Rodgers on '11: 'I'd like to think I'm a better player'

Aaron Rodgers couldn't help but be amused. One month ago, on his weekly ESPN Milwaukee radio show, the Green Bay Packers quarterback not-so-patiently told fans to relax.

Their panic has quickly turned into something else, the narrative always changing.

Now, following four straight wins, there are comparisons to 2011. This is the pinnacle for Rodgers, the MVP season following the Super Bowl ring. Back on his radio show Tuesday, Rodgers was asked how his 2014 season may stack up to 2011.

"I'd like to plateau my peak," he said. "I'd like to put together a number of years in a row playing at the same level."

Both 2011 and 2012 were tremendous seasons for Rodgers. He followed his 45-touchdown, 6-interception MVP performance with 39 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2012. Both seasons, Rodgers exceeded 4,200 passing yards and 100 quarterback rating.

Rodgers mentioned Tuesday his 2013 season was shaping up nicely, too. Indeed, the quarterback was on pace for more than 5,000 passing yards and 34 touchdowns entering Week 8 last season, when he broke his collarbone against the Chicago Bears and missed the next seven games.

This season, it's been more of the same. Rodgers has 18 touchdowns and one interception. He's on pace for 3,826 passing yards. His 117.3 quarterback rating is second only to Peyton Manning's 118.2.

Statistically, it would seem Rodgers is peaking at his plateau. As an all-around player, the quarterback said there have been improvements over these past three seasons.

"It's just about continuing to grow," Rodgers said. "I said it after the game (Sunday), I'd like to think I should be better because of the experience, and because of the positive performances and negative performances. The great games, and the games you're frustrated about, it's about learning through those experiences.

"I'd like to think I'm growing as a player. Then, as you get older, your leadership role changes. I'd like to think I'm growing and improving as a leader. So, yeah, I think I'm a better player. It's not always going to show up on the stat sheet. At the end of the season, the stats might not as good as they were in '11, but I'd like to think I'm playing the way I want to play."

-- rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood