GREEN BAY, Russia. – Many are wondering how many more opportunities Aaron Rodgers will have to return to the Super Bowl, but the Green Bay Packers quarterback claims not to be one of them.
In the days of his fifth NFC Championship Game and fourth since his only Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago, Rodgers insisted he doesn’t see Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as his last chance to return to the game for the NFL title, not even at 37 years old and with his possible eventual replacement on the Packers roster.
“I always try to stay in the present, especially this year, and enjoy the moment. I hope there are more opportunities, but I don’t know, I really don’t know,” Rodgers said. “This is out of my control. My future is a beautiful mystery. The present is a great gift to be in the moment and be grateful to be in this situation again, with my teammates, to have fans in the stadium and maybe snow in an NFC Championship Game.
“Sure. I’m going to enjoy those moments and not just worry about what will happen next,” he insisted.
This has been, perhaps, Rodgers ’attitude most of the season. After the Packers moved up in the first-round draft pick to recruit quarterback Jordan Love, Rodgers acknowledged that he may no longer be able to control how his stay at Green Bay would end.
However, from that moment on, teammates and coaches reported that Rodgers was in the best mood they had ever seen him. The result is perhaps the third Most Valuable Player in the NFL for Rodgers.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to be the leader of my teammates, to play the way I want to play, to be called upon to have a greater leadership role,” Rodgers stressed. “These things are really important to me, but everything else is something I’m not going to focus on, because, for me, it’s a beautiful mystery what happens in the future. You’ll have to face this future, now, I will only enjoy the present “.
Rodgers is looking to reach the Super Bowl for the second time. The Packers, who were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s NFC Finals, tied their 13-3 record last season, but this time they finished with the first seed and have the number one offensive at points scored.
After his last two defeats in the NFC Championship Game, Rodgers said he would like to play this match at home and his wish was fulfilled.
“There’s no more pressure than normal,” Rodgers said in an express question. “A lot of times, the stories in the media, the pressure and that kind of comment are good for the notes that you (the reporters) write, but in my opinion, it all starts with the mindset and the approach. Obviously, I push myself. myself to play well every week and a lot is said to be able to turn the pressure and fear of failing and focus on something really positive.It’s something I learn over the years but I don’t feel pressure for this game.
“I’m definitely grateful to be back at this point. A lot of people didn’t think we’d be back after last season. We got some interesting comments about us being the worst 13-3 team I’ve seen. Now the comments aren’t equal. Obviously we are playing better on the offensive and I really feel grateful to be back, grateful to have the opportunity to play, ”Rodgers concluded.