While how he plays on the field when the games are for real will ultimately decide whether he succeeds or fails -- and rightfully so -- new Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers is doing everything right as he embraces his new role as the leader of the Pack.

Well, almost everything. It's the hair, kid. Something's got to be done about the hair.

Sporting a mullet 'do that's a definite hairstyle don't, Rodgers, who grows training-camp facial hair to entertain himself, looks like a cross between a washed-up '80s metal rocker and a MacGyver. He's getting some intense, high-powered pressure to go back to the clean-cut he came to Green Bay with as the Packers' first-round pick in 2005, but he's yet to decide if the long-haired look will stay or go.

"It might. I'm not sure yet," Rodgers said. "Mom is really pulling for a haircut and we'll see."

Asked if he's taking grooming tips from his right tackle/friend/golfing buddy Mark Tauscher, Rodgers replied, "Nah, I don't want to look like Tausch. At least not with my shirt off."

But with that hairy exception, Rodgers is making all the right moves as he moves out of the large shadow cast by his predecessor, Brett Favre. For instance, he spent Wednesday night doing what he's been doing for the past several weeks: Hosting an "open-invitation" get-together for his teammates at his house.

"I would invite you guys but you're not on the team," he told reporters with a smirk.

Whereas Favre wasn't much for such things -- he preferred dressing in a separate locker room, hunting and golfing with a few close friends on the team and leading by example -- Rodgers knows it's "part of the gig" as the team's new leader. And he's proud of how his invitations have been received.

"We've had at least about 30 guys each week," Rodgers said, adding that he encourages his teammates to bring their wives and girlfriends.

While Rodgers is aware that succeeding as Favre's successor will take more than just good party planning -- "The bottom line is, they're going to be confident in Aaron not because he had them over to his house for a couple dinners, but because they know he can perform," quarterbacks coach Tom Clements said -- he's off to a good start.

After one week of the club's organized team activity practices -- voluntary but strongly encouraged workouts that saw 83 of the 87 signed players on the roster attend -- Rodgers is saying and doing all the right things.

Earlier this week, Rodgers held court in front of his locker -- as opposed to at the podium in the media auditorium, where Favre spoke once a week -- for more than 35 minutes. While it was a group session, Rodgers answered a number of questions we asked for this Milwaukee Talks. Enjoy.

Aaron Rodgers: It feels great. I've taken the No. 1 reps in practice throughout the least three years, but to know that I'm the guy going into the season is pretty exciting because I think the guys are starting to rally around me leadership style and the way I do things. I've been waiting for this experience and this opportunity my whole life, so it's pretty exciting. It's exciting being the guy, and with that comes a lot of responsibility, not only with you guys in the media but with my teammates and taking care of business on and off the field. I need to be probably more aware of what I do off the field now, knowing that the spotlight is always on me.

OMC: Does it help your comfort level that you know the offense so well after three years sitting behind Favre?

AR: I think that's probably one of the most underestimated parts of my game is that I have spent the last three off-seasons exclusively here and I've put in a lot of time and a lot of hard work into figuring out this offense. I think I'll be ready to go once we can finally lace 'em up for real.

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