TAMPA, Fla. -- Winless Tampa Bay will start rookie Josh Freeman, the 17th pick in this year's draft, at quarterback today against the Green Bay Packers, whose own quarterback was groomed for the job while sitting on the bench behind Brett Favre for three seasons.
Fifth-year pro Aaron Rodgers, in his second season as Green Bay's starter, is the NFL's top-rated passer through seven games. He has no problem with the way the Packers brought him along as a first-round draft pick.
"I think there's merit to waiting and learning, and also merit to being on the field and taking your bumps and bruises, and learning and improving and getting experience that way," Rodgers said.
"Personally I wouldn't have done it any other way. Although you think you're ready to play in Year 1, you look back for me, and the lights kind of came on in Year 3. That's when I really felt like I was ready to play at the level that I would have wanted to play at."
Green Bay, which at 4-3 has feasted on bad teams while not quite measuring up against stronger teams
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The Packers are ranked in the top 10 offensively and defensively, and Rodgers has been very productive despite being sacked a league-worst 31 times.
Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon will become the first inductee into the Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium, and the Bucs will don throwback creamsicle uniforms and helmets that are an ugly reminder of the franchise's winless inaugural season in 1976.
