… enjoy these two blog entries about the Packers’ next Hall of Fame quarterback.

Given Rodgers’ likely Hall of Fame status (assuming his career continues as it is), he may become the last Packer to wear number 12. Which would put him last on this list Madison.com compiled (the asterisks signify players who wore multiple numbers):

1. George Abramson (G/T), 1925
2. *Rudy Rosatti (T), 1926
3. Tom Hearden (B), 1927-28
4. *Roy Baker (B), 1928
5. *Dave Zuidmulder (B), 1929
6. *Arnie Herber (B), 1930
7. *Frank Baker (E), 1931
8. *Bob Monnett (B), 1935-36
9. Zeke Bratkowski (QB), 1963-68, 1971
10. Jim Del Gaizo (QB), 1973
11. *John Hadl (QB), 1974
12. Don Milan (QB), 1975
13. Brian Dowling (QB), 1977
14. *Lynn Dickey (QB), 1980-85
15. T.J. Rubley (QB), 1995
16. Aaron Rodgers (QB), 2005-present

For much of the NFL’s Super Bowl era, the number 12 used to signify an elite NFL quarterback. Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks numbered 12 include the New York Jets’ Joe Namath, Dallas’ Roger Staubach, Miami’s Bob Griese, Pittsburgh’s Terry Bradshaw, Oakland’s Ken Stabler, New England’s Tom Brady, and, of course, Rodgers. Buffalo’s Jim Kelly never won a Super Bowl, but played in four of them. Super Bowl XXV, in which Kelly’s Bill’s lost to the Giants’ Jeff Hostetler (number15), was the first time a quarterback number 12 lost to a quarterback not numbered 12. (Pittsburgh’s two Super Bowl wins over Dallas was number 12, Bradshaw, beating number 12, Staubach.)

I remember a few of the Packers’ number 12s. Not Herber, but he was one of the few to have played for both the Badgers and the Packers. Herber played quarterback, as did fellow Badger/Packer Randy Wright, but Wright wore 16 for the Packers after wearing 12 for the Badgers.

Bratkowski was Bart Starr’s backup as quarterback, and then offensive coordinator. The former role was useful in the 1965 NFL Western Conference playoff between the Packers and the Baltimore Colts, because Starr lost a fumble that produced a Colts touchdown and was lost for the game due to injured ribs. Bratkowski quarterbacked the Packers to a controversial overtime win, and one week later Starr returned so the Packers could win the first of their three consecutive Glory Years wins.

Del Gaizo was a quarterback for the Dolphins, who were in the process of going to three consecutive Super Bowls in the early ’70s. Del Gaizo was acquired for two second-round draft picks. Del Gaizo did not perform like a draft pick, period, for the Packers, placing himself on the list of yet another stupid Packers player transaction during the Gory Years.

But trading two picks for Del Gaizo didn’t compare to trading five for Hadl in the infamous Lawrence Welk trade — you know, “a-one and-a-two and-a-three.” (Even worse, Hadl came to Green Bay for two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a third-round pick.) Hadl wore number 21 with the Rams, and only wore 12 long enough to get his old number back from a Packer defensive back.

Which brings us to another 12, Dickey, who came to the Packers in exchange for Hadl, All-Pro cornerback Ken Ellis and two  more draft picks. (For those keeping score: Hadl cost five draft picks to acquire and two more to get rid of him.) Dickey switched from 10 to 12 after missing an entire season with a broken leg. Once healthy, and when upright (which was an open question because of his porous offensive line and his mobility, which was on a par with the Curly Lambeau statue outside Lambeau Field), he was an effective quarterback in the 1981 through 1983 seasons, when the Packers were — gasp! — a contender in Starr’s last three seasons as coach.

(Trivia note about the 12 before Dickey: Dowling was the quarterback of Yale’s undefeated team in 1968. Yale and Harvard met at the end of the 1968 season, with the game ending in a 29–29 tie. Harvard’s comeback over Yale was characterized in the Harvard Crimson newspaper: “Harvard beats Yale 29–29.” Dowling was also the inspiration for the “Doonesbury” character B.D.)

Rubley has his own moment in Packer ignominy. He was the third-string quarterback in 1995 when, in a game at Minnesota, starter Brett Favre suffered an ankle injury, and backup Ty Detmer broke his finger one play later. Despite that, the Packers were in position to kick a game-winning field goal, until on third down, Rubley audibled out of a quarterback sneak into a pass, which was intercepted. The Packers later lost. Rubley’s NFL career effectively ended with that bonehead decision.