Don’t Be Surprised If the Green Bay Packers Release Donald Driver: Fan’s Take

[Brandon494]

That just proves my point.

"great locker room guy" "veteran leadership" mean little on most teams, and even less on the Packers who have those types in abundance. Those are just words that sound good for a guy who makes the team anyway based on what he can do. No body makes a professional team because of it.

"has a good relationship with Rodgers" - which of the wide receivers doesn't? Jennings and Nelson seem to be more in sync with Rodgers than Driver does.

"has agreed to take a pay cut" - he may still cost more than what he contributes and will certainly be a lot more expensive than a younger player even at the vets' minimum.

"the only WR who showed up against the Giants" - 3 receptions for 45 yards is nothing to brag about, and not much more than the 4/40, 3/39 and 3/38 put up by Jennings, Nelson and Cobb. The ball was thrown to him, he caught it. (I know, there were drops by others that stand out, but I think Driver had an early one too, didn't he?)

"Packers all-time leading receiver in catches" - means nothing for 2012. Favre was the Packers all-time leader for everything QB related, and it meant nothing for him when his time was up, nor should it have. That's all in the past. All that matters is what Driver can do for the team in 2012 and perhaps in the future too.

Ok simple question, so are we a better team with Driver or Gurley?

[Pugger]

Yep. He's 6-4 and seems to have good hands. If he had decent speed, he likely would have been drafted. He has some ability, but at this point I'm not sure he brings more than a guy like Ruvell Martin.

I know we have them coming out of our ears but perhaps Gurley would make a decent TE?

[MJZiggy]

Ok simple question, so are we a better team with Driver or Gurley?

That remains to be seen. I think they'll fight it out in camp and we'll have an answer come September.

[Scott Campbell]

Apparently there must be a lot of great game film on Gurley for people to have him so thoroughly analyzed.

[King Friday]

Ok simple question, so are we a better team with Driver or Gurley?

Gurley...because he can contribute on special teams and Driver cannot. As a #5 WR, neither would be in a position to produce much on offense. Keeping Driver means you may have to sacrifice elsewhere to find capable ST players, perhaps losing a veteran player at another position of lesser depth. I would also argue that the team has a Super Bowl caliber offense with either guy at #5, so is your simple question even relevant to whether or not the team is a championship contender?

I'd love to keep Driver forever to, but the salary cap era has eliminated the ability for teams to hang on to aging players and remain effective. Look at New England. Do they hang on to guys past their prime? Hell, no. They tend to dump them too early if anything. That is why they remain on top. Foolishly clinging to aging players is one of the biggest mistakes for any franchise. The Steelers used to never do it, but did the last couple years chasing a title...and now it appears they will have several years of rebuilding to be championship caliber again.

I'd rather follow the Patriots example myself.

[Brandon494]

Ok since all you guys are so high on Gurley is it possible we keep 6 WRs and only 4 TEs next season? Remember Quarless had a pretty serious knee injury and might be out at the beginning of the season.

[Patler]

Ok simple question, so are we a better team with Driver or Gurley?

I really don't know. It might not be Gurley that replaces Driver. Maybe it will be Borel. Maybe Smithson. Maybe somebody drafted this year. I just don't think Driver has a lot to offer anymore, and it is time to move on. Time to see what someone else has to offer I simply want to find the best one of the candidates in training camp, and give them the last WR spot and an opportunity.

[King Friday]

Yeah, I agree it may not be Gurley too. He looks like the best candidate to replace Driver at this point, but Thompson could easily draft a WR in the 4th round and suddenly he is the leading candidate.

[Gunakor]

Gurley...because he can contribute on special teams and Driver cannot. As a #5 WR, neither would be in a position to produce much on offense. Keeping Driver means you may have to sacrifice elsewhere to find capable ST players, perhaps losing a veteran player at another position of lesser depth. I would also argue that the team has a Super Bowl caliber offense with either guy at #5, so is your simple question even relevant to whether or not the team is a championship contender?

I'd love to keep Driver forever to, but the salary cap era has eliminated the ability for teams to hang on to aging players and remain effective. Look at New England. Do they hang on to guys past their prime? Hell, no. They tend to dump them too early if anything. That is why they remain on top. Foolishly clinging to aging players is one of the biggest mistakes for any franchise. The Steelers used to never do it, but did the last couple years chasing a title...and now it appears they will have several years of rebuilding to be championship caliber again.

I'd rather follow the Patriots example myself.

Where did Gurley contribute on ST's last year? How about Driver? Oh, neither one of them played ST's last year? I see. Then I fail to understand why everyone is concerned with ST's. Our ST's could be made up of guys who are not necessarily #5 WR on the depth chart. Why does the #5 HAVE to play ST's? Why can't #'s 2-4 play ST's while #1 and #5 play strictly WR?

Anyone who watched that game a month ago knows Driver has more to offer than anybody on the practice squad does. That much is clear. If Ted drafts someone who beats out Driver for a job come August that's one thing. If you give up Driver's roster spot to an unknown in March you're crazy. Let it be settled on the field for crying out loud. If Driver beats out his competiton on the field for that roster spot then we aren't foolishly hanging on to him, rather, we're hanging on to the best chance we have at a ring in XLVII. Don't you think we owe him at least a fair opportunity to keep his job before shoving him out the door?

[Pugger]

Seeing Gurley was on the practice squad of course he didn't contribute on ST's last season. The only way Driver will return is if he takes a pay cut- which he has said he's willing to do. If he beats out these young guys in TC then that is great. If not, he'll play for another team in 2012.

[sharpe1027]

I don't understand all the focus on Gurley. That wasn't the point of much of the discussion. He's just one practice squad player that is as likely to be cut next year as he is to be on the team. It may be that Driver is better than anyone else they bring in, whether through the draft, from the practice squad or as a free agent. Then again, it may be that they find an upgrade. It might be Gurley, but it's more likely to be a drafted WR or FA signing.

Driver was fine last year, but he was noticeably less effective than his previous year. At some point the decline will be too much to justify a roster spot and with the full set of quality WRs already in place the competition for the last spot or two should be fierce.

[Zool]

We will be carrying 4 wr's, 6 TE's and 5 FB's this year. No room for either Driver or Girly

[sharpe1027]

Along with two punters so they can use an innovative multiple punter formation to improve special teams.

[pittstang5]

I think a huge question here is, and it seems we keep getting away from it, is, will Driver even make it to Training Camp? His bonus or whatever is due BEFORE TC. He will have to take a pay cut, restructure...whatever BEFORE TC. TT will have to decide whether Driver will be a part of the 2012 Packers BEFORE TC.

We can argue all day that if given the chance, Driver can beat out Gurley, Borel...whoever, but he has to be on the roster BEFORE TC in order to do that. Just considering TT's history with older players and looking at this particular position and the depth the Packers have - I think TT let's him go early so he has an opportunity to latch on to a team before training camp starts. Do I want this - Hell no! I love Driver, but that's what I feel is going to happen.

[sharpe1027]

I think most people are guessing that Driver would restructure to remove that bonus if he is given the option of that or being cut. Maybe not, but that would be my guess.