Rodgers Deserves the Money

The Packers have established a pattern under GM Ted Thompson. No, it's not to ignore free agency (actually it is, but that's not the issue here). The Packers take care of their own.

You don't believe me? Ask Donald Driver, Al Harris, Cullen Jenkins, Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, Donald Lee, and Ryan Grant. When the organization feels they have seen enough from one of their young players, they reward the player with a contract extension.

That's exactly what went down yesterday. Aaron Rodgers, who has thrown for nearly 1,700 yards with twelve touchdowns and just four interceptions, got a six year extension (through 2014) worth 65 million dollars ($20M guaranteed).

Rodgers is deserving. Even the most anti-Rodgers fan has to admit that the Cal product has played well this year. Even the most pro-Brett guy cannot argue the fact that Rodgers has a higher passer rating than Favre does right now.

All Rodgers has done is walk into the most pressurized quarterback situation in the league, and performed almost flawlessly. He's even showed toughness. After all, how many other quarterbacks would have played with the shoulder injury he has.

The only issue anyone can bring up with this contract was whether or not seven games is enough to base a 65 million dollar contract on. After all, Tony Romo had seventeen starts under his belt before Jerry Jones gave him a 67 million dollar deal a year ago. David Garrard had nearly an entire season under his belt as a starter when the Jacksonville Jaguars gave him 58 million dollars in a new deal.

It's a legitimate issue, but one that I don't worry too much about. Romo was a complete unknown when he took over the Cowboys job, and Dallas waited so long before giving him his money to make sure what he did in 2006 wasn't a fluke. Garrard was a big question mark when he took over as the starter for Jacksonville last year. The Jaguars needed to see him extensively before giving him his big deal.

The Packers had no such concerns with Rodgers. He was a first round pick, so they new he at least had the talent to play on the NFL level. They knew that he knew the offense after sitting and waiting for three years. And, after the 2007 pre-season and that fabulous Thursday night performance in Dallas, they knew he would be more than fine when he finally got his chance.

Congrats, Aaron. Now all you have to do is live up to the 65 million dollar figure, something I don't think you'll have a problem doing.