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ASAPSports Interview with Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers
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Thanks to Frank Supovitz, SVP of Special Events for the NFL, Greg Aiello, Vice President of Public Relations of the National Football League, and Leslie Hammond, VP of Media Relations for the NFL, I was able to cover the 2005 NFL Draft. Here's my account - Zennie Abraham, Chairman and CEO, Sports Business Simulations.
2005 NFL DRAFT
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
April 23, 2005
AARON RODGERS
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Q. Can you describe what the wait was like?
AARON RODGERS: It was easy. You know, not a lot of teams I think needed
quarterbacks. After you got to a certain number, we knew that after 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, was probably not going to happen. That was the
toughest part, just the wait, but good things come to those who. The Lord has
been teaching me a lot about humility and patience, and He kind of threw both of
those in my face today. I'm excited about going to Green Bay and being able to
learn from the greatest quarterback in the League right now, and probably a
first-ballot Hall of Famer, by far.
Q. Who were you on the phone with? You were on the phone for quite a while.
AARON RODGERS: The team.
Q. So what did they say to you?
AARON RODGERS: Well, they were kind of like, "Well, we're thinking about
taking you on." I was like, "okay." (Laughter).
Q. Did you sense they were very excited, like, "I couldn't believe you fell
this far"?
AARON RODGERS: They were. I talked to them at the combine and they said,
"Man, we would love to have you, but we don't think you'll be available." I
said, "I would love to come here." Obviously I didn't think I would be
available, but I'm excited. It's going to be a good opportunity for me to sit
back and watch one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play and learn from him
and dig into his mind.
Q. When are you going to call him?
AARON RODGERS: I'll probably try and see him tomorrow.
Q. What's the first thing you want to ask him, when you talk to Brett Favre?
AARON RODGERS: I don't know, I have a million questions. I'm a big sports
fan, so...
Q. Will you get a Brett Favre jersey?
AARON RODGERS: Ask him if I can wear number 4 maybe.
Q. You grew up a 49er fan and wore Joe Montana's T-shirt underneath your
pads, how disappointed are you?
AARON RODGERS: Obviously I would have loved to be the first pick and stay in
California, but I want to go to a team that wants me, and they obviously didn't
want me and didn't think I was going to help the team out. Green Bay does and
I'm excited about being able to work with them and kind of have Brett groom me
and the team groom me for potentially taking over when he's finished.
Q. How did you like that response from the gallery when you came out?
AARON RODGERS: I loved it. I mean, that meant a lot to me. A lot of it was my
family and friends I brought here, but I appreciate it. I think some of you guys
understand, it wasn't the easiest thing going through what I went through, but I
saw with Roethlisberger last year getting picked I think 11th, and he went to a
great team, went 15-1. Not saying I'm going to be playing right away, because I
don't think I am, but it will be exciting being a part of a team that has a real
good chance of making the playoffs next year.
Q. You're always going to give your best and try your hardest, but do you
think falling this far will give you extra incentive to work that much harder to
prove that everybody else was wrong? Because there are a lot of us who still
believe you are the No. 1 pick in this draft.
AARON RODGERS: It might give me a little extra incentive, yeah. It might
cross my mind. (Laughter).
Q. Being one of the last guys, what did you and Antel say to each other
before he got picked?
AARON RODGERS: When we were joking around yesterday about putting some money
in the pool or something, to see who the last guy would be in the green room,
but it's not so funny when you're the last one in the green room.
(Laughter).
Q. Everyone in Chico and the North Valley is very proud of you. Do you own a
winter jacket?
AARON RODGERS: I will. I was telling Jordan, I've got to go buy one, we've
got to go get a couple of jackets.
Q. Any regrets or second thoughts about leaving school?
AARON RODGERS: Not at all. I really feel like everything I've been learning
and I've seen over the last three or four months confirms the fact that I was
supposed to leave. This doesn't change that in my mind. Coach Tedford even
really encouraged me to take off, and I'm excited about just being able to move
on and it's going to be great working with Brett Favre. It's going to be nice
for me maybe not having a lot of pressure going in.
Q. Were you happy with your Pro Day workout?
AARON RODGERS: Yeah, I think anybody that went to that could tell you how
good it was.
Q. Do you think sitting behind Brett and being able to wait a year or two
before you have to jump in and start will actually help you in the long term, as
opposed to having to be rushed in the starting lineup like in San
Francisco?
AARON RODGERS: There's not a lot of pressure on me coming in. At the same
time I'm going to be surrounded by probably a better supporting cast than some
of the guys at the top.
Q. What do you know about their offense and how do you think you'll fit in?
AARON RODGERS: Not a whole lot. I obviously didn't think I was going to be
here, but I know they run a version of the West Coast, which I think fits my
style. I mean, high percentage passing and need to be efficient with the ball.
Just anybody watching Brett Favre knows that he makes good decisions within the
offense and he makes good options, and Amman catching the ball in the backfield.
They run a lot of screens, too. High-percentage passing I think is my
style.
Q. As it went on was there any thought in your mind when the Raiders traded
up they might call you?
AARON RODGERS: For a second but...
Q. For a second.
AARON RODGERS: For a second.
Q. Did Green Bay even talk to you before the draft?
AARON RODGERS: No. I don't think even a lot of you guys probably didn't think
I'd drop this far. I didn't think I'd drop this far.
