49ers Nolan's take on Rodgers: `He's as polished as I've seen'

BERKELEY, Calif. - Aaron Rodgers didn't end his predraft workout Thursday by kneeling at midfield and chucking a spiral through the uprights, a la former Cal quarterback Kyle Boller's jaw dropper two years ago at Memorial Stadium.

Rodgers, instead, had a lunch date.

Waiting for him was 49ers coach Mike Nolan, the pit boss in control of the first overall pick in next month's draft.

Nolan didn't ask for any extra throws, anyhow, after watching Rodgers' pitch count reach nearly 100. Every NFL team sent representatives for the impressive show, including Raiders coach Norv Turner.

"He's as polished as I've seen," Nolan said. "I don't think he missed maybe but one throw."

Only one?

Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban helped fuel the one-that-got-away tale, adding: " Obviously anybody who throws that many in a row and puts the ball on the ground only one time, that's got to say something."

Sorry folks, but we must say that more than one pass fell incomplete, and he looked skyward and sighed at a high pass he completed on an out route.

Overall, though, Aaron was far from errant.

"I was balanced when throwing, it felt nice and the balls were on target most of the time," Rodgers said.

It's what you'd expect from someone who completed 23 consecutive passes in Cal's near-upset of host Southern Cal five months ago.

He said he threw 91 passes Thursday, eight more than were scripted. He threw hard, fast spirals down the middle and deep down field, and he occasionally had to dodge a hustling, middle-aged pass rusher in Cal coach Jeff Tedford.

"I encouraged him that he should go (to the NFL)," Tedford said. "He should be the first quarterback taken, the first or second. That's been his goal, and he's done a lot for us."

A 40-minute workout on St. Patrick's Day won't be enough to convince NFL honchos you're a franchise quarterback, not unless you're buying the green beer at lunch.

Mike McCarthy, the 49ers offensive coordinator, said game film is a critical tool in analyzing quarterback prospects. Workouts such as Thursday's do help, however, in judging ball speed and other physical attributes.

A day before McCarthy, Nolan and vice president of player personnel Scot McCloughan huddled on the Cal sideline to watch Rodgers, they were in Salt Lake City for a similar workout by the draft's other top-rated quarterback, the University of Utah's Alex Smith.

"Now it's up to them to decide if they want to draft me or him," Rodgers said.

The 49ers next will focus on top prospects at wide receiver, running back, cornerback or defensive end, Nolan said without mentioning names other than Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who'll work out today in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Waiting to draft a quarterback is an option, of course, and Nolan said it's "safe to say" a lower-rated quarterback such as Akron's Charlie Frye, Arkansas' Matt Jones and Auburn's Jason Campbell might bloom into a surprise star.

Rodgers and Smith both passed up their senior seasons for NFL riches. They earned rave reviews from Nolan for their accuracy, strong arms, athletic prowess and intelligence.

"But they're different type of athletes," said Nolan, refusing to tell who might be in the lead for the No. 1 pick he "fully" intends to use in 36 days.

One big difference is the systems their teams ran. Smith lined up primarily in the shotgun formation in Utah's spread offense, and Nolan suggested Smith will adapt to a more conventional offense "as time goes on."

Rodgers is more familiar with the West Coast scheme the 49ers plan to employ. But as much as he succeeded in two years at Cal, critics are wondering if he'll be the next Tedford-produced gunslinger unable to live up to the NFL hype, as has been the case of Akili Smith, Joey Harrington and Boller.

"That's unfair to put on Aaron," Nolan said, "because Aaron's going to be a good quarterback."

Added Rodgers: "I really don't believe in the Tedford Curse, or whatever it is. But I'm going to need to prove I'm a top pick."

As for his immediate plans, "Now we have fun. I'm going to go relax, go home (to Chico) and see my family."

His friends back home are helping him keep a level head.

"They tell me I'm not that cool," Rodgers said. "They'll say, `(ESPN draft guru Mel) Kiper says you're going top five, but you're still the same retard we grew up with.""

But what will the 49ers tell him next month?