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I'll probably get a lot of shrapnel here for this. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm about to get torn into, but I feel like it's at least worth talking about. So here goes: I don't get all the "Donald Driver deserves more than the Packer's HOF" talk. Don't get me wrong--I really like Donald Driver and think he has the best first three steps out of any player in the NFL--but I don't think he's special as a football player.
He's reliable and consistent. That he has going for him. I'm sure you've all heard this stat: Donald Driver and Reggie Wayne are the only active receivers to have 1000 yard in the last six seasons. Consistency and reliability go a long way, but they shouldn't be the only reasons someone gets honored.
He's never been a dominant receiver. He also hasn't even consistently been the best receiver on his own team. Since claiming one of the starting positions in 2002, he's been the second receiver on the team five of those eight years (two to Javon Walker and three to Greg Jennings).
Let's compare that to two other (relatively recent) receivers, both post '83 rule changes: Freeman and Sharpe. (Stats from Pro-Football reference, includeds TEs in rankings.)
Sterling Sharpe was a starter every single season in Green Bay (7 seasons) and led the Packers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in six straight years (he only had one TD reception his rookie year). He led the league in yardage in '92, in TDs in '92 and '94, and in receptions in '89, '92, and '93. He led all three categories in '92, a feat I'm sure hasn't been done often since the rule changes of '83. He was Top 5 in those categories four times each. He also had ten or more TDs four times.
Antonio Freeman was a starter in six of his eight years in Green Bay and led the Packers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in three of those years (yardage leader in four years, TD leader in four, reception leader in four). He led the league in yardage in '98. He was Top 5 in yardage once, Top 5 in TDs twice, and Top 5 in receptions once. He also had ten or more TDs twice.
Donald Driver has been a starter in eight of his eleven years in Green Bay (through 2009) and has led the Packers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in three of those years (yardage leader in four seasons, TD leader in four, reception leader in six). He never led the league in one of those categories but was in the Top 5 in each of the categories once. In the NFL's premier passing era, he has never hit a 10 TD year.
There's no doubt he's one of the Top 4 wide receivers (Lofton, Sharpe, Freeman, Driver) in Green Bay's history in the last 50 years (well, 30 years for sure) in my opinion. But a "special place for Driver"? I don't see it. Not if there isn't one already for Sharpe and Freeman.
Freeman led the team in yards and touchdowns in the superbowl season and in all three categories the year they lost to Denver. As of the end of 2009, he had eight more GB TDs in two less seasons and two hundred fewer receptions as a starter in GB.
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.
Driver is a great Green Bay Packer, but he's not NFL HOF calibur. His longevity has already passed Lofton's in a Packer uniform (and will tie him at the end of the year with nine seasons as a starter) at WR. He's a model citizen and has always been a team player (I mean that in the best way possible). But is he worthy of more than just the Packer's HOF? I don't know. If anything, I think the Packer's HOF has been too lenient, admitting some players because of fan name recognition only.
His dependability, reliability, and character speak volumes about who he is as a Packer. Maybe the Packer HOF can add a new section for those who have been dependable, reliable, productive, have high character, are fan favorites, and embody what a Green Bay player should be. We'll call it the Henderson-Driver Distinction. Nominations for inaugural inductions?
He's reliable and consistent. That he has going for him. I'm sure you've all heard this stat: Donald Driver and Reggie Wayne are the only active receivers to have 1000 yard in the last six seasons. Consistency and reliability go a long way, but they shouldn't be the only reasons someone gets honored.
He's never been a dominant receiver. He also hasn't even consistently been the best receiver on his own team. Since claiming one of the starting positions in 2002, he's been the second receiver on the team five of those eight years (two to Javon Walker and three to Greg Jennings).
Let's compare that to two other (relatively recent) receivers, both post '83 rule changes: Freeman and Sharpe. (Stats from Pro-Football reference, includeds TEs in rankings.)
Sterling Sharpe was a starter every single season in Green Bay (7 seasons) and led the Packers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in six straight years (he only had one TD reception his rookie year). He led the league in yardage in '92, in TDs in '92 and '94, and in receptions in '89, '92, and '93. He led all three categories in '92, a feat I'm sure hasn't been done often since the rule changes of '83. He was Top 5 in those categories four times each. He also had ten or more TDs four times.
Antonio Freeman was a starter in six of his eight years in Green Bay and led the Packers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in three of those years (yardage leader in four years, TD leader in four, reception leader in four). He led the league in yardage in '98. He was Top 5 in yardage once, Top 5 in TDs twice, and Top 5 in receptions once. He also had ten or more TDs twice.
Donald Driver has been a starter in eight of his eleven years in Green Bay (through 2009) and has led the Packers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in three of those years (yardage leader in four seasons, TD leader in four, reception leader in six). He never led the league in one of those categories but was in the Top 5 in each of the categories once. In the NFL's premier passing era, he has never hit a 10 TD year.
There's no doubt he's one of the Top 4 wide receivers (Lofton, Sharpe, Freeman, Driver) in Green Bay's history in the last 50 years (well, 30 years for sure) in my opinion. But a "special place for Driver"? I don't see it. Not if there isn't one already for Sharpe and Freeman.
Freeman led the team in yards and touchdowns in the superbowl season and in all three categories the year they lost to Denver. As of the end of 2009, he had eight more GB TDs in two less seasons and two hundred fewer receptions as a starter in GB.
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.
Driver is a great Green Bay Packer, but he's not NFL HOF calibur. His longevity has already passed Lofton's in a Packer uniform (and will tie him at the end of the year with nine seasons as a starter) at WR. He's a model citizen and has always been a team player (I mean that in the best way possible). But is he worthy of more than just the Packer's HOF? I don't know. If anything, I think the Packer's HOF has been too lenient, admitting some players because of fan name recognition only.
His dependability, reliability, and character speak volumes about who he is as a Packer. Maybe the Packer HOF can add a new section for those who have been dependable, reliable, productive, have high character, are fan favorites, and embody what a Green Bay player should be. We'll call it the Henderson-Driver Distinction. Nominations for inaugural inductions?
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