Donald Driver...Special?

[Scott Campbell]

Re: Donald Driver...Special?

Sharpe was the most dominant receiver Green Bay had since at least Lofton and maybe Hutson (I've read some pretty good debates about that here). He consistently was one of the Top 5 receivers in the league for six years ('89-'94), and only his single TD in his rookie year kept him from being in that category all seven years in the league. You could argue that his stats came because he was the safety valve of a tunnel-visioned young QB, but he still made the catches, still racked up the yardage, and still scored the TDs--even when defenses knew he'd get the ball all the time.

Finley could end up doing that. He looks unstoppable.

[Brandon494]

A championship or two could easily change that.

[Lurker64]

If we build a "Hall of Very Good" in Canton, Driver will certainly be in there. It's a joy to watch him work the middle, his initial steps are great, and he's as classy a guy as there is in professional football, but I don't think that's going to earn him much more than the Packers HOF and the undying affection of the green and gold faithful.

[Gunakor]

If he makes the NFL HOF, great. I don't know if he's gonna make it. He's on the fringe right now, but if he plays a few more years and makes an impact in a few postseasons, who knows.

My bottom line is simple. Compared to other Packer WR's, there are only 2 IMO in the history of the franchise that I'd take over Driver. As a football player. As a person, I'm not sure there's 2 others in the history of the league that have played for any team I'd take over Driver. Classiest guy you'll ever meet in 100 lifetimes.

He deserves special recognition in Green Bay for his accomplishments. Maybe he's not a special player on any other team, but damnit he's most certainly, absolutely a special player here. It's here, and here alone, that he absolutely must be remembered as such.

[mraynrand]

"A DEFENSE OF DRIVER HATE/LOVE BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN FOOTBALLERS

We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of loving or hating Donald Driver; even when such love/hate may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.

We are concerned and saddened by the recent wave of vitriolic anti-Driver and anti-Driver-in-Hall-of-Fame (or pro-Driver, pro-Driver-in-Hall-of-Fame) speculation sentiment that is being expressed across Packerrats.

We are even more concerned and saddened by threats that have been made against individual writers, cartoonists, and others by a minority of Football fans. We see these as a greater offense against Driver love/hate than any cartoon, Program burning, or other speech could ever be deemed.

We affirm the right of free speech for Smidgeon and all others loving or not loving Donald Driver, including ourselves.

As Footballers, we must set an example of justice, patience, tolerance, respect, and forgiveness."

Signed,

MrAynRand. ****


****Please add your name to the list. Support Smidgeon's Free 'Love/Hate-Driver' rights before it is too late. "First they came for those who loved/hated Donald Driver, and you did nothing....."

[mraynrand]

Next year, instead of riding kids' bikes, I think Donald should get to ride on a short bus:


After all, he is special!

[Smidgeon]

Anybody see Smidgeon's Car? Oh, there it is.

Not mine. Not enough rust.

[Tarlam!]

Driver is special, but despite my admiration and affection for the guy, no way does he make the PHOF or get his # retired.

He's th epitome of how I like Packers to be. That smile of his is infectious. His charity work is legendary. I adore the guy.

I would love to see him make the PHOF. But as others have pointed out, he hasn't been the #1 receiver on the Packers. It aint happening.

[LEWCWA]

Driver is a stud, but not a hof player. He has not transended his position, he has never done anything of note in the post season. Then again I don't think Irvin was a hof player either or Monk for that matter. I think it might be getting a little too easy to make the Hall!

[LEWCWA]

Driver is special, but despite my admiration and affection for the guy, no way does he make the PHOF or get his # retired.

He's th epitome of how I like Packers to be. That smile of his is infectious. His charity work is legendary. I adore the guy.

I would love to see him make the PHOF. But as others have pointed out, he hasn't been the #1 receiver on the Packers. It aint happening.

Dude he is a shoe in for the packer hall, thats not even a question. He will retire with over 10,000 yards and over 700 catches.

[Tarlam!]

My mistake. I meant Pro HOF, not Packer HOF. I'll be more careful next time.

[LEWCWA]

My mistake. I meant Pro HOF, not Packer HOF. I'll be more careful next time.

No sir my mistake I just didn't understand your shorthand!!! My apologies!

[packerbacker1234]

I think the biggest reason he wont make the hall is the biggest reason he should: His unselfishness as a player. Often times, WR's are divas. If you look at the current in the hall, many of them were either the ONLY legititate wr threat on the team through most of their careers, or they were "get me the ball I make plays" type of person.

