Packers fan: Donald Driver still intends to play with Green Bay until he’s 40 – Yahoo! Sports
Reggie White and Brett Favre(notes) were two of the NFL’s most recognizable and productive players during the 1990s. On the gridiron, both are best remembered for leading the Green Bay Packers to their first championship in 29 seasons following a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.
White was a member of the USFL’s Memphis Showboats before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985. White signed with the Packers via free agency in 1993. He recorded three sacks in Super Bowl XXXI. After retiring in 1999, White spent one season with the Carolina Panthers in 2000 before permanently retiring.
Ron Wolf had coveted Favre as a potential franchise quarterback before the Atlanta Falcons snatched him up in the 1991 NFL Draft. Wolf would acquire him via trade in 1992. Favre spent 16 of his 20 seasons in Green Bay. He led the Packers to two Super Bowl appearances and another conference championship appearance during the 2007-2008 season. He finished his career with the New York Jets (2008) and Minnesota Vikings (2009-2010).
Neither player finished their careers with the Packers. Could Donald Driver(notes) or Charles Woodson(notes) break that trend in the 2010s?
Driver has reiterated his intentions of wanting to play until he’s 40-years-old. He’s also stated that he’d explore other options if the Packers released him and he still felt that he could compete at a high level. Driver claimed:
“If they say, `Donald, we’re going a different route,’ I respect that. I can’t do anything about it. But if I still feel like I’m playing at a high level, then maybe I can go somewhere else and play. Do I want to do that? No. But it’s a business decision, and I’m going to continue playing if I still feel l can play.”
It’s easy to assume that there will always be a position available for Driver. However, Ted Thompson has shown his preference toward developing young players. Few general managers would have responded like Thompson did to Favre’s 2008 retirement fiasco. To the chagrin of many Packers and/or Favre fans, Thompson remained loyal to an up-and-coming Aaron Rodgers(notes). Favre was dealt to the New York Jets in the preseason.
Driver isn’t Favre, however. He’s a tremendous figure to the community and his dismissal would disappoint many fans. It’s hard to even imagine Driver being released after what he’s done for the organization, his contributions to the community and how he’s handled himself like a model citizen.
I don’t see Driver’s spot on the 53-man roster being threatened in the next two seasons. The Packers will likely part ways with Jordy Nelson(notes) in 2012 in a salary-cap move, making Driver a strong candidate for at least the no. 4 receiver position.
The biggest obstacle will be in 2013. Driver will be a 38-year-old free agent. Greg Jennings(notes), James Jones(notes) and Randall Cobb(notes) should already be established as Rodgers’s three go-to guys. Thompson has demonstrated his ability to consistently draft receivers whom fit in Mike McCarthy’s system. Therefore, it’s reasonable to think that someone else may surpass Driver during this time.
Driver could be a long shot even if he accepts a pay cut or demotion.
But right now, I’d rather focus on his ascension toward being one of the greatest players to ever done the Packers uniform. We’ll talk more about that other junk when the time arrives.
Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. His favorite Packer moments include Super Bowl XXXI, XLV, and Al Harris’s(notes) interception return following Matt Hasselbeck’s(notes) “We’re gonna score” comments. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.
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