What Should The Packers Do With Driver?

[wootah]

You guys are absolutely nuts. You don't just get rid of Donald freaking Driver. You do everything in your power to keep him just like he does everything in his power to stay. Even at his age, he is still a finely conditioned athlete who is still willing to make plays others are afraid of. He will be in camp. And he will be worth keeping. DD is one of those guys who will go straight from playing to coaching and damn I hope he transitions to coaching here. This isn't Madden, people. Thank God for Ted.

I like DD as well, but the fact of the matter is there is better upside & cheaper talent available which will help the Pack more, maybe even in the short run already. Borel, Gurley & Smithson will all have an extra year under their belt and who knows who Ted will add via the draft. Driver had a fantastic run here, but unfortunately for him I think TT will do what's right for the future of the team.

[Gunakor]

Is it worth paying him $2 million just to bring him to camp?

This is relative to the amount of cap space available. If Driver has to be released so Finley and Wells can be resigned that's one thing, but if Finley and Wells can be resigned regardless of whether Driver is back at $2 million or not then it makes no difference. I just don't want to see Driver released simply for monetary reasons if it isn't absolutely necessary, because his cheaper replacement likely would be a downgrade at the bottom of the depth chart.

[Brandon494]

The Giants didn't have a LB covering Driver, they were in zone coverage and the LB was covering that spot on the field. Like I said the guy still had 7 TDs on the year and was one of the few to show up against the Giants. It's pretty simple, if he accepts a paycut you keep him and if not then its time to move on.

[Patler]

This is relative to the amount of cap space available. If Driver has to be released so Finley and Wells can be resigned that's one thing, but if Finley and Wells can be resigned regardless of whether Driver is back at $2 million or not then it makes no difference. I just don't want to see Driver released simply for monetary reasons if it isn't absolutely necessary, because his cheaper replacement likely would be a downgrade at the bottom of the depth chart.

I don't see how it is related to the space available. There is always another use for cap space. It never makes sense to waste millions of salary cap dollars on a player that you don't expect to play a big role on your team.

The Packers went out of their way to keep both Gurley and Borel at the end of the season when other teams tried to sign them away from the Packers practice squad. They didn't do that just to have them on the PS for a few more weeks. They did that to have them compete for a roster spot in 2012, Driver's spot.

[Patler]

The Giants didn't have a LB covering Driver, they were in zone coverage and the LB was covering that spot in the field. Like I said the guy still had 7 TDs on the year and was one of the few to show up against the Giants. It's pretty sure, if he accepts a paycut you keep him and if not then its time to move on.

That is the only way I see them bringing him to camp. I will be surprised if they give him the $2 million bonus in March. I could see them declining the bonus, then signing him to a contract with a value that he might get from another team.

On the other hand, it's clear that the Packers have a strong interest in both Gurley and Borel. I'm not sure they have much interest in Driver anymore at any price.

[Brandon494]

As far as Gurley taking Driver's spot I see no reason why we could not keep 6 WRs on the team. I mean kept 5 TEs this season and I don't think Quarless will be ready by the start of next season.

[Patler]

As far as Gurley taking Driver's spot I see no reason why we could not keep 6 WRs on the team. I mean kept 5 TEs this season and I don't think Quarless will be ready by the start of next season.

There are usually underlying reasons for the excess numbers at a position, with reasons to keep each player to provide something that the others do not. For several years at FB, they had two guys that were prominent ST guys, and a young guy with a lot of potential as a heavy hitter blocking. This year at TE there were again reasons to keep each guy. Each had potential in an area that others seemed to lack. That may change in 2012, because Quarless (if he is ready) and both rookies seemed to pick up their blocking skills, making the value of Crabtree less important.

WR would seem to be a position for an "extra" roster spot in 2012, but it still might not include Driver. I could see them keeping both Gurley and Borel, which would give them 6 without Driver.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if TT pulled off a trade involving Jones. He could be the added value needed for a significant move up in the draft when combined with one or more of the Packers' own picks. He is a proven commodity with a reasonable contract for the next two years, and could be appealing to a number of teams. On the Packers he might be no more than #4 on their depth chart next year. Could be the way to get a premium defensive player in the draft.

I am looking forward to seeing what Borel and Gurley really have to offer. The Packers are obviously very interested in both.

[Patler]

....and I don't think Quarless will be ready by the start of next season.

Ya, probably not. An unfortunate injury late in the season. An unfortunate injury at a critical time in the player's development. It will rob him of much of the value of off-season work, after having none following his rookie year. Tough start for his career.

[Upnorth]

I credit a lot of the ST's improvement this year to the 5 te's. They have great st bodies and skill sets. This should be a factor in the decision as well.

[denverYooper]

I am looking forward to seeing what Borel and Gurley really have to offer. The Packers are obviously very interested in both.

I think Gurley has a good shot to make the roster due to his knack for blocking kicks. You can't teach that height.

[Brandon494]

I credit a lot of the ST's improvement this year to the 5 te's. They have great st bodies and skill sets. This should be a factor in the decision as well.

I think it had more to do with the new kickoff rule and Randall Cobb as a improvement over Swain at returner. Also with our offense we didn't have to punt as much.

[Freak Out]

Can Driver play defense?

[Deputy Nutz]

How about you tell him that you don't really need him but if he wants to play then their is spot for him, then when he understands this as you shoving him out the door, he retires. Then reality sets in for DD and he recognizes that he has more to offer and still has passion for the game, but you have his spot filled, you won't let him compete, but you can't imagine him playing for another franchise... See where I am going with this?

[pbmax]

How about you tell him that you don't really need him but if he wants to play then their is spot for him, then when he understands this as you shoving him out the door, he retires. Then reality sets in for DD and he recognizes that he has more to offer and still has passion for the game, but you have his spot filled, you won't let him compete, but you can't imagine him playing for another franchise... See where I am going with this?

Maybe. But we haven't had his retirement press conference yet, so much remains to be revealed.

[Brandon494]

Also don't remember Driver flirting with retirement the past few seasons.