Driver has never been that kind of player, and he and STILL produced.

Drive is possibly the best YAC WR to ever play the game. Read that again "possibly the best at something involving wr's to ever play the game". That alone is HOF worthy.

Oh, and did someone forget to mention how Driver has, and can, make the same sort of plays all those big name WR's do make? How many one handed guys draping all over him catches does he need to make? How many times must he go over the middle, knowing he is going tgo get lit up, and still holds onto the ball? How many times has he caught it in double coverage?

Driver CAN make the same plays the big names make - he's proven it. The thing he doesn't do is "demand the football goes his way". If he was like that, chances are he is close to 100 catches every year. Instead, he lets his teammates do there thing, and when the time comes, driver is just sneaky good. You forget about him for just a moment - next thing you know he makes a highlight reel catch.

If we just compare it straight up to those in the hall...

He will:

1. Have the statistics (barring injury) that are the same level as a majority of the HOF's - catches, yards, and TDs.

2. Have one key statistic he holds over most the rest - YAC.

3. While who he is as a person isn't overly relevant for the HoF, it can't hurt either. The fact he is alright not being the guy, even though he is fully capable of always being the guy, is a reason he should get in. Despite not "being hte guy" - what do all those others that have come in to "be the guy" shown? That they aren't the guy.

Consisetency goes a long way. Driver has always been our #1 - but none of the other #1's who supplanted him lasted in this league as a star, save the exception of jennings.

Even with Jennings, I think you'll be surprised how even the splits are.

2008

Jennings - 80 catches, 1292 yards, 9tds (his breakout year)
Driver - 74 catches, 1012 yards, 5tds

Almost even in the looks they got, as you can see with roughly the same amount of catches. Jennings made more plays down the field - which ultimately lead to his higher yards and td's. Driver caught significantly more 1st downs, however, being the target of choice when you needed to move the chains.

2009

Jennings - 68 catches, 1113 yards, 4 tds
Driver - 70 catches, 1061 yards, 6 tds


Pretty debatable JUST LAST SEASON who our #1 was. Again, very even splits, and both made there share of highlight reel catches and big plays during the season.


Someone also mentioned that walker supplanted him for 2 seasons - wrong, he had one dominant year, got hurt the first game the following season - and essentially you guys know the rest. Horrible character AND horrible player on the field.

Since 2003, he has one just one season without at least 70 catches and a 1000 yards. The season he didn't, his incumbant was... Walker... who we all known wanted the ball on every single play. Thats the numbers driver could have every year if he was the same way.


But he's not. THat is why I think he deserves the hall. He has the numbers, he has the remarkable consistency with numbers over the years, he has only ever been supplanted as the #1 guy really one time in his career (as I just showed, the splits are dead even with Jennings - showing it isn't exactly clear that Jennings is the true #1, even if he is listed.


Driver also has the advantage this season so far.

9 Catches in two games for 68 yards and and 2tds.

Jenning has 2 catches for 8 yards and 1td.


That tells me that Driver is still getting more open than the rest of the WR's around him, and is still considered the first read on a majority of plays intended for anyone other than Finley. Point being, it's debatable on if Driver is the #1 right now - and there is a strong case so far this season for it.


He is as good as almost every WR I have seen play except Sharpe. He can do what most the other wr's do - he just doesn't demand he gets the ball every snap.

[Smidgeon]

Someone also mentioned that walker supplanted him for 2 seasons - wrong, he had one dominant year, got hurt the first game the following season - and essentially you guys know the rest. Horrible character AND horrible player on the field.

Since 2003, he has one just one season without at least 70 catches and a 1000 yards. The season he didn't, his incumbant was... Walker... who we all known wanted the ball on every single play. Thats the numbers driver could have every year if he was the same way.

Go back and look at the stats for those two years. Walker had more TDS and yards than Driver in both of those years (and in at least one of them had more receptions).

And you can't tell me being a diva WR has much to do with long term effectiveness. With the QBs GB has had, they get the ball to the open receivers. Walker was the best jump ball WR GB has had in a long time.

As for "incumbent", Driver was the incumbent. Walker was drafted in the first round of 2002, Driver's fourth year in the league. Walker was the young guy coming in who played better in 2003 and 2004. We didn't know Walker had the diva tendencies until he held out. I, for one, was really surprised when that happened. None of it since has surprised me though.

[Tony Oday]

DD makes the hall with three more DD years and one Pack Superbowl.