Aaron Rodgers wins first league MVP award of 2014

Posted by Mike Spofford on January 14, 2015 – 12:05 pm

GREEN BAY — Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was named the league’s MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) on Wednesday, the first league MVP award announced for the 2014 season.

Rodgers finished the regular season with 341 completions in 520 attempts for 4,381 yards with 38 touchdowns and just five interceptions for a 112.2 passer rating.

He had the fewest interceptions in the league while ranking second in passer rating and third in TD passes. He led the Packers to a 12-4 regular-season record as Green Bay captured its fourth straight NFC North title and earned a first-round playoff bye with the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

The PFWA award could potentially be a precursor to the Associated Press NFL MVP award, recognized as the league’s official award, which Rodgers won in 2011. It will be announced during the annual NFL Honors show on Jan. 31, the night before Super Bowl XLIX.

Earlier this week, Rodgers was named to PFWA’s All-NFL team. PFWA also selected Rodgers, WR Jordy Nelson and G Josh Sitton for its All-NFC team, while C Corey Linsley and S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix were named to PFWA’s All-Rookie team.


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Saturday came to Green Bay to win

Posted by Mike Spofford on July 30, 2012 – 2:45 pm

New Packers center Jeff Saturday used the phrase, “Make no bones about it.” He chose Green Bay in free agency because he wants to win another title.

“Absolutely,” Saturday said after Monday’s practice. “That’s why I came here.  When we sat down and I talked to Mike (McCarthy) … ‘What’s the goal?’ ‘To win a championship.’ It’s not to win a division, … it’s to win a championship. I’m not a spring chicken anymore. I’ve only got so many left.”

Entering his 14th season, Saturday went to two Super Bowls with the Colts, winning one. He’s now working with his second MVP quarterback in Aaron Rodgers after snapping to Peyton Manning in Indianapolis for roughly a decade.

“I tell them, those guys are awfully lucky to have me as a center,” Saturday said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. “No, I’m just kdding. It’s incredible. How blessed can you be, right? You go from MVP to MVP, and both guys are well-deserving.

“Aaron is an absolute stud. I’ve been impressed with his work ethic, I’ve been very impressed with his knowledge of the offense, and I’m excited to have a chance to win with him. Let’s go try to put another trophy on the shelf, man.”

The Packers brought Saturday to Green Bay to help them win, of course, but also to possibly help tutor a center of the future. The best candidate at the moment is Evan Dietrich-Smith, whom Saturday already has taken under his wing. Saturday said he’s been feeding Dietrich-Smith various “little tricks of the trade.”

“I keep telling him, you have to try all these things, and once you get them, they help you go a long way,” Saturday said. “They look really good in a game. When you practice them against the same guy every day, it may not look as good. But you get accustomed to doing them in the game and they’re going to make you a better player.

“He’s a great kid. The kid’s got a great future ahead of him and I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”

Elsewhere on offense, WR Tori Gurley continues to get opportunities to use his 6-4, 232-pound frame on jump balls. The QBs gave him repeated tries at an end-zone/corner-fade, and he came down with the first two. The first one was in a one-on-one drill against CB Casey Hayward, and after the catch, Rodgers encouraged Gurley to celebrate with the crowd. Call it a “Nitschke Leap” for Ray Nitschke Field, but the crowd was eating it up.

“I’m just having fun,” Gurley said. “I see how (Donald) Driver gets the crowd going, so I was like, you know what, I can do the same myself. Every time I catch a ball, I just wink at somebody and enjoy myself.

“I look forward to “Lambeau leaping” pretty soon.”

Gurley’s other jump-ball TD came over CB Otis Merrill in an 11-on-11 red-zone period. In a later red-zone team period, QB Graham Harrell tried to go up top to Gurley, but CB Davon House played the ball well and kept it from Gurley’s grasp.

“He plays his technique well and he uses his size,” Gurley said of House, who’s 6-1, 195. “He was able to make some plays. I got him and he got me. We’re just going to keep competing, and hopefully Family Night, I have the better showing.”


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Posted in Packers.com Blog, Training Camp

Rodgers wins ESPY again

Posted by Mike Spofford on July 12, 2012 – 10:09 am

For the second straight year, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was named Best NFL Player at the 20th annual ESPY awards on Wednesday night. Rodgers won the award last year coming off of Green Bay’s Super Bowl triumph and his Super Bowl MVP award. This year he won the NFL MVP award after breaking the single-season league record for passer rating with a 122.5 mark.

So, over the last couple of weeks, Rodgers has been named the top player in NFL Network’s “Top 100,” Ron Jaworski’s top quarterback in his QB countdown on ESPN, and now Best NFL Player at the ESPYs.


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Four Packers in Top 100 so far; how many more?

