McCarthy On Driver: Then And Now

[Patler]

We shouldn't hand out roster spots as lifetime achievement awards.

Exactly. It's not like these guys haven't been paid while they were performing well. It amazes me how many fans think the old guys "deserve" a roster spot and the pay associated with it because of what they did in the past, even though they can no longer do it. Roster spots are limited, the salary cap is limited. Ideally, every bit of both is invested in the present and the future. The past, to the extent it can be controlled, has little to do with it.

[sharpe1027]

I love Driver's attitude and production, but I am willing to accept their decision either way. If he can continue to add value, put him on the damn roster. If not, the guy is still one of my all time favorites.

[Patler]

I love Driver's attitude and production, but I am willing to accept their decision either way. If he can continue to add value, put him on the damn roster. If not, the guy is still one of my all time favorites.

Agreed, and I have confidence that what ever decision TT makes, it will be for the right reasons.

[Smeefers]

1.5M is not chump change. There is no way the Packers give DD the bonus unless they are 100% he makes the roster. It will go to someone else when a contract extension is signed. If the choice is giving DD a $1.5M gold watch or being able to lock up both Clay and Raji, DD gets a handshake and nothing more.

If Drivers bonus money is the difference between signing Clay and Raji then I'll eat my hat. His roster bonus is approximately 1.25% (based of 120 mil) of our total salary cap. I say you only cut him if you're 100% sure he's not going to make the roster, otherwise you stick to your commitments.

I would also like to point out that no one is saying that if he doesn't renegotiate his contract, he should still be kept.

We shouldn't hand out roster spots as lifetime achievement awards.

No one is saying we should just give driver a roster spot because we like him. Implying that ignores post after post of valid reasons to keep him. We shouldn't just take away roster spots due to a guys age. Otherwise, watch out Woodson! You're gone next year! 37's the age limit us packers are going to have. We don't hand out roster spots for lifetime achievement awards round here.

[mraynrand]

Round and round this thread goes, where it stops depends on the real speed of Driver's toes

[Scott Campbell]

........ otherwise you stick to your commitments.

How would cutting Driver have any impact on their commitments? In the NFL there is no commitment beyond the guaranteed money.

[Patler]

If Drivers bonus money is the difference between signing Clay and Raji then I'll eat my hat. His roster bonus is approximately 1.25% (based of 120 mil) of our total salary cap. I say you only cut him if you're 100% sure he's not going to make the roster, otherwise you stick to your commitments.

I would also like to point out that no one is saying that if he doesn't renegotiate his contract, he should still be kept.



No one is saying we should just give driver a roster spot because we like him. Implying that ignores post after post of valid reasons to keep him. We shouldn't just take away roster spots due to a guys age. Otherwise, watch out Woodson! You're gone next year! 37's the age limit us packers are going to have. We don't hand out roster spots for lifetime achievement awards round here.

Do you think Driver should be given the #5 receiver spot over a development guy with uncertain potential? I see no reason to keep Driver in that spot.

Do you think Driver should be kept if he is no better than Jones or Cobb? I do not.

To me, if Driver is not a clear and convincing #3 at WR, there is little reason to keep him at this point.

[Fritz]

Here's a little "what if' for ya: What if the Donald says he'll be happy to play special teams?

He could probably be someone else's #3 wide out, so he probably won't volunteer for st duty, but if he did, would that change anyone's thinking?

[Lurker64]

$1.5 mil is chump change to these guys. That's not going to keep driver from coming to camp. Friday had it right. They'll fight it out in TC and whoever wins, wins.

That $1.5m does count against the cap though, and you'd hate "bringing an aging veteran into TC where he loses his job anyway" to be the reason you can't resign one of your young guys.

Hopefully TT can defer that roster bonus to week 1 so that he can give Driver a fair shot to win the gjob.

[Smeefers]

Do you think Driver should be given the #5 receiver spot over a development guy with uncertain potential? I see no reason to keep Driver in that spot.

