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The Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay Packers could never really begin until the Brett Favre era ended, and even after Favre's retirement in March, it never felt like the future Hall of Famer had left.
With Favre and his 442 touchdown passes now 1,000 miles away, it's time for Rodgers -- the owner of one career TD toss -- to take center stage.
Rodgers and the Packers begin the post-Favre era in Green Bay on Monday night when they host the rival Minnesota Vikings in a season-opening battle between teams expected to vie for the NFC North title.
Many observers around the NFL felt Favre's record-setting career was over after he had sub-par seasons in 2005 and 2006. Then Favre responded with a year that conjured up memories of his prime. He completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, taking the Packers (13-3) to the NFC championship game, where they lost 23-20 in overtime to the New York Giants.
Favre retired in early March, leaving Rodgers to lead the team, but got an itch to play again during training camp. In an ugly saga between a player as synonymous with a city as the franchise itself, Favre and the Packers became involved in a stalemate. Green Bay Packers was ready to move on with Rodgers as its quarterback, but Favre wasn't ready to give up football. He was eventually traded to the New York Jets on Aug. 6, leaving Rodgers with the entire preseason knowing the Packers are his team.
"I think he grew up," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said of Rodgers. "I think we all grew up a little bit during that situation. I think he did a very good job of handling a challenge, handling a situation that there really wasn't a script for and was unprecedented."
No quarterback other than Favre has started a game for Green Bay since Sept. 27, 1992, so the only action Rodgers saw in his three years backing Favre up was in mop-up duty. He's thrown just 59 passes and one touchdown in his brief career, but feels like his role during the preseason saga has helped him just as much as snaps in meaningful games.
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