The Interview
Aaron Rodgers
PACKERS QB
A first-round pick in 2005, Rodgers is set to take over for Brett Favre this season.
Dan Patrick: When did you get the news on Favre?
Aaron Rodgers: When everybody else did. I was asleep in San Diego and got five or 10 calls before 7 a.m., and my roommate came in and woke me up.
DP: When do you feel the pressure of taking over?
AR: It's already in the air. It's a big topic in Green Bay. I just visited troops in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and a lot of the questions were about Brett. One soldier ripped me to my face. He started out, "I'm a big Packers fan. Well, not as much anymore now that Brett retired." And then he goes into a long statement, it's not even really a question, about how he's worried because we're solid at every position except for quarterback.
DP: How confident are you?
AR: I've never lost confidence in myself. I think the Dallas game [ Rodgers went 18 for 26 for 201 yards and a TD against the Cowboys last year after Favre went out with an injury] went a long way to prove to my teammates and the fans what I'm capable of. Now I've got to do it for a 16-week season.
DP: When's the last time you talked to Favre?
AR: Been a while. I thought maybe I'd give him a call, but I wanted things to die down a bit. I haven't heard from him, but I'm sure we'll talk soon. We were very close when he left, and I'm sure we'll stay close.

