Double D Has Hung Up The Spurs

[Patler]

Nice comments from Driver about basically the only two guys he has caught any significant number of passes from. Kind of special when you think about it. I wonder how many passes he has caught from anyone not named Favre or Rodgers? Can't be very many.

He was asked about the two QBs, He had to have expected it was coming. He provided answers that were fitting for each. However, I suspect he would have been just as tough without input from Favre, and would not have loved the game any less without input from Rodgers. But, it seems in his nature to credit others and not seek glory for himself.

It really was time for him to retire, but the organization and fans will miss him nonetheless.

[Patler]

Only two other times was I so sorry to see a career come to its end.

The first was Bart Starr. Everyone knew it was coming, and even though the Lombardi era was long gone, his retirement put an emphasis on it. Many of the great ones came and went. Even Lombardi himself. Through it all, Starr was there. He was there when they were bad before Lombardi and he was there at the start of the decline after Lombardi left. It was hard to imagine the Packers without him.

The other was Ray Nitschke. He had stayed a couple years too long, and sadly the fans took it out on his replacement, Jim Carter. It was a very small scale version of what happened in TC when Rodgers replaced Favre. It was different because both were on the field together, but Carter was playing and Nitschke was not. Carter would get booed just for being there and Nitschke would get cheered just for being there. Nitschke was loved by the fans. He retired, but never really left, staying in GB, starting (I think) the publication "Packer Report". Died way too young.

[MadtownPacker]

So he is like a guy who has only slept with two women in his whole life?

[Patler]

So he is like a guy who has only slept with two women in his whole life?

With just a couple meaningless indiscretions thrown in!

[woodbuck27]

Nice comments from Driver about basically the only two guys he has caught any significant number of passes from. Kind of special when you think about it. I wonder how many passes he has caught from anyone not named Favre or Rodgers? Can't be very many.

He was asked about the two QBs, He had to have expected it was coming. He provided answers that were fitting for each. However, I suspect he would have been just as tough without input from Favre, and would not have loved the game any less without input from Rodgers. But, it seems in his nature to credit others and not seek glory for himself.

It really was time for him to retire, but the organization and fans will miss him nonetheless.

I'm not attempting to upset or annoy you; simply understand you.

Until you become Donald Driver's biographer!? Can we simply accept that he said this about the relationships and influences that DD felt for Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers? :

On how Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers helped him:

“I guess we’ll start with Brett. When I first walked in here in 1999, Brett kind of just took me under his wing. He threw his first ball to me and I ran it back to him. I was so excited, I was like, ‘You’re Brett Favre.’ He was like, ‘Don’t worry there’s many more to come.’ He instilled in me that don’t ever let anyone know that you’re hurt. Every time I’d get knocked out across the middle, I’d get up and smile. Even though I was hurt, I’d just show that beautiful smile and then get back to the huddle, and I didn’t know what’s going on, but I knew it was a run play. He instilled in me the toughness of this game." Donald Driver

Comment woodbuck27:

Patler what's Brett Favre best known for as a positive quality if it's not his toughness? That fact supports DD's statement RE: him and Brett Favre and the greatest influence that Favre had on him.

“Aaron Rodgers, I’ve seen this guy grow up a little kid to a grown man. He’s instilled in me as an older man than he is, the love for the game. The way he stepped in and he knew that no one can be better than Aaron Rodgers. He had that chip on his shoulder that I loved. I saw him go through training camp and he fought and fought and fought. When it was all said and done, he stood among and now he’s one of the best to ever play this game. One thing I continue to learn from Aaron is you can continue to believe. People are going to doubt you, but if you continue to believe you could be anything, you’re going to be that and that’s what he did.” Donald Driver

Comment woodbuck27:

Isn't Aaron Rodgers known for his excellence and his desire to strive for such? Can't you imagine that as the new Packer leader; that Aaron Rodgers might have had an influence on a long standing Packer such as Donald Driver? A man who continually grows as a person and human being to be the best? As leaders in excellence we continually look up to others to provide us with constant food for growth. I believe that Donald Driver discovered such in Aaron Rodgers.

GO PACKERS !

[MadtownPacker]

I think P-Money meant DD was gonna be DD no matter who was throwing him the ball. I have to agree based on the shit DD rose up from.

[woodbuck27]

I think P-Money meant DD was gonna be DD no matter who was throwing him the ball. I have to agree based on the shit DD rose up from.

I love Donald Driver. I've pulled for him for almost every minute that he's been a Green Bay Packer.

I think that Favre had a special liking for Donald Driver. Without that being a fact. DD would not have had the illustrious career we enjoyed as Packer fans. Brett Favre is an emotional man, but he certainly and on many ocassions demonstrated that with Donald Driver. We all saw that.

Brett Favre paid special attention to Donald Driver and gave that man a special respect. It will be a long time before we get to enjoy a better man than Donald Driver in the Green and Gold.

[Freak Out]

So glad he got his ring.

[Joemailman]

So glad he got his ring.

So was he.

[Patler]

I'm not attempting to upset or annoy you; simply understand you.

