the top player in the NFL at his position. It’s certainly a worthwhile debate when you have a two-time league MVP (2011 and 2014) as an example. But when it comes to this quarterback, it may be time to starting discussing where he ranks in the game’s history as well.

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