Posted by Mike Spofford on June 7, 2012 – 3:46 pm

The NFL Network’s Top 100 players series has only 30 players left to reveal. Thus far in the first 70 (100 through 31), four Packers have made the list.

Here’s the recap:

No. 92, FB John Kuhn
No. 80, WR Jordy Nelson
No. 56, WR Greg Jennings
No. 36, CB Charles Woodson

Based on those results, it would stand to reason two Packers will be revealed somewhere in the top 30: LB Clay Matthews and QB Aaron Rodgers.

It may be tough to predict where Matthews will land. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl each of his first three seasons, but last year’s six sacks were a career low. Yet, he’s the defensive player that opposing offenses game plan around, and this list is voted on by the players themselves.

Coming off his MVP season, Rodgers very well could end up No. 1. He set a league record for single-season passer rating at 122.5 last year, and he threw 45 TD passes in just 15 games. He’s at the top of his game, and if he’s not No. 1, he’s going to be pretty darn close.

Are there any other Packers you think should have shown up in the Top 100 so far? How about predictions for where Matthews and Rodgers are ranked? Tell us what you think.


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Rodgers stars in another Brewers promo

Posted by Duke Bobber on April 24, 2012 – 4:05 pm

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has popped up in another promotional video for the Milwaukee Brewers. The spot, dubbed “Glare,” was released on brewers.com today. What do you think?


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Rodgers named Pro Football Weekly’s MVP, Cobb makes All-Rookie Team

Posted by Duke Bobber on January 16, 2012 – 12:36 pm

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has been named Pro Football Weekly’s Most Valuable Player for the 2011 NFL season. He also made the publication’s annual All-NFL Team as the lone quarterback. WR/KR Randall Cobb was honored as the All-Rookie Team kickoff returner. The awards are voted on by Pro Football Weekly, along with the Professional Football Writers of America.

Here is the full list of honors:

2011 All-NFL Team

Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers / Packers

Running backs
Maurice Jones-Drew / Jaguars
LeSean McCoy / Eagles

Wide receivers
Calvin Johnson / Lions
Wes Welker / Patriots

Tight end
Rob Gronkowski / Patriots

Center
Maurkice Pouncey / Steelers

Offensive Guards
Jahri Evans / Saints
Carl Nicks / Saints

Offensive Tackles
Jason Peters / Eagles
Joe Thomas / Browns

Defensive ends
Jared Allen / Vikings
Jason Pierre-Paul / Giants

Defensive tackles
Haloti Ngata / Ravens
Justin Smith / 49ers

Outside linebackers
DeMarcus Ware / Cowboys
Terrell Suggs / Ravens

Inside linebacker
Patrick Willis / 49ers

Cornerbacks
Darrelle Revis / Jets
Johnathan Joseph / Texans

Safeties
Troy Polamalu / Steelers
Eric Weddle / Chargers

Placekicker
David Akers / 49ers

Punter
Andy Lee / 49ers

Punt returner
Patrick Peterson / Cardinals

Kickoff returner
Joe McKnight / Jets

Special-teamer
Matthew Slater / Patriots

Most Valuable Player — Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
Defensive MVP — Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs
Coach of the Year — 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh
Rookie of the Year — Panthers QB Cam Newton
Offensive Rookie of the Year — Panthers QB Cam Newton
Defensive Rookie of the Year — 49ers OLB Aldon Smith
Most Improved Player of the Year — Giants WR Victor Cruz
Comeback Player of the Year — Lions QB Matthew Stafford
Executive of the Year — 49ers GM Trent Baalke
Assistant Coach of the Year — Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips
Golden Toe (Best Placekicker or Punter)  — 49ers PK David Akers/49ers P Andy Lee (co-winners)

2011 All-rookie Team

Quarterback
Cam Newton / Panthers

Running backs
DeMarco Murray / Cowboys
Roy Helu / Redskins

Wide receivers
A.J. Green / Bengals
Julio Jones / Falcons

Tight end
Kyle Rudolph / Vikings

Center
Mike Pouncey / Dolphins

Offensive Guards
Stefen Wisniewski / Raiders
Danny Watkins / Eagles

Offensive Tackles
Tyron Smith / Cowboys
Nate Solder / Patriots

Defensive ends
J.J. Watt / Texans
Jabaal Sheard / Browns

Defensive tackles
Marcell Dareus / Bills
Phil Taylor / Browns

Linebackers
Aldon Smith / 49ers
Von Miller / Broncos
Ryan Kerrigan / Redskins

Cornerbacks
Patrick Peterson / Cardinals
Richard Sherman / Seahawks

Safeties
Chris Conte / Bears
Chris Harris / Broncos

Placekicker
Dan Bailey / Cowboys

Punter
Matt Bosher / Falcons

Punt returner
Patrick Peterson / Cardinals

Kickoff returner
Randall Cobb / Packers

Special teamer
Akeem Dent / Falcons


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