Until you become Donald Driver's biographer!? Can we simply accept that he said this about the relationships and influences that DD felt for Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers? :

On how Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers helped him:

“I guess we’ll start with Brett. When I first walked in here in 1999, Brett kind of just took me under his wing. He threw his first ball to me and I ran it back to him. I was so excited, I was like, ‘You’re Brett Favre.’ He was like, ‘Don’t worry there’s many more to come.’ He instilled in me that don’t ever let anyone know that you’re hurt. Every time I’d get knocked out across the middle, I’d get up and smile. Even though I was hurt, I’d just show that beautiful smile and then get back to the huddle, and I didn’t know what’s going on, but I knew it was a run play. He instilled in me the toughness of this game." Donald Driver

Comment woodbuck27:

Patler what's Brett Favre best known for as a positive quality if it's not his toughness? That fact supports DD's statement RE: him and Brett Favre and the greatest influence that Favre had on him.

“Aaron Rodgers, I’ve seen this guy grow up a little kid to a grown man. He’s instilled in me as an older man than he is, the love for the game. The way he stepped in and he knew that no one can be better than Aaron Rodgers. He had that chip on his shoulder that I loved. I saw him go through training camp and he fought and fought and fought. When it was all said and done, he stood among and now he’s one of the best to ever play this game. One thing I continue to learn from Aaron is you can continue to believe. People are going to doubt you, but if you continue to believe you could be anything, you’re going to be that and that’s what he did.” Donald Driver

Comment woodbuck27:

Isn't Aaron Rodgers known for his excellence and his desire to strive for such? Can't you imagine that as the new Packer leader; that Aaron Rodgers might have had an influence on a long standing Packer such as Donald Driver? A man who continually grows as a person and human being to be the best? As leaders in excellence we continually look up to others to provide us with constant food for growth. I believe that Donald Driver discovered such in Aaron Rodgers.

GO PACKERS !

Isn't that exactly what I wrote? That he attributed things to each that are entirely consistent with the character and reputations of each? I don't doubt that Favre may have said what Driver said he did, or that Favre and Rodgers exemplified exactly what Driver said they did, or that their words or actions had meaning to Driver, just as they would have meaning to others, too.

My point is simply that after reading what Driver wrote as a rookie in his diary reports for JSO in 1999, reading the recaps of what his life was like leading up to college, reading about the promises he made to his brother and mother long before the NFL was even a possibility, listening to an interview with his HS coach last week, etc., I firmly believe that Driver would have succeeded without the words or actions from Favre and Rodgers. Driver had it in his own makeup to do what he needed to do to be successful. He is also one to credit others for his and the teams success, so naturally he mentions them and says they made him who he is.

This is not a slam against Favre or Rodgers; it is simply my belief that Driver is one heck of a person who would have succeeded anyway, and one who will not take the credit that he should, but will instead credit all of those around him.

Maybe Favre showed him toughness, but Driver was tough anyway, even if he won't admit it.
Maybe Rodgers showed him a love for the game, but Driver had more than enough anyway, even if he won't admit it.

Support and encouragement by others always helps, but in the end it is the fire inside that makes you succeed. Driver had that fire the day he showed up in GB. Others just reinforced it.

[pbmax]

http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Donald-Driver-tribute-Greatness-is-born/2663a5ef-0049-47bb-9521-0721c3e2bedd

Driver tribute video that aired during his ceremony.

[pbmax]

Visits a local fan before departing town yesterday, apparently. She seems a bit surprised.

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/sports/packers_and_nfl/donald-driver-surprises-longtime-fan

[woodbuck27]

Isn't that exactly what I wrote? That he attributed things to each that are entirely consistent with the character and reputations of each? I don't doubt that Favre may have said what Driver said he did, or that Favre and Rodgers exemplified exactly what Driver said they did, or that their words or actions had meaning to Driver, just as they would have meaning to others, too.

My point is simply that after reading what Driver wrote as a rookie in his diary reports for JSO in 1999, reading the recaps of what his life was like leading up to college, reading about the promises he made to his brother and mother long before the NFL was even a possibility, listening to an interview with his HS coach last week, etc., I firmly believe that Driver would have succeeded without the words or actions from Favre and Rodgers. Driver had it in his own makeup to do what he needed to do to be successful. He is also one to credit others for his and the teams success, so naturally he mentions them and says they made him who he is.

This is not a slam against Favre or Rodgers; it is simply my belief that Driver is one heck of a person who would have succeeded anyway, and one who will not take the credit that he should, but will instead credit all of those around him.

Maybe Favre showed him toughness, but Driver was tough anyway, even if he won't admit it.
Maybe Rodgers showed him a love for the game, but Driver had more than enough anyway, even if he won't admit it.

Support and encouragement by others always helps, but in the end it is the fire inside that makes you succeed. Driver had that fire the day he showed up in GB. Others just reinforced it.

OK I understand you.

[woodbuck27]

Visits a local fan before departing town yesterday, apparently. She seems a bit surprised.

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/sport...s-longtime-fan

WOW ! Thanks pb. That was simply amazing to watch ... experience.

I shed a few tears watching that video. Donald Driver is truly special. I'm going to miss him alot.