Man Meat Monday #26

It goes without saying that I can't wait for football to start. So, I've decided to honor the first of many football players for the upcoming season.

This week, I bring you the quarterback of my favorite NFC team and Nathan Adrian's fellow California Golden Bear...

Aaron Rodgers

There you go, Morgan. That's the closest Justin Timberlake will ever come to a Man Meat Monday post.

Claim to Fame: Quarterback for the Green Bay Packers

Birthday: December 2, 1983

In complete honesty, I liked the Packers before I liked the Bengals. My mom was raised in De Pere, Wisconsin, a tiny town of cheeseheads that live and breathe Packers' football. Her inbred love of the Packers followed her to Baltimore, then to Cincinnati. So, instead of growing up as a Bengals' fan, I watched Brett Favre work his magic throughout the '90s, including one glorious Super Bowl win in 1997.

I remember very well when Aaron Rodgers was drafted by the Pack in 2005. For three years, Rodgers sat back, bided his time, learned from Favre, and refined his game. Then, in 2008, Brett Favre, the lord and savior of the cheeseheads, announced his tearful "retirement." Not surprisingly, commentators and critics droned on and on about the big shoes Rodgers had to fill, their eternal love for Favre serving as a borderline condemnation for his protege.

After finishing his first season as a starter with a disappointing 6-10 record, Rodgers came back in a huge way in 2009, leading his team to the NFC wild card game and a 11-5 regular season record. 2010, however, was Aaron's time to shine. Finishing the season with a record of 10-6, the Packers ran over the Eagles, the Falcons, and the Bears before defeating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers completed three touchdown passes in the win and was named the game's MVP, an honor that his all-hallowed predecessor never received.

Oh yeah - if Aaron's talent and leadership isn't sexy enough for you, he's also 6'2", well-spoken, and great with his fans.

Random Tidbit: He has his own record label, Suspended Sunrise Recordings.

Only downfall?: He doesn't wear the orange and black. On second thought, this is probably a good thing - my beloved Bengals aren't getting to the Super Bowl any time soon.

My favorite thing about Aaron, however, is his celebration. Whenever he makes a game-changing play (particularly rushing or passing for a touchdown), he pretends to put on an imaginary championship belt. During his post-Super Bowl speech, teammate Clay Matthews put an actual WWE Championship Belt around his shoulders.



So, readers: It's your turn. Is anyone wondering what else Rodgers is packing?

...because I guarantee he does the championship belt in bed.