http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=802811
Rodgers passes on sitting out
He throws three touchdowns, but late interception costly
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 5, 2008
Green Bay - Quarterback Aaron Rodgers convinced coach Mike McCarthy during an 8:45 a.m. workout Sunday in the Don Hutson Center that he could make all the throws necessary to start for the Green Bay Packers.
Yet it was the one throw he didn’t need to make that ended up defining his day.
Playing with a bruised right shoulder that as late as Saturday night made him think he was going to miss his first game, Rodgers overcame a slow start to complete 25 of 37 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons. The pain he endured was evident from the many times he grabbed his arm after unloading a pass, and there were times he couldn’t get the ball where he wanted it.
Nevertheless, in the fourth quarter the Packers were down by only 20-17 with less than 5 minutes to go. That’s when Rodgers had a lapse in judgment, throwing a ball to receiver Ruvell Martin on third and 19 from the Packers’ 21 that was intercepted and returned all the way to the 19.
Before he had a chance to realize the gravity of his mistake, the Falcons were ahead by 10 points and on their way to an upset, 27-24 victory in front of 70,610 fans at Lambeau Field.
“I don’t (regret playing),” Rodgers said in the locker room after the game. “I regret the one decision I made, the interception. But I put everything out there on the line today, my body, my shoulder.”
This game marked the second straight week that Rodgers overcame immense physical pain to try to lead the Packers to a comeback victory only to make a mental error that torpedoed his chances. Last week against Tampa Bay — after injuring the shoulder for the first time — it was his failure to recognize a blitz, and this time it was his refusal to throw a simple check-down and live another day.
“Check down, punt, play defense and try to stop them,” Rodgers said of the way things should have gone. “Unfortunately, I made a critical error, which gave them seven points.”
Nobody could be critical of Rodgers’ willingness to put his body on the line in a situation that is becoming more desperate for the Packers. After two straight losses, the Packers faced the prospect of facing the Falcons with rookie quarterback Matt Flynn, who had taken most of the snaps in practice last week.
Rodgers hadn’t practiced at all and after attempting to throw Friday was almost certain he wouldn’t be ready by Sunday. But he came in for treatment three times on Saturday, fitted himself with a protective brace and then fought through the pain to keep his modest five-game starting streak going.
“I didn’t think I was going to play when I came to the stadium this morning,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to make the throws. I just know that I threw on Friday and it didn’t feel like I was going to be able to play. I didn’t know how my shoulder would respond.”
In his pregame workout in front of McCarthy, Rodgers showed he could make all the required throws and then looked his coach in the eye and told him he wanted to play. According to Rodgers, he was told his shoulder was not at any risk for further damage so it was strictly a performance issue.
McCarthy was satisfied with what he got from Rodgers.
“I thought he performed at a high level,” McCarthy said. “He definitely wasn’t affected. He didn’t throw with the velocity that he’s capable of throwing. But I thought he did a great job managing the game, and he was smart with the football today.”
Other than the one poor decision and a slow start — 1 of 2 for 7 yards and a sack in the first quarter — he was productive. On each of his first two touchdown passes his receivers — Donald Driver (44 yards) and Greg Jennings (25 yards) — outmaneuvered defenders and made terrific catches to help him out.
As he warmed up, he made more and more solid throws down the field, utilizing eight different outlets and completing 67.5% of his passes.
Eventually though, pain caught up with him.
Near the end of the third quarter, he grimaced and grabbed his arm after firing a 14-yard slant route to receiver Jordy Nelson and then did it again on a 9-yard dig route to receiver James Jones two plays later. It happened again in the fourth quarter when he was hit by Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux after firing a pass to Jennings that went for 36 yards.
“I saw him in the fourth quarter grabbing his arm,” Martin said. “I was just hoping he was all right. I think it shows his dedication to the team. He knows that he’s a big part of this team and I think he feels almost a pressure to go out there and play. I don’t think we feel that way, that he needs to be out there. His health is No. 1.”
It was clear that Rodgers was not 100% from the beginning.
Perhaps the biggest indicator was a downfield throw he tried to make to a wide-open Jennings at the start of the third quarter. At the very least, the Packers would have had a first down somewhere around the Falcons’ 20, but the ball died coming out of his hand and fell about 5 yards short as Jennings tried to come back for it.
“It was painful the entire time,” Rodgers said. “When the sun was out, it was a little warmer (and) it was a little better. I just tried to stay warm on the sideline. I was definitely in some pain the entire time.”
Though Rodgers was able to lead the Packers on touchdown drives of 80 and 72 yards in the fourth quarter, he never got a chance to get the ball back after making it a 27-24 game with 1 minute 56 seconds left. Now he’ll have a week to try to get the shoulder in shape for Seattle.
“He showed a tremendous amount of heart,” Jennings said. “We know he’s in it for the long run with us. Just to be able to go out there with that amount of extreme pain and perform the way he did, my hat goes off to him.”