The Packers will play at Lambeau Field against the Bengals on Monday night, with a newly-anointed starting QB leading the charge. Here's your Daily Sports Roundup ...

Event of the day . . .

The Aaron Rodgers era begins in earnest on Monday night (8:00pm ET) when the Packers kick off their exhibition schedule by hosting the Bengals. And Green Bay won't even have the safety net of Brett Favre around, as the team's longtime quarterback is now plying his trade on the east coast in the green-and-white jersey of the Jets.

So even though Monday's game means nothing in the standings Rodgers' every throw will be heavily scrutinized by the Green Bay faithful. During his three seasons with the team Rodgers has thrown just 59 pass attempts, with one touchdown, one interception, and a quarterback rating of 73.3. Favre's quarterback rating last year was 95.7.

As for the Bengals, they're coming off a disappointing 7-9 campaign that saw them finish behind both the Steelers and the Browns in the AFC North and miss the playoffs. Cincinnati also had to deal with Chad Johnson's griping all through the offseason (although he's been fairly quiet lately). The Bengals are 3-point 'dogs Monday night.

Non-event of the day . . .

If the Indians are going to avoid the indignity of finishing behind even the Royals in the AL Central standings they're going to have to start knocking off teams like their Monday opponent - the middling Orioles. The Tribe will send Fausto Carmona (5-4, 4.46 ERA) to the mound to duel Baltimore starter Dennis Sarfate (4-2, 4.58 ERA).

Also on the schedule . . .

There are three other AL games on tap on Monday: Toronto at Detroit, the Yankees at Minnesota, and Boston at the White Sox. Josh Beckett (10-8, 4.08 ERA) will start for the visiting Red Sox in that last one, while John Danks (9-4, 3.21 ERA) goes for Chicago.

It's a little busier in the NL, where there are five games on the Monday schedule: Pittsburgh at the Mets, Washington at Milwaukee, St. Louis at Florida, San Francisco at Houston, and Philadelphia at the Dodgers. New York's Pedro Martinez (3-3, 5.79 ERA) is the most notable pitcher on that docket; he'll face Zach Duke (4-10, 5.13 ERA).

News from the wire . . .

Favre is scheduled to start for the Jets in their preseason game against the Redskins on the weekend . . . the Dolphins signed displaced QB Chad Pennington to a two-year contract . . . there is still no clear leader in the Niners' three-way QB battle between Alex Smith, J.T. O'Sullivan, and Shaun Hill . . . Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer broke his foot while rehabbing a finger injury and could be done for the season.

Peek at the future . . .

Week 2 of the NFL's preseason schedule kicks off on Thursday with Pittsburgh at Buffalo and Carolina at Philadelphia . . . young guns Cole Hamels (9-8, 3.35 ERA) and Clayton Kershaw (2-3, 3.71 ERA) will meet in Tuesday's Phillies/Dodgers matchup . . . the PGA Tour ends its pre-playoff schedule with the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina this week.