Quarterbacks in place for long haul

Brohm, Flynn will be in Rodgers' rearview mirror, but not breathing down his neck, says Packer Report's Todd Korth

Will there be a quarterback controversy in Green Bay between Aaron Rodgers and either of two new understudies - Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn? Don’t count on it, but the Packers had better keep Brett Favre’s number on speed dial in case disaster strikes.

General Manager Ted Thompson and the Packers made a great move in the second round of the NFL draft on Saturday by swooping up the free-falling Brohm, much in the same way they did with Rodgers in 2005. Today, Thompson followed up by selecting the talented but rather untested Flynn out of LSU in the seventh round. As an end result, the Packers have three young quarterbacks to lead the team in the post-Brett Favre era with apparently no veterans on the horizon.

Thompson today ruled out re-signing veteran Craig Nall and it doesn’t appear that the Packers will make an effort to sign veteran Daunte Culpepper. Thompson says that head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff is willing to work with the young QBs, so it’s going to be Rodgers leading the way with Brohm and Flynn learning the ropes.

All three QBs are unproven, which creates uncertainty, but Rodgers has used the past three seasons behind Favre to get comfortable with the offensive scheme. That gives the Packers and their fans every reason that Rodgers will be able to pick up where Favre left off and lead the team into the playoffs. In the little time that Rodgers has gotten to play in the regular season, he has shown enough to earn the starting spot heading into this season. He deserves the opportunity.

Brohm? He had an impressive career at Louisville, passing for a Big East record 10,775 yards. However, his head will be spinning throughout this season as he learns Mike McCarthy’s offense. Same with Flynn, who lead LSU to a victory in the BCS Championship Game earlier this year. It takes time and a number of practices to learn the West Coast system. Fortunately for Green Bay, Brohm and Flynn will get the opportunity to learn without getting flattened by a 250-pound linebacker either try to figure out where the open receiver is during a game.

Should Brohm catch on quickly to the offense, all the better, but the Packers have no reason to rush him into service. In the meantime, he can develop mentally and physically much like Rodgers has over the past three seasons. If Rodgers is injured, the veteran backup probably is going to get the nod to play ahead of Brohm, at least this season. That probably will change as the team heads into 2009, and maybe as soon as midway through the regular season.

Rodgers would have to struggle for most of the 2008 season before any quarterback controversy will arise. Until that scenario comes about, the pecking order at the position is clearly defined.

Providing Rodgers is a successful quarterback and can avoid any serious injuries, the Packers could be set for years to come. Time will tell, but Thompson has gone about rebuilding the position the best way possible behind a quarterbacks-minded coach.

Packers fans have been spoiled with Favre over the past 16 seasons. His durability combined with production was off the charts. Watching a different quarterback lead the team will different, but the Packers have armed themselves for the change with three capable quarterbacks. Just in case, however, Thompson may want to refrain from deleting Favre’s number from his phone list.