DID DONALD DRIVER SIGN AN EXTENSION? RUMOR

[RashanGary]

Driver wasn't demanding top WR money, either. That also makes a big difference

Really good point...This is just one of those things that I'm going to have to wait and see on.

Some things you just know as a fan are good. This one is questionable at best.

[b bulldog]

The wr's without Walker are not going to scare anyone. That being said, they had to deal him. I think getting a 2 for him was a good deal.

[MJZiggy]

I can't find anything wrong with this one. DD did what was right and in the face of what everyone else did wrong, TT rewarded him. I see no problem with that.

[b bulldog]

Quickie is a professional!

[HarveyWallbangers]

I see little or no difference between Driver's situation and Walker's. They were at similar points in their careers, nearing their last contract.

There is a difference. Driver signed his new contract in 2003, and has mostly outperformed his contract since. Walker signed a 5 year contract as a rookie, and had 1 good, 1 bad, and 1 average year in the first three years of the deal. You could say Walker outplayed his contract in one of the 3 years. Other things do come into play (e.g. attitude and leadership), so it's not all about stats either.

[Harlan Huckleby]

well Harvey, one more difference: Driver is a good player, Walker is a great one.

[pbmax]

Driver is on AT LEAST his fourth contract BEFORE this extension, as he was an RFA in 2002 and signed a one year tender, and would have had one other tender in 2003 prior to the big November deal in 2003.

So differences between Driver and Walker:
1. Didn't demand to leave or declare that he would never play for Green Bay.
2. Had signed and fulfilled three previous contracts.
3. Known commodity, not a one year wonder.
4. Does not have an ACL injury.
5. Wasn't demanding top 5 money, but money commensurate with the ability he has demonstrated over a 7 year career.
6. Out performed contract in last calendar year

And this is the list I would show the next McKenzie or Walker who demand a redo. Meet these qualifications and we will talk.

Walker obviously is the bigger talent. But his track record was shorter, he had demanded more money on his first contract after year 3 and he went public first and when the answer wasn't to his liking, he demanded to be moved. This seems pretty clear cut.

And remember, it is not in Thompson's best interest to talk about what he told Javon and his reps. Any ground he was willing to give or consider could be used against him by other players. It also doesn't serve the team to tick off the agent by releasing public info on what they may have gotten if they had waited or what they turned down.

Walker has nothing but a piece of paper right now. He needs to have a good and healthy season this year. Even then, the Broncos could come knocking about restructuring the $10 million next year. He has pocketed no cash and has no leverage, unless he lights up the league.

[HarveyWallbangers]

well Harvey, one more difference: Driver is a good player, Walker is a great one.

We'll see. Unlike most, I think Driver is a legit #1 receiver and I feel he's in the same league as Javon. Very underrated. He's had huge seasons as the #1 with Schroeder or Ferguson on the other side and as the #2 with Javon on the other side. Not only that, Driver has shown that his professionalism will not wane after getting the big contract. Assume that Walker will be the same way, but we'll see. A lot of guys have regressed after getting paid (see Antonio Freeman).

I'd have given Javon a slight edge before, but that was before he tore his knee up. Rod Smith is getting up there in age, so we'll see just how good Javon truly is.

Driver
70-1064-9 in 2002 as #1 with Schroeds on the other side
84-1208-9 in 2004 with Javon on the other side
86-1221-5 in 2005 as #1 with Fergy on the other side

Walker
89-1382-12 in 2004 with Driver on the other side
68 receptions his other 3 years combined

[wist43]

As I said, I don't have a problem with extending Driver...

but, some arguments and rationale you guys are coming up with simply don't hold up when comparing Driver and Walker.

Some of you have agreed that one of the reasons extending Driver was a good move was b/c "he wasn't demanding top money"... There's a reason he wasn't demanding top money - he's not a legit #1 receiver. If he were, he would demand top money, and what's more, he would get it. If not from the Packers, then from someone else.

Furthermore, to compare Driver and Walker in similar periods in their careers is a nonstarter as well. In Drivers case, going into his fourth year, there was serious doubt as to whether he would even make the team. Walker, on the other hand, was blossoming into a pro bowl receiver, and near All-Pro.

I like Driver both in the locker room and as a player - and, I'm glad TT extended him. But, in terms of value, Driver isn't even close Walker... the only thing that has driven Walker's value down is his knee injury. Talent wise??? Walker is a much more explosive and talented player.

Only one GM in the league would take Driver over Walker - TT.

[MJZiggy]

Just a curious thing to ponder, but I wonder how Walker would have fared had t been Driver who went down and it was Walker facing all the double and triple teams...interesting.

[Bretsky]

Damn it...By doing this it sure makes you feel like Walker was a mistake. I thought it was a good move because it would prevent players from getting in line for extentions before they are up. Now guys are going to be getting in line and doing the same thing anyway and we lost the teams best player.

Thompson found a way to get the worste of both worlds.

Not sure I completely agree with this. Driver performed at a high level for a few years in a row and was the prime example of what a Packer should be....charities, community appearances...class act. So IMO his contributions to Green Bay and the community were far greater than what was just on the field so TT rewarded that.

JW, on the other hand, was a me first guy. The opposite of a Henderson or Driver. He excelled one year and wanted to break the bank.

