Brett Favre: No Love for Aaron Rodgers?

Aaron Rodgers made a quick escape from Texas after winning the Super Bowl MVP - first he flew to Orlando for a ticker-tape parade through Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Then it was off to New York to appear on CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman."

But even after guiding the Packers to the top of the NFL, has Rodgers escaped the shadow of Brett Favre?

He doesn't think so.

"I don't think (the comparisons) ever stop because I'm the guy that followed him,'' Rodgers said Monday. "But I hope. You know, we're doing something special in Green Bay right now and I hope people can recognize that."

If Rodgers sounds like he's being diplomatic, he probably is. His relationship with Favre used to be as icy as Lambeau Field. Two years ago, after his mentor left Green Bay, Rodgers claimed that it wasn't just that the two hadn't talked in over a year - but that Favre wouldn't even return his phone calls. "That's disappointing," Rodgers said at the time

Still, many wondered if Favre would contact Rodgers to congratulate him on winning the Super Bowl MVP (a feat Favre did not accomplish himself).

According to ESPN's Mike Greenberg, Favre has not reached out to Rodgers (though he claims he was "rooting" for the Packers). Favre's silence has been the buzz of the blogosphere and has drawn the ire of at least a few football observers.

Of course, given his recent off-the-field cell-phone transgressions, Favre may no longer text or call anyone anymore. Or, could it be that he is irked that his apprentice could be diminishing his own legacy in Green Bay? One hopes he is not that petty. Still, public sentiment seems to be in Rodgers' corner. ("I think Aaron Rodgers should text Brett Favre a pic of his middle finger," one person Tweeted.)

It's interesting that Rodgers' childhood hero growing up in northern California was Joe Montana. Montana's successor Steve Young was thrust in the position of replacing a legend - a role he (and now Rodgers) has managed to thrive in.

For his part, Rodgers remains grateful about his apprenticeship under Favre.

"That was a valuable time, it really was," he told the NFL Network's Michael Irvin before the game. "I really learned a lot about practice habits from him, and I think you realize as a young player that a lot of the time, the practice goes as the top player or top leader goes. Practice time is so vital to the success of the team, so he would every day bring energy and enthusiasm, and I learned a lot of important lessons like that."

Hopefully the lessons he learned from Favre were only football-related.