17 Jan GETTING TO KNOW GREEN BAY PACKERS QUARTERBACK AARON RODGERS
Name: Aaron Charles Rodgers
Date of birth:December 2, 1983 (age 33)
Place of birth:Chico, California
Height:6 ft 2 in
Weight:225 lb
School: University of California, Berkeley
Salary:In 2016, Rodgers earned a base salary of$11,500,000, a roster
bonus of $600,000 and a workout bonus of $500,000.
Pressure doesn’t seem to bother you. Is that something that comes
naturally or did you have to work at it?
A: I think part of it is natural but I think you can train yourself to
block out some of that pressure and replace it with confidence. For
me, it’s always been about preparation, and the more prepared I can be
each week, the less pressure I feel and the more confident I am. As
your confidence grows, it’s only natural that the pressure you feel
diminishes.
Has money or fame changed you at all through the years?
A: I think so. I think it has to. I think you have to be aware of how
a contract like this changes the way you’re looked at both on the team
and outside the building. In general, when you have success on the
field, you’re more popular and you have that fame that comes with it.
You realize you’re in the public eye more and you’ve got to be a
little bit more careful about some of the things you’re doing out in
public and make sure you’re smart about the things you say. You’re
still going to make mistakes from time to time, but you represent an
even greater population and people are that much more looking for you
to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or fall down or say
something really stupid that’s going to get you in trouble.
What do you think you would you be doing if you didn’t play football?
A: I’d have to be competing in something. Whether that’s part of a
military team, or coaching. Being involved with sports, because I love
the competition.
What is left for you to accomplish in your career?
A: Well, I don’t say this lightly but I think I still have a lot left
in the tank. I think I still have a lot of really good football in
front of me. I’d love to win a few more championships. That’s what we
play for every year. It’s a tough division, tough conference but I
like the challenge of getting myself in really good shape and beating
teams with my mind and continuing to play at a really high level. And
I think I can do that for an extended period of time.
When you hear people refer to you as the best quarterback in the NFL,
what goes through your mind
A: That I want to prove it. I want to prove them right if they say
that. Or if they don’t say that, I want to change their mind. But it’s
all about winning Super Bowls. I’ve been able to accomplish a lot
individually as far as statistics go, with the passer rating,
touchdowns, touchdowns to interceptions or what have you. I would
trade all of that for some more Super Bowls. I think with the team
we’ve got … 5,000 (passing) yards in Green Bay, or 55 touchdowns is
not really on my sight. It’s about winning championships, and I think
we have the type of team to compete. It’s a matter of can we come
together and get the chemistry right?
You were so close to a second Super Bowl appearance two seasons ago.
What would your legacy be if you never got another one?
A: Well, I don’t like to think in those terms. I’d like to think we’re
going to get back there and win another one. I’d be disappointed if we
didn’t because you put a lot into it, and we feel like we’ve been
close a few times and had some good teams and let a couple slip away.
So it would be disappointing to not get back there, but I’m trying to
avoid that and get back there this year.