Do you think Driver should be kept if he is no better than Jones or Cobb? I do not.

To me, if Driver is not a clear and convincing #3 at WR, there is little reason to keep him at this point.

I see your point. A month ago I was arguing the same. It's a very convincing argument and I don't think he's better than Cobb and he may only be marginally better than Jones if that.

I'll play the what if game though. What happens if Jennings goes down? Who do you lean on? Nelson and... what? Jones? Cobb? Jones is spotty at best and Cobb is a slot WR, nothing more. Driver would be your guy out there who you can count on. The best backup in the league. With the wide array of packages that our team runs, our #3 through #5 will get basically the same amount of work. If you equate our #3 to our #5, then you have to ask who gives you the best chance to win a ring? A developmental guy with uncertain potiential or DD? I think DD gives you the better chance at winning.

Once again, I submit that if someone clearly beats out DD or he does not redo his contract, then we should get rid of him.

[Smeefers]

That $1.5m does count against the cap though, and you'd hate "bringing an aging veteran into TC where he loses his job anyway" to be the reason you can't resign one of your young guys.

Hopefully TT can defer that roster bonus to week 1 so that he can give Driver a fair shot to win the gjob.

Neither of those guys need to get resigned this year.

[Lurker64]

Neither of those guys need to get resigned this year.

Lang and Jennings are due this year. We want to keep both.

[Patler]

Here's a little "what if' for ya: What if the Donald says he'll be happy to play special teams?

He could probably be someone else's #3 wide out, so he probably won't volunteer for st duty, but if he did, would that change anyone's thinking?

Not for me if he is still just the #5 receiver. At least one spot at most position groups should have a development aspect to it. Cobb was that last year at WR. Swain, Nelson and Jones before that. (Jennings sort of leapfrogged it)

If Driver is not a clear-cut #3 on the depth chart, I would sooner see a younger guy with potential. If it turns out that none of the young guys show potential, then, maybe.

I think you always have to give consideration to the future. It's not guaranteed that Jennings will be here in 2013. Both Jones and Nelson signed three year deals, I think. Either could leave after that. I would feel better with a young guy that may (or may not) provide a level of protection if one of the three leaves. Driver will not.

[Lurker64]

Not for me if he is still just the #5 receiver. At least one spot at most position groups should have a development aspect to it. Cobb was that last year at WR. Swain, Nelson and Jones before that. (Jennings sort of leapfrogged it)

If Driver is not a clear-cut #3 on the depth chart, I would sooner see a younger guy with potential. If it turns out that none of the young guys show potential, then, maybe.

It is conceivable that the Packers keep 6 WRs this year, that sort of thing is fairly common in NFL circles. Last year after TC we had 10 WRs+FBs+TEs. You could keep (for example) 6 WRs, 3 TEs, 1 FB and not change the numbers at any other position.

[Patler]

I see your point. A month ago I was arguing the same. It's a very convincing argument and I don't think he's better than Cobb and he may only be marginally better than Jones if that.

I'll play the what if game though. What happens if Jennings goes down? Who do you lean on? Nelson and... what? Jones? Cobb? Jones is spotty at best and Cobb is a slot WR, nothing more. Driver would be your guy out there who you can count on. The best backup in the league. With the wide array of packages that our team runs, our #3 through #5 will get basically the same amount of work. If you equate our #3 to our #5, then you have to ask who gives you the best chance to win a ring? A developmental guy with uncertain potiential or DD? I think DD gives you the better chance at winning.

Once again, I submit that if someone clearly beats out DD or he does not redo his contract, then we should get rid of him.

If Driver is no better than Jones or Cobb, he provides no better insurance than either of them if Jennings goes down. I would be content with giving a young guy his shot as the 4th receiver, if one of those ahead of him goes down; which is why I would not keep Driver as #5 on the depth chart.