Sunny in New York, cold in Green Bay

By Nik Sobic  |   Monday, August 18, 2008  |  Comments( 6 )

Green Bay Packers
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If you’re following the Green Bay quarterback soap opera as closely as many fans, you're already aware that Brett Favre looked sharp in his Jets debut last weekend, completing 5-of-6 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown during their preseason loss to Washington. You also know that on the opposite coast, Favre's successor in Wisconsin, the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, was shaky during a 9-of-16 showing in a 28-point loss to San Francisco on Saturday.

When you consider Favre played about a quarter and Rodgers an entire half, and you compare the former's 139.6 passer rating to the latter's 64.1, the difference is even greater.

Beyond the numbers, the scariest part for Packer fans is the players' noteworthy difference in intangibles.

I would say most consider me a man’s man; I never cry after movies, I have trouble asking others for directions, and I eat a lot of beef jerky. To my surprise, I was overcome with chills when Favre completed his first rifle pass as a Jet over the middle to Jerricho Cotchery and later on after his TD toss to Dustin Keller. If Favre can inspire a chilling reaction from me, imagine what he can do with the 10 players he's lining up with. Favre’s presence has notoriously lifted the performance of players around him, and it seems -- for the time being, at least -- that Rodgers is having the opposite effect.

In the last two seasons (with Favre at the offensive helm), the only team that surrendered fewer sacks than the Packers is Indianapolis. In last weekend's game alone, Packer QBs were sacked six times. In addition to protection lapses, two of Green Bay’s most solid performers from last season -- wide receiver Donald Driver and tight end Donald Lee -- both dropped easy passes, one of which would've been a scoring grab. Rodgers' performance against the 49ers showed indecisiveness, a lack of playmaking ability and it inspired a sense of mild depression for fans.

Granted, this writer isn't ruling out a solid season for the Rodgers-led Pack, nor am I proclaiming Favre as the Jets' savior. All I’m saying is that after watching Favre’s Jets and Rodgers’ Packers in the middle stages of the NFL preseason, it's clear which is the better signal-caller.

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About Nik Sobic

Nik Sobic is a Graduate of Harvard University and former NFL/CFL football player. When he isn't writing about sports he's writing comedy. Nik's unique background and passion for writing make him a valuable addition to our staff. Nik was born and raised a Packer fan-he hails from Milwaukee, WI. ...
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