That being said, Nick, I would completely agree that Ted Thompson made some errors with Javon Walker and the first was probably actively going to him and his agent last year and saying, listen, perform this year and we'll extend you and make you a wealthy man. But TT's apparent snottiness, pr JW, hurt the Packers.

Ultimately I think GB could have kept him if they were more personable to JW. But that IMO is not TT's strength.

[Bretsky]

First of all, I have no problem with extending Driver... BUT,

for all of you embittered Walker bashers to now be singing TT's praises for extending DD in exactly the same manner that I was calling for Walker to be extended last year is duplicitous... you're hypocrites.

You bash Walker b/c he was unhappy with his contract and he's now a former Packer - and, since he's now a former Packer, he of course, sucks, right??? You're hypocrites.

-------------------

DD is a nice player, but he is 31 and really isn't a bonafide #1 receiver. Walker, on the other hand, was 27 last year, coming off a pro bowl, his upside was obvious, and theretofore had been nothing but a model citizen in the clubhouse and in the community.

DD is unlikely to produce numbers better than he has the past two years (which were good numbers), while Walker was just coming into his prime, and his ceiling was much higher.

No GM in their right mind would take DD over Walker... now maybe with the knee some would hedge, but even with the knee most would still take Walker. He's an explosive player maker... DD is just a good player.

I can't fathom why TT would dis a young, in his prime, blue-chip player like Walker - citing the "more than 1 year left" mantra - and then turn around do the exact thing he said he wouldn't do, for a player that is inferior in skill and upside in DD.

It's beyond my comprehesion.

Wist,

You make some good points in here, and I'd agree that TT made some mistakes in this process (not reassuring him he would redo the deal in the future). And Walker is undoubtedly better than DD and now we've witnessed two offensive weapons leave that will be hard to replace in Wahle and Walker.

The one thing about your posts I'd disagree with is Walker being the model citizen. From my understanding DD did a lot more for the community and valued the area.........aka....Packers a lot more. And the way DD went about this showed class. DD's a much better person.

[Bretsky]

Wist, I'm checking my posts and can't see where I bashed Walker. He is the one who came out and said he would retire rather than ever playing in Green Bay again. That's not bashing, thats the facts.

In the past 4 seasons Donald Driver has failed to get 1000+ receiving yards once, and that was because he missed some games. He fulfilled his original contract and never threatened to holdout or cause any trouble. He wanted to be in Green Bay. It looks like apples and oranges to me.

First off let's not throw rocks just at TT; Javon Walker was a whining pissbaby through this process. Unlike taking the high road like Driver, he used the media and his agents to make this a high profile battle with GB. Anybody who doesn't think this was part of the problem is severely bias.

Mistakes were made on both sides.

[gureski]

There was a guy who ran a publication (not sure if he's issuing it this year) and he was called the 'Football Scientist'. This guy watched every snap of every game for every NFL team and then documented scouting reports on the various players. He was good.

What this guy said, going into last year, was that Donald Driver actually outplayed J.Walker during the year in which Walker drummed up his best statistics as a pro and went to the pro-bowl.

The point is that there is legitimate debate as to whether or not Walker was so head and shoulders above Driver to begin with. Driver can be a #1 WR. He's done it before. He was the only legitimate receiving threat on the field for most of last season and was double and triple covered and yet he STILL managed to make plays! Nobody should be questioning Donald Driver! He has earned his contract extension and his status as a #1 calibur WR. He is proven.

I"m sick of hearing the whines and cries about Walker getting a raw deal. I heard LeRoy Butler whining on TMJ this morning about how the Packers now can be seen to have had a double-standard and how that's what Walker had been pointing out the whole time. I could've just puked after hearing that. The guy had one good season. That's it. One season of real good play does not give a player the entitlement of a new deal. There is no double standard! No player has a RIGHT or entitlement to an extension! That's the problem here. Some people here and in the media are talking as if Walker deserved and earned a new deal and are up in arms that the Packers gave Driver an extension but wouldn't for Walker. In order to get to that point you have to believe that Walker earned or deserved the extension and there is no way you can honestly look at Walker and state that he earned and deserved anything! He had one good year. That's it! I'm proud that Thompson didnt' give in or else we'd be tied into big money for a guy who is a question mark now due to his injury!

And on that 2nd round pick we got for Walker.....It had the value of a normal late first rounder in an average year! This years draft was absolutely stocked with talent! The value of the player and the calibur of the players available with the 37th overall pick were just as good as the players available at the end of the 1st round last year and as good as the players that will be available at the end of the first round next year! It was a good trade.

[Green Bud Packer]

it will be interesting to see how walker performs this year.his knee should be healed but most guys take two full years to return to pre injury form.denver is making walker play this season for the same money he would have gotten from the pack so they are banking on his future, not the present,as a play maker.it was no surprise ted extended drivers deal cuz the pack and dd's agent have been talking all off-season.when i think of walker, alvin harper keeps popping into my mind.one great year, a big contract with a new team and never coming close to being the same player he was with dallas.all in all i think it was a good idea to lock dd up for the next four years.he should have a positive effect on jennings and maybe even rub off a little on gardner.i'm glad walkers gone and i wish him hell in denver.