Since becoming the starter in 2008, all Rodgers has done is win a Super Bowl, win a League MVP, set league records for best passer rating in a single season, and made us all but forget who his predecessor was.

The stats over the last four years border on ridiculous, and speak for themselves:

YEAR   CMP     ATT      YDS        TD       INT       RAT

2008     341      536       4,038     28        13        93.8

2009     350      541       4,434     30        7         103.2

2010     312      475       3,922     28        11        101.2

2011     343      502       4,643     45        6          122.5

His personal expectation level is set exceptionally high, as evidenced by his comments in a recent interview at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in which he calls himself “obsessively competitive.” Driven by a desire to do nothing but win, this has translated into a drive which can be seen as anything less than winning is unacceptable.

Fans love this obsession. We know that the Packers are in excellent hands at quarterback for years to come. And with Rodgers set at QB, and as long as Ted Thompson continues to draft to continuously replenish the roster, and Mike McCarthy continues to push the right buttons of the players, this team should be Super Bowl contenders for years to come.

But what would happen if Aaron Rodgers had a seemingly mortal year statistically? How would fans react after seeing their QB set the world on fire for the past four seasons?

Looking at the average of Rodgers’ stats since 2008, he has set a bar which could be very difficult to continue:

4,259 passing yards

33 TDs

9 ints

Those are very lofty statistics that most quarterbacks would struggle to have in one season, let alone the average of four.

So what would happen if Rodgers saw a decrease in statistical success? For nothing more than discussion sake, let’s look at a 10% decrease in his what I will term “positive stats”, using the previous four seasons as the baseline:

4,259 passing yards – 10% = 3,833 passing yards

33 TDs -10% =30 TDs

More than respectable numbers. However, if a 10% increase in interceptions was factored in, again just for the sake of discussion, the result would be 10 interceptions per year.

3,833 passing yards. 30 TDs. 10 Ints. I don’t think there is a single fan who would not take these  numbers from the reigning MVP. But would we feel the same if the rest of the offense was not able to pick up the so-called slack from Rodgers decrease in statistical success? What if it led to one or two fewer wins a season?

My point is that it is possible that Packer fans have set the bar too high for Rodgers, based on his previous success. Anything less that MVP numbers could be seen as a down year for him, and those who are quick to point out flaws in his game could have a field day, especially if the result was the Packers missing the playoffs. Every quarterback has a down year at some point in their career.

While number crunching can be an entertaining hobby, and stats continue to litter our brain for quick reference, it is not as important to me as it may be for others.  The success of a team comes from the sum of its part, not just its statistical machine of a quarterback. And as such, I don’t expect Rodgers to continue to put up the numbers he has since 2008. Not that he cannot do it-I’m just not expecting it. That way, if he did have a (gasp) sub par year but the team continued to win, I won’t feel that torment of realizing that Rodgers is what we all are: mortal.

There is no denying that the 2011 Packers were an exciting team to watch. A franchise best 15-1 regular season. A league MVP for Aaron Rodgers. The emergence of Jordy Nelson as a bonafide star. These are just some of the memories that the 2011 season will be remembered for.

So when the Packers Hall of Fame announced their new exhibit commemorating the 2011 season, I was ecstatic that such a great season would be remembered for all time.

Then I got to thinking: what will the 2011 team be remembered for? And is it worth dedicating an entire exhibit to?

Would I remember this team for its high powered offense, capable of scoring basically at will? Or would I remember it as the team which could barely sniff the end zone against a much weaker Chiefs team in Week 14, ending the dream of a perfect season?

Would I remember this team for an unstoppable Aaron Rodgers during the regular season? Or the playoff game against the Giants during which he looked like a good, but not MVP, quarterback?

And thus my confusion. What are we remembering the 2011 season for?

Unfortunately, I will most remember the 2011 season as a season which could have been, rather than a season which was. And that is why I do not see the need to dedicate anything to this season. A great regular season, offset by a failure in the playoffs,  is not something I want to remember much.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the Packers Hall of Fame is great. A nirvana for Packers history set right in the midst of heaven on earth for Packers fans, it is a must visit for me every time I am in Green Bay. And chances are I will walk through the new exhibit they have put together. However, I will more than likely think about the missed opportunity for back to back  Super Bowl championships, rather than remember the terrific regular season this team put together while walking through it.

Over the past few weeks, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has been issuing articles as part of their “Seasons of Greatness”. The series, which covers both college and professional sports, was the result of analyzing 65 single season performances. The names of the reporters who participated in this series are among the most well known and respected: Bob McGinn, Cliff Christl, Michael Hunt, and Bud Lea on the football add instant credibility to the opinions which they offer.

In the past week, the series became even more must read material.

The 2012 season by Aaron Rodgers was noted as being the fifth greatest season in the history of Wisconsin sports. A statistically excellent season, which culminated in his winning his first MVP award, Rodgers was clear and away the best player in the league, while leading the Packers to a franchise best 15-1 regular season record. Despite his superior play, the Packers fell short of the ultimate goal, losing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl champions New York Giants 37-20.

This was followed by Brett Favre’s 1996 season ranking as the fourth greatest season of all time. Overcoming personal struggles before the  season with an addiction to pain killers, Favre led the Packers to a 13-3 season, steamrolling the 49ers and Panthers in the playoffs before bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay. An MVP season of his own, Favre was in the middle of his three consecutive MVP seasons, and was at the peak of his career.

This is where it gets interesting.

Without trying to stir up the inevitable Favre/Rodgers debate, I am torn on which was the greater season. Rodgers had a statistically superior season, yet Favre brought a Super Bowl title to Green Bay. Does a Super Bowl victory sway the vote? They both had MVP seasons, so do they offset each other? What about the failure in the playoffs for the 2011 Packers-does this drop Rodgers from a potentially higher ranking?

After careful consideration, I have to agree with the experts.

While Rodgers had without question an excellent season, the 2011 Packers season was ultimately a failure. After going 15-1 in the regular season, to lose in their first playoff game was cause for much pain and many questions by the fans. Rodgers ranking in this series no doubt was affected by this early exit in the playoffs, and we can only imagine where he could have ranked if not for their playoff failure.

Favre’s season, while not close to the statistical excellence of Rodgers’, resulted in bringing a championship to Green Bay. If greatness is measured by individual season success, an MVP season plus a Super Bowl title for Favre outweighs Rodgers. While one can never take away the 2011 season for the reigning MVP, Favre’s 1996 season ranks ahead of Rodgers by the slightest of margins.

Go ahead, fire up the torches and sharpen the pitchforks.