GREEN BAY - During training camp, Green Bay Packers
quarterback Aaron Rodgers noted that the team has a different kind of swagger this year. He calls it ``real confidence.''

Now that Rodgers enters Sunday's season opener in Philadelphia as a fashionable pick to become the league's MVP this year, Rodgers said his own approach hasn't changed. He says his confidence always has been real.

In his first two seasons as a starter, Rodgers has shown he can replace an icon, play hurt and take hits without losing his composure. So wide receiver Greg Jennings says there's no reason to
think Rodgers won't be able to handle high expectations.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Sports Director Matt Thompson joined Newswatch 12 in July, 2003.

Matt came to the Northwoods from WGBA-TV in Green Bay where he was the sports reporter/fill-in anchor since 1998. "I had been vacationing in the Northwoods for the last 13 years so I figured I might as well live the good life all the time."
Matt is from Madison and can't think of a better sports state than Wisconsin. "The passion Wisconsinites have for sports is unmatched."

His true passion is breaking stories. "People watch sports for highlights. Viewers remember sports for great stories. That's my philosophy."

Matt spends most of his time away from work watching SpongeBob with his wife and three kids. "I know it's a kids show but I love it. Just about every time one of my teams lose I say "Barnacles" on the air."

You can watch Matt every weeknight on Newswatch 12 at six and ten, and in the morning on Newswatch 12 Today.

Lee DeJarlais joined the Newswatch 12 sports team in November 2009 as the Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter.

Before coming to the Northwoods, he interned at WQOW in Eau Claire during the summer of 2007. Immediately following the internship Lee was hired as a sports photographer and worked his way into sports reporting and fill-in anchoring until November 2009. Born and raised in Marshfield, he is now happy to call the Northwoods home.

Lee has always loved playing sports, so he decided to take his love into his career. Lee graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2008 with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Kinesiology. During college, he was also the sports anchor of the University’s news show.

Lee is an avid sports fan, listing the Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Wild as his favorite teams. Sports have always been a big part of Lee’s life. He was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) at Marshfield High School, including winning back-to-back division 1 state championships in football in 2001 and 2002.

When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, traveling, reading, watching movies and of course sports. You can also find him playing basketball or working out at the local YMCA.

If you see Lee out on a shoot, feel free to strike up a conversation with him and email him any sports story ideas you may have.