When Brett Favre said the other day it wasn’t in his contract to mentor Packers rookie quarterback Aaron Rodgers, one of the people who didn’t misunderstand was Rodgers.
“I feel the exact same way,” Rodgers said. “I don’t want him to treat me any different from any other quarterback.”
Besides, Rodgers is so happy to be watching his idol in training camp that Favre couldn’t possibly say or do anything to discourage him.
“The only thing I expect from Brett is if I have a question, he’ll answer it,” Rodgers said.
So has he asked?
“I will if I feel like that,” Rodgers said. “But I don’t want to bother him. I know I can learn a lot just by watching him.”
Rodgers, the latest heir apparent to Favre, might be afraid the first thing he would ask Favre is for his autograph. Favre has been starting for the Packers since Rodgers was 9.
“Funny story,” Rodgers said. “As a player I’m supposed to be his teammate, so I’m supposed to be professional and stuff. It’s hard because I’m still a kid and I’m still a huge Brett Favre fan. He made a couple of throws one day in practice and inside I was going crazy, like, `Man, that’s Brett Favre. Like he is unbelievable!’
“Outside, I’ve got to be like, `Hey, good throw, Brett.’ I just wanted to be like, `Darn, Brett, you are amazing!'”
Rodgers said he has learned two things from Favre.
“No. 1, he’s got the best on-off switch of anybody I’ve ever seen,” Rodgers said. “He makes the game so much fun when we’re just messing around, warming up. But when we get to playing, he is so focused and determined to be perfect in practice, it’s no wonder he’s been so phenomenal in games.
“The second thing is he makes very quick decisions.”
Favre says he wouldn’t want to tutor any quarterback on mechanics.
“I’ve never been mechanically sound,” he said. “But there is a rhyme and reason to the way I play. I would not teach another guy to do it. I throw from awkward positions. I never set my feet, and that’s probably one of the reasons I’ve escaped injury for a long time.
“Rex Grossman the other night, he plants and he’s just standing there. Nothing wrong with that. That’s the way he throws, and if you’re teaching a young quarterback, that’s the way you do it.”
Favre and Rodgers rely on quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell.
“I don’t need [Favre] to be my mentor or my teacher,” Rodgers said. “I have a quarterback coach. I’ve just tried to model my game after Brett. I don’t think I need anything else.”
Rodgers concedes he probably will need patience because Favre, who’ll turn 36 in October, doesn’t know how long he’ll play.
“I’m having so much fun with Brett, he can play until he’s 50,” Rodgers said. “We’ll have a blast together, I guarantee you.”
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dpierson@tribune.com
