DID DONALD DRIVER SIGN AN EXTENSION? RUMOR

[Harlan Huckleby]

He didn't want it extended; he wanted it redone.

There is no difference between the two.

For some reason, this got me to thinking about king-sized snickers bars.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Driver was a to be an unrestricted free agent in 2003. He is on his second contract and is now going to be paid like a #1 receiver. To me there is a big difference in redoing his deal after getting better every year. I haven't read or heard anything that leads me to believe Walker would have re-signed in February or any other time.

you mean 2008, right?

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.

Walker went public with his unhappiness in March 2005. Things went downhill from there. I don't know what went on behind the scenes, I'm not blaming Thompson. I just wish Walker & Thompson had worked things out privately.

[Homer Jay]

No, I mean he re-signed with the Packers when he would have been an unrestricted free agent in 2003. He fulfilled his rookie contract. To me, that is a big difference. He fulfilled his rookie contract, and according to him and his agent never threatened any type of holdout concerning his current contract. I just don't think you can compare the two situations.

[wist43]

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.

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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 and 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.

[The Leaper]

Nick, you are grasping at straws.

Driver deserved some extra coin. He's been a consistent receiver for 3-4 years, and has one of the best work ethics on the team. This helps show the young kids that hard nosed play and good character is what will be rewarded.

This is an excellent move by Thompson. I still believe Thompson has to learn how to better diffuse any future situations with disgruntled employees, because I thought he handled the Walker situation poorly. I will always hold to the viewpoint that it is not in the best interest of the team to ignore a high talent player who is concerned with his pay scale. That doesn't mean you give the guy what he wants...but at least be willing to step up and put what you believe to be a fair offer on the table. Walker's street value last offseason was CONSIDERABLY more than his rookie deal, and as such you need to be willing to do what is necessary to see if you can prevent a situation from occuring.

Nice job Donald. You are a credit to the Packers, and I'm happy to see you get what you deserve.

[Homer Jay]

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.

[The Leaper]

No, I mean he re-signed with the Packers when he would have been an unrestricted free agent in 2003. He fulfilled his rookie contract. To me, that is a big difference. He fulfilled his rookie contract, and according to him and his agent never threatened any type of holdout concerning his current contract. I just don't think you can compare the two situations.

What the hell is the difference between a rookie contract and any other contract?

If anything, the rookie contract is far more logical to rework...because it isn't actually based on ANYTHING other than draft slotting. Basically, if you are saying a guy has to play out his rookie deal, then you are forcing him to accept less money than he deserves if his level of production is greater than that of his draft position.

Regular contracts are actually based on NFL performance...and so I would see less of an argument for a player to rework a contract that wasn't a rookie deal.

[Homer Jay]

I didn't realize Walker had been forced to sign his rookie contract. If you sign a contract you live up to it. Walker got a nice signing bonus for signing as a rookie in the NFL. He still had 2 years left on the deal and wanted to start all over because he had one very good year. His situation is much different than Driver's. IMO

[The Leaper]

I didn't realize Walker had been forced to sign his rookie contract.

What does this mean? No one in the NFL...rookie or otherwise...is forced to sign a contract. So does this mean you should never rework soneone's deal?

If you sign a contract you live up to it.

Walker did live up to it. He capitalized on his talent and turned in a monster season where he became one of the biggest playmakers in the game. If that isn't living up to a deal, I don't know what is.

Walker got a nice signing bonus for signing as a rookie in the NFL.

Who cares? The point is that Green Bay had an extremely young talented WR on their roster...and they should've done more to try to keep him happy and in a Packer uniform. Instead, they ignored him...and Walker got his way out of Green Bay.

He still had 2 years left on the deal and wanted to start all over because he had one very good year. His situation is much different than Driver's. IMO

Yes, they are different. Driver is being rewarded for past performance. However, being rewarded for potential FUTURE performance is the norm in the NFL. That is what the rookie bonus that you are constantly blabbering about is all about. Walker's potential FUTURE performance far exceeded the value of his rookie deal one year ago. As such, I feel he was justified in trying to do what he could to gain more financial security. I personally feel he did a poor job going about it, but I don't criticize him for trying.

[Homer Jay]

To put it simply Leaper, we disagree.

To threaten to retire is not my idea of living up to ones contract. Ask for more money, fine. What he did after that was handled poorly on his part. IMO

[RashanGary]

The way I look at it, the Packers got worse for losing Walker. Walker is better than almost every WR in the game. The Packers gave him up for a 2nd round pick.

I was behind Thompson because I unsderstand teh buisness aspect adn you don't want to get in the habbit of paying every guy who wants more money because good team have many such players.

Now I cannot possibly be behind Thompson for letting the most exploisive and dominate weapon the Packers had go and then doing to Driver who is 31 and not as good what he could have done for Walker..

WTF is all I can say. If you're gonna redo contracts at least do it for fucking playmakers and not good players.

[Scott Campbell]

Nick, your playmaker had 4 receptions for 29 yards last year.

[RashanGary]

Reliable stat SC.....

[GBRulz]

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

[Partial]

The way I look at it, the Packers got worse for losing Walker. Walker is better than almost every WR in the game. The Packers gave him up for a 2nd round pick.

I was behind Thompson because I unsderstand teh buisness aspect adn you don't want to get in the habbit of paying every guy who wants more money because good team have many such players.

Now I cannot possibly be behind Thompson for letting the most exploisive and dominate weapon the Packers had go and then doing to Driver who is 31 and not as good what he could have done for Walker..

WTF is all I can say. If you're gonna redo contracts at least do it for fucking playmakers and not good players.

you don't know that he didn't try.