When Aaron Rodgers' head hit the pillow on the night of April 25 in a suburban New Jersey hotel room, his mind traveled back to Berkeley, California, the summer of 2003.
It was his first year at Cal, his first time away from home. He slept in a dingy fraternity house, excited about his journey into the unknown. Those same feelings washed over him after being traded to the New York Jets.
He arrived in New Jersey via private jet at 8:52 p.m., made the 30-mile trip from Teterboro Airport to his hotel, unpacked his belongings and his emotions.