Is it Cassel or Rodgers under the most pressure?

I can’t think of any NFL quarterbacks that will be under more pressure than both Matt Cassel and Aaron Rodgers. Rookies may feel pressure, but coaches expect mistakes in the learning process and are often willing to sacrifice a season so lessons can be learned. Baltimore’s Joe Flacco and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan were brilliant in their openers, and perhaps felt they were playing under pressure. But when it comes to Cassel and Rodgers, two former Pac 10 hurlers, there is no denying that their situations have thrown them under the microscope, with pressure built to explode, before taking a starting snap in 2008.

Rodgers has the unlikely task of replacing an NFL legend. That pressure would have been somewhat lessened, if not for Brett Favre’s name appearing on the roster for the New York Jets. A retired Brett Favre would have closed a chapter on a local hero, giving Rodgers the opportunity to begin his own. But an active Brett Favre, wearing the green of another franchise, leaves the new Green Bay quarterback open to comparison and burdened with expectations.

As it stands today, the biggest victory in the career of Aaron Rodgers came on September 27, 2003, as he led his Cal Golden Bears to an unlikely upset over top ranked USC. Across the field on the opposing sideline, Matt Leinart had the worst game of his collegiate career. And watching it all happen from the bench, Matt Cassel sat waiting his turn.

Rewind 2 games before that September date, and Cassel thought he was going to lead the Trojans in 2003. He was passed over, and had limited playing time that came as clean up duty in Southern Cal blowouts, the same role he played in New England. He watched conference hurlers such as Derek Anderson, Trent Edwards, Kellen Clemens, and Andrew Walter flourish on their amateur fields, and then receive opportunities in the NFL. But for the undrafted Cassel, it remained a waiting game. With the Patriots losing Tom Brady for the remainder of this 2008 season, Cassel will be making his first start since Chatsworth High School. Add another headliner for the Southern California city....Charles Manson, The porn industry, Kevin Spacey, Val Kilmer, and MATT CASSEL.

Which of these two Pac 10 quarterbacks is in the greater pressure cooker? For me, the answer is pretty simple. It has to be Matt Cassel. The heat is turned up on both, but the expectations in Green Bay are less than New England. Cassel inherits a team riding a 20 game regular season win streak that was only seconds away from a perfect season and another Lombardi Trophy. They are Superbowl favorites again in 2008. Rodgers replaces a legend, but though he was effective, he was an old Brett Favre. Cassel replaces Tom Brady in his prime, arguably the league’s greatest passer over the past few years. Rodgers can lose a game and get a pass, but if Cassel loses one, Beantown goes into a panic. Losing in the regular season hasn’t occurred since 2006. No matter what factors lead to a negative showing on future scoreboards, the thinking will always be that "Brady would have won that game".

It’s a tough situation for both, but when you enter the league backing up Superstars, and they are lost to injury, retirement or trade, the immense heat of public opinion can bring sweat to the brow of the newest faces; before they take a single snap.

Off Topic: Is Brett destroying his legend?

I told myself that I wasn’t going to write about Brett Favre, but that came about as easy as not hearing about him. I can’t help but think where the saga has gone in the past few months. We’ve gone from teardrops to demands. We’ve gone from the Packers removing and mailing his locker to his home address, to Favre requesting the entire stadium. And in the view of some, four months have transformed Brett Favre from most honorable to most selfish. I would be included in the “some”.

I’m certainly hoping that ESPN and the Green Bay Packers didn’t put too much thought or effort into the planning of the Brett Favre retirement bash, scheduled to open the season on a Monday Night, and highlighted with the retiring of his number four at Lambeau. Hopefully they didn’t spend much time booking guest speakers, performers, and splicing together career highlight reels to be shown on the Jumbotron and aired nationally throughout the game. The planning phase comes to a screeching halt, as Mr. Fav-RAY wants back in.

During a retirement speech in March, a nation and fan base felt for him, and even cried with him. It was the end of a chapter, from a book of legend. Only 4 months have passed, barely giving time for a handkerchief to dry, and now Favre cries for his return. The legend established him as the heart, soul, and face of a Green Bay era, but a return will likely tarnish the past. Brett Favre requests his release, and in doing so, whether people see it or not, he’s asking to play anywhere, and not just in the arena that created him. What becomes of a legend, when playing for anyone is more important than playing in Green Bay? What happens when the hero of the frozen tundra is willing to clad himself in enemy colors? Doesn’t it say he doesn’t play for you or anyone that supported him throughout the years, but selfishly shows that he plays for himself? What happens, when a teary eyed figure of Wisconsin football, returns in the colors of Chicago Bears? Do you think Favre would reject an offer from Chicago, if it meant playing another year? What then becomes of legend?

What about the selfishness, allowing the Packers to go into the 2008 draft with a feeling that legend is gone? If not for Favre’s retirement, does Green Bay use a draft pick on QB Brian Brohm? If Favre doesn’t retire, what direction would the Packers have taken, in terms of drafting for necessity? What is the feeling of Aaron Rogers, who took snaps with the first team in OTA’s?

Now I’m reading about groups in Wisconsin staging protest to bring Favre back. I’m hearing about websites being launched, asking that Favre be released. How many of those same people were running Brett out of town and into retirement in 2005, when he threw 29 interceptions and finished with a passer rating just over 70? How many of those people were telling Brett to hang them up, after the Packers managed to only go 8-8 in 2006, and Favre’s 18 touchdowns matched the number of interceptions?

