Aaron Rodgers: Never felt 'Monkey on My Back'

Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers said on Sunday he never felt a monkey on my back after taking over as the Green Bay Packers' starting quarterback following the departure of Brett Favre three years ago.

I've never felt like there's been a monkey on my back, he said in a televised interview following Green Bay's 31-25 Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team and [my]teammates were behind me.

I told [Green Bay general manager] Ted Thompson in 2005 he wouldn't be sorry with this [NFL draft]pick, he said Sunday night.

Brett Favre's played for 16 seasons with the Packers, announcing his retirement in 2008. He won a Super Bowl with the team in 1997 and went on to set numerous records. Although he attempted to come back for another season, Favre was traded, with Rodgers taking over.

Rodgers, who was also named as the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, commended his teammates after the victory, calling them a great group of men, adding that his team's defense got some big stops during the game.

He said it was incredible feeling to have a coach who has confidence to put the ball in your hands.

He said that Pittsburgh applied pressure on him for most of the game, but he was able to compensate.

For the most part I got rid of the ball pretty quickly, he said.