Q. None of us did.
AARON RODGERS: I don't think they had a chance. I don't think they thought
they had a chance.
Q. Did you have a feeling which direction San Francisco was going to go in
before today or before the draft started?
AARON RODGERS: Two weeks ago I thought it was me. Then, I don't know, I guess
I went home and they knew I wasn't working out and throwing the ball, so I guess
I dropped to way down. I don't know. You know a week ago it seemed like it was
even, and then word started, saying, oh, Mike likes Alex. This morning I think
me and my agent, we both realized it was going to be Alex or they were going to
trade it. We were still thinking maybe Miami potentially, Tampa 5, Washington
was in the game, Arizona if I fall that far. We were thinking, well, the farther
I fell, my value as a highly rated player, might override some of the teams'
potential needs.
Q. Are you able to tell yourself, hey, I'm still the same quarterback chosen
and despite the fact you fell, you're still the No. 2 quarterback?
AARON RODGERS: I still think I'm the best quarterback in this draft.
Q. I agree. (Laughter).
AARON RODGERS: (Smiling).
Q. I know the wait was uncomfortable but in some ways do you feel like the
luckiest player in this draft?
AARON RODGERS: Well, I really do. I mean, being able to be in a situation
where I can go to a team that has a good supporting cast, a great running back,
storied franchise, and not having to be thrown right in the fire right away, I
think, you know, the big knock -- there's been a big knock on me as a Tedford
product and a lot of those guys have been in situations where we were not around
a good supporting cast. I'm going to have the opportunity, when my time comes,
be it next year, two years, whatever, to have a good supporting cast in
place.
Q. You mentioned Coach Tedford and his proteges' mixed results in the NFL,
was that a factor in you dropping the way you did?
AARON RODGERS: I don't think that was a factor. The 49ers was obviously the
spot we thought we would go, and they chose Alex. After that, it was just need.
Like I said, we were hoping that the value of me as I fell would override some
of those teams' needs, and when it came down to it, Cleveland backed out and
said they didn't want a quarterback a couple of weeks ago. Thursday I got a call
from Gruden, thinking maybe it was going to be Tampa but we found out yesterday
this, and this morning that that wasn't going to be the case. We were just
hoping somebody would take me, because of my high value.
Q. What did Gruden say to you on Thursday?
AARON RODGERS: I can't say everything, it's not the cleanest, but --
(laughter). He's a great guy, I love Jon Gruden. It's funny how you can get
compliments mixed in with curse words. (Laughter). He's a great guy, and I guess
we'll see him a couple of times.
Q. Did he indicate to you that at that point you were a strong
contender?
AARON RODGERS: He said they liked me and they were thinking strongly about
taking me.
Q. But you heard the last two days that wasn't going to be the case?
AARON RODGERS: Yes.
Q. When the time comes for you to take over for Brett Favre, if it comes, how
much pressure do you expect to deal with that?
AARON RODGERS: Pressure, following Brett Favre? (Laughter). Yeah, definitely
a lot of expectations, high expectations. They are used to winning out there.
They are going to expect me to step right in and not miss a beat, whatever that
is, if God forbid something happened to Brett next year, they are going to
expect me to come in and probably be successful and I have no problem with that.
Steve Young won a Super Bowl following my idol, Joe Montana.
Q. Are you apprehensive at all about the cold?
AARON RODGERS: No. (Smiling) I've got big hands.
Q. Are there any particular similarities or differences you and Brett might
have, like him or unlike him?
AARON RODGERS: Yeah, I think Brett's top qualities - mental toughness,
physical toughness, I have both of those. We both play with a supreme level of
confidence; he's not afraid to make any throw and neither am I. I'm going to try
to learn how he throws the ball so darned hard. I play at a high level of
confidence and that's what makes Brett so good.
Q. You never lived outside of California, have you?
AARON RODGERS: Well, we lived in Oregon for a few years.
Q. But you're moving to Wisconsin, that's a big change.
AARON RODGERS: Where? (Laughter). I'll be fine. I'm excited.
Q. You handled this quite well, but can you go through your emotions and
describe them during this time. It was, I imagine, in some ways a painful
experience. Were you angry at some point or frustrated?
AARON RODGERS: No, I just think you hope for the best, you prepare for the
worst. Me and my agent talked this morning about, you know, our possibilities. I
started preparing myself that things could not go my way. But I'm excited.
Obviously a little disappointed not to be No. 1, but I mean I'm going to a
situation which is going to be great for me to play behind the best quarterback
in the league and be in a storied franchise. For me, the biggest thing I was
telling my family and my agent is I want to go to a place that wants me and they
definitely do. So I'm excited.
Q. During this process, in speaking to other teams, did anybody say that they
were going to take you and obviously they didn't?
AARON RODGERS: Well, yeah, but I heard that from a few teams over the last
month or so. Everything changes. We were expecting some trades to happen,
Cleveland to trade down, Miami to try to trade down. Things didn't happen.
Things get a little screwy on draft day, I think we all know that, but we
expected more teams to be interested.
Q. What's your favorite kind of cheese?
AARON RODGERS: Provolone. (Laughter).
End of FastScriptsÖ.
NFL Draft Part One
| NFL Draft Part Two
| NFL Draft Part Three
| NFL Draft Part Four
| NFL Draft Part Five
| NFL Draft Part Six
| NFL Draft Part Seven
