Aaron Rodgers: Leader of the pack

Determined to prove his doubters wrong, he now has the highest passer rating in NFL history and the lowest interception percentage. If the ball was small enough, he could thread a needle. And that's how he sewed up the super bowl in 2010.

Three touchdown passes that day made him the MVP and put the Lombardi trophy back in the grip of Green Bay.

Clay Matthews: He's throwing passes that you can't really defend.

Green Bay all pro linebacker Clay Matthews tries to stop his quarterback's completions in practice.

Clay Matthews: When he throws touchdowns, I mean, in practice, I just put my hands up and, "What do you want me to do?" You know he's that good.

Greg Jennings: He has a mindset that he's going to be successful.

Greg Jennings is Rodgers' favorite receiver.

Scott Pelley: In the huddle, what's going on in there? How is he leading the team?

Greg Jennings: He's very collected. He's calm. He's not gonna fail. He's gonna come out on top.

Scott Pelley: And when you're down, you show them what?

Aaron Rodgers: That I'm not worried. Even if I might be a little bit inside. I think, you know, your demeanor and your attitude is so very important if you want to encourage those guys.

Have a look at how well he faked that demeanor, a few weeks before the Super Bowl, after he felt like he'd been hit by a car on Ford Field.

Aaron Rodgers That was a scary situation, looking back, because as I watch the film I don't remember those moments after that concussion.

Scott Pelley: Did you know where you were?

Aaron Rodgers: No, I didn't. But I can see on the film, the instincts I had that that as Gene Steratore came over, the head referee, to ask me how I was, my response was "I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm good." But of course I wasn't. So you know that's a situation where you learn from and you learn that the most important thing is being able to have cognitive brain function post-career than tryin' to be a tough guy.

Scott Pelley: There's something about getting hit in the head that makes you a smarter quarterback?

Aaron Rodgers: Yeah, I think so.

It's harder to be a 'tough guy' these days with defensive linemen bigger and faster than ever. Add to that, the bounty scandal, in which some New Orleans Saints were allegedly paid to inflict injury.

Aaron Rodgers: Every game I feel like they're trying to take me out. Now I don't know about money. I've never felt there's been money on my head. But, that's what happens. The defense is trying to either knock you out of the game or knock you out of your rhythm. It's everything from trash talking to a borderline late hit to a dirty play.

Scott Pelley: You seeing more of it now or less?

Aaron Rodgers: About the same. Again, I can't speak on any of the bounty stuff. Like, I don't know what teams were also using systems like that. But--

Scott Pelley: You think it's more than one?

Aaron Rodgers: Could have been. Could have been. It's not outside the realm of thinking that there could have been other teams that had similar systems.

You may have to be tough to play, but in Green Bay you have to be tough to watch. The fans, the owners, shovel snow to find their seats. Beatrice Froelich told us that she's missed one game since 1957. Her boss needed her that one and only Sunday. Nothing else -- nothing else -- has ever kept her away.

• « Previous Page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page »

[boviquine]

From a Non Football Fan
I was totally touched....this was an excellent piece and I totally enjoyed it. what a great story. what a great Quarterback. We are so LUCKY to have him here in green bay.....
THANK YOU Aaron!!!!!!

[dstaszak]

Almost a good news article but it devolved into something better suited to People's Magazine (as is too often the case on 60 Minutes these days). The opening comments about the uniqueness of the Green Bay franchise were right on! A small market team with a proud winning record. Community owned with loyal "owner" fans. That is the topic that should have been the focus of the whole piece. It would have been investigative news worthy of 60 Minutes. If ,as is evident, this model works why is it that no other NFL Team is set up that way? Why does the league prohibit similar arrangements? Is congressional action required? What about a lawsuit? A comparison to the Buffalo Bills would have been good; another small market team with a supposedly good owner that hasn't been able to put together a winning team since Jim Kelly. And a team with a 90 plus year old owner that is destined to leave town when he dies. Why not let the Bills become community owned? The fan base is every bit as loyal and enthusiastic as Green Bay's and if Ralph Wilson is such a good owner why isn't he seeing to securing a future for the Bill's in Buffalo?

By the way, you did a good piece awhile back when you interviewed NFL Commissioner: Roger Goodell and got him say that the NFL "combines socialism and capitalism." But again you missed the opportunity to take up the community ownership question.

How about giving it another try? Thanks.

[MacmanPackerFan]

Scott Pelley, interesting interview and somewhat insensitive to your subject. During your interview you learned of Mr. Rogers unease with some aspects of fame and for your ending you chose to show a vulnerability. Either a dig at an unsuccessful first "Lambeau Leap" or a week attempt to show an acceptance by the family of Packer Fans.

It may be a glass half full or glass half empty argument however during the interview you chose to learn from teamates of Roger's nature. We all accomplish more with positive reinforcement yet in my mind you've shown yourself as disrespectful of an accomplished professional.

I wish Scott Pelley had acted in the editorial cutting room as an accomplished professional, too.

[dbolanduscr]

I have to say, until I read this comment, my thought of Aaron Rodgers, who I WAS a huge fan of, was, "Wow, I would have never thought he was such a big baby about his height. What a way to treat a fan!" But now your comment has made me look at it differently - somewhat. Now I'm not completely disappointed in him - just somewhat.