Michael Jordan once passed a bronze statue in his own liking, entering his workplace each day. He once played on a floor, with his retired jersey hanging from the rafters. That fact never dipped into his legend, but can Favre’s legend survive the same? I guess that is a question still waiting to be answered. But in the case of Michael Jordan, the Bulls were without a single legend before his arrival. In the case of Brett Favre, he played each game shadowed by the ghosts of Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi. Jordan is the greatest player in the History of the Chicago Bulls. Favre is just one of many in a long history of the Green Bay Packers. The current events, and the probability of return, certainly won't gain any support for his name topping the list. And depending on how ugly the situation may become, expect his name to fall.

King of The Frozen Tundra-NFC Championship Preview

We heard the stories, saw the lowlights, and witnessed the frustration on his face. He was washed up. The game had passed him by. Touchdown numbers were declining, while the number of interceptions were rising. His indecision on retirement was viewed as a man holding a franchise hostage. It was time to turn the page on an NFL legend, and allow our pens to flow the fresh ink of Aaron Rodgers. But 2007 revealed all that was unseen or forgotten, the heart, desire, and leadership that makes an aging NFL quarterback timeless. Surviving the scrutiny and criticisms of season's past, Brett Favre, the King of the frozen Tundra, now finds himself one Lambeau leap away from another Superbowl appearance.

New York Giants (10-6) at Green Bay Packers (13-3)

NFC Championship Game

Just as the AFC championship features a rematch of teams that met earlier in the season, the NFC gives us the same. And just like the AFC, the earlier meeting turned out to be lopsided, as the Packers routed the Giants by a score of 34-13. This time there is a venue change, and the Packers will be the frigid host to the traveling Gmen. The Giants are proven road warriors, winning 9 consecutive outings away from East Rutherford, but a January Green Bay playoff game will represent their stiffest test to date.

For the Giants, the road to the NFC title game went through Tampa Bay and Dallas. And as bumpy as the ride may have been, they managed to stay on their feet to reach the frozen sod of Lambeau Field. The Packers defended their home, overcoming mistakes and an early Seahawks lead, before literally running Seattle out of town. Now, two that stared from a distance, find themselves eye to eye, with the same visions and dreams of punching their ticket to the Superbowl.

Green Bay Offense: The early season knock against Green Bay was the lack of production in the running game. Though they continued to win games, most believed their inability to move the ball on the ground would eventually lead to playoff failure. Ryan Grant eventually emerged as that much needed ball carrying force, falling just shy of 1000 yards on the season, and plowing through the snow for 201 yards in last weekend's playoff victory against Seattle. When your back is averaging 5.1 yards per carry for the season, I'd say you've silenced the early criticisms and found a running game.

After throwing for 20 TDs and 29 picks in 2005, followed by 18 Tds and 18 INTs in '06, Brett Favre bounced back to throw for 28 scores and 15 interceptions in 2007. Despite two years of harsh criticism, Favre leads the NFL's 2nd ranked offense, averaging 370 yards a game, which is just 40 yards less than Tom Brady's patriots. As always, a favorite target, and one of the most dangerous after the catch, is Donald Driver. But not to go unnoticed, Greg Jennings has made the most of the attentiveness to his star teammate, and has capitalized with over 900 receiving yards of his own.

Green Bay Defense: The physical play of the Packers defense allows them to be somewhat more than their numbers indicate. The unit ranks 12th against the pass (207 yards per game) and 14th against the run (109 yards per game). It's old school defensive play, which includes jamming receivers and bumping routes. The pass rush doesn't represent anything fierce, but is efficient, and will force every yard gained to be completely earned.

New York Offense: Everyone expected to see a Manning in a conference championship game, but no one expected it to be Eli. After spending years in the shadow of his older brother, Eli Manning now steps into this game, and into the shadow of the opposing Brett Favre. It appears the Giants have made adjustments in the offensive passing game, which has reduced Manning's early season struggles and produced late season success. With the inconsistent play of the offensive line, the Giants are showing fewer 5 step drops and pocket collapses, and the more efficient and quick striking 3 step play calling. The ageless Amani Toomer provides support to a receiving corps headlined by Plaxico Burress, and their production will be key to softening a Packer defense to create more running lanes.

The Gmen lost a key piece to the offense, when Jeremy Shockey went down to injury, but a healthy rookie receiver, Steve Smith, has risen in the playoffs and provided some key receptions. As always, Manning is supported by a strong running attack. Surrounded by questions, after the departure of Tiki Barber, Brandon Jacobs gave the answer, going over 1000 yards on the season, and appearing as a force in the backfield.

New York Defense: The strength of the Giants is on the defensive side of the ball, and it was displayed in their playoff victory over the Cowboys, as they held the league's 4th ranked offense to 17 points, including just 3 in the second half. Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora look to wreak havoc in opposing backfields and have compiled 23 sacks between them. The prognosis on CB Aaron Ross is "probable", and his services will be needed. This Giants secondary allowed Favre to go 18 of 21 for 147 yards in second half of the first meeting. Healthy bodies in the unit will be necessary to avoid a replay.

Analysis: The Packers will be facing a Giants team that has a different look, which won't make round two as easy. Those earlier Giants struggled with discipline issues, making costly mistakes that hurt their chances. The earlier Giants also didn't see Michael Strahan in season form, after spending the preseason away from the sidelines with a contract hold out. Eli Manning has experienced a season of maturity, and the team as a whole has learned to set aside personal battles, and those with the media, to focus and battle the upcoming opponents.

Both team styles appear built for the Wisconsin elements. There's isn't the flash and flare of wide open passing games. It's a sound running attack supported by smash mouth defense. It's a legend of the game versus a possible legend to be made. Favre vs. Manning, and men vs. the elements. It's throwback football at Lambeau Field. It's the NFC Championship game. It's the Giants and the Packers.