If Driver is #1, #2 is...???

[Bretsky]

I predict Fergie. We'll see what happens.

You are a glutton for punishment. If a WR doesn't beat out Robert Ferguson then our WR'ing cast will have failed. We've made the same mistakes over and over and over and over again with both David Martin and Robert Ferguson. Unrealized potential.

[Iron Mike]

Charles Woodson

[chain_gang]

I've been debating on this since the draft ended. I've finally made a rational decision and I'm going to stick with it. Gardner needs more time in the offense to make an impact from at starting standpoint. Also he's pretty maxed out on what you're going to get from him. Ferguson, however knows the offense the best, but is too injury prone and to put it bluntly just flat out sucks as a starting wideout. Jennings, however, is an intriguing prospect. I just think this guy has some skill to be the best rookie wideout this year. Think about it every year the draft yields a second round wideout that makes an impact their rookie year. Last year was Reggie Brown from Philly, year before Keary Colbert from Carolina, before that Anquan Boldin Arizona, and so on. Greg Jennings has more talent than Gardner and Ferguson. I think jennings will be ready to make an impact this year. In the amount of 58 recs. for 790 yds. and 6 Tds.


Here are the stats of the last three successful second round picks. Seems the odds are about 1 in 3 in having an impact in your first year as a rookie wideout since 2003.

Anquan Boldin
2003 Arizona Cardinals 101 1377 13.6 71 8

Keary Colbert
2004 Carolina Panthers 47 754 16.0 63 5

Reggie Brown

2005 Philadephia Eagles 43 571 13.3 56 4

Greg Jennings

2006 Green Bay Packers ?? ??? ??.? ?? ?



Guess we'll find out soon enough.

[GrnBay007]

Actually NOT soon enough. I'm ready to watch the Packers now!!

[Patler]

I think it is debatable whether Ferguson's "experience" will provide any advantage at all over other NFL vets like Gardner and Boerigter. When you start listing players, Ferguson has his work cut out for him to play a significant role on this team. He may have used up his chances, and someone new may be given the chance.

Driver, Gardner, Jennings - locks to make the team, absent injury.
Boerigter, Rodgers - very likely to make the team.

That leaves Ferguson in a battle with Lucas and one or more FA for maybe one spot, or maybe no spot at all..

[SD GB fan]

i actually think that ferguson is in a safer position than boegriter for a few reasons.

1. his last year of his contract anyways
2. cutting him now wud result in a cap hit (anyone know the number?)
3. TT does not hold his temporary free agent signings with much regard as seen last year (earl little, arturo freeman, that one o lineman, ray thompson). he signed boegriter to a one year offer without much guaranteed money, mainly just to provide competition.

but if it turns out that ferugson sux again and boegriter can make a solid #3 or even #2 then ferguson is probably out.

[RashanGary]

I completely agree. I think Ferg will be around for at least one more year. If both Jennings and Rodger turn into players he will be at a bigger risk next year.

[GrnBay007]

i actually think that ferguson is in a safer position than boegriter for a few reasons.


2. cutting him now wud result in a cap hit (anyone know the number?)

Patler would if he was here.

[SD GB fan]

hey on the bright side..maybe ferg will finally realize that favre's career is on the ending side. and he will finally become a football player, putting up a walker-like-2004-season before favre goes back to ol' miss for good.

wishful thinking of course but who knows

[Patler]

hey on the bright side..maybe ferg will finally realize that favre's career is on the ending side. and he will finally become a football player, putting up a walker-like-2004-season before favre goes back to ol' miss for good.

wishful thinking of course but who knows

There is no big cap hit if Ferguson is cut. He has 3 years remaining on his contract, with his pro-rated signing bonus at $700,000 per year. His salary for 2006 is $1.4 million. He has an additional bonus this year of another $700,000 but it is not clear when it is due, it looks like it could be June 1. The various scenarious look to be:

If he stays he counts $2.8 million against the cap.
Cut before June 1, he counts at least $2.1, maybe $2.8 if the other bonus is due.
Cut after June 1, either $700,000 or $1.4 million this year, and $1.4 million next year.

[GrnBay007]

There is no big cap hit if Ferguson is cut. He has 3 years remaining on his contract, with his pro-rated signing bonus at $700,000 per year. His salary for 2006 is $1.4 million. He has an additional bonus this year of another $700,000 but it is not clear when it is due, it looks like it could be June 1. The various scenarious look to be:

If he stays he counts $2.8 million against the cap.
Cut before June 1, he counts at least $2.1, maybe $2.8 if the other bonus is due.
Cut after June 1, either $700,000 or $1.4 million this year, and $1.4 million next year.

Ever get the feeling some posters are put under pressure to produce? I know I'M not guilty (aka ) of requesting this. U rock Shamler! .....oops, I mean Shamrockfan..

[Fritz]

The problem for Jennings is that he's a rook; ain't no way he's going to be a starting WR this year. Driver didn't do it. Walker didn't do it. Freeman didn't do it. It's too difficult of a position.

So I'll go with Gardner. He's got the size to run that slant over the middle. Fergy will be fighting for a spot on this team; if he makes it he'll be the #3 guy and special teams ace. And he'd better like it.

I used to be captain of the Fergy fan club. But after last year's Carolina game in which he allowed a little DB to strip the ball out of his arms despite Fergy having position, I have resigned. Now he is, as the anonymous scouts like to say, "just a guy."

[wist43]

The Packers don't have a #1... Driver is a #2, and everybody else is a 3 or 4.

Jennings will eventually turn out to be a good #2, but it's unrealistic to think that he'll play to that level as a rookie.

[RashanGary]

Name the #1's in the league Wist.

[The Leaper]

My honest assessment of NFL WRs better than Driver?

Elite (annual All-Pro)
Chad Johnson
Randy Moss
Terrell Owens
Marvin Harrison
Steve Smith

Blue Chip (occasional All-Pro)
Torry Holt
Plaxico Burress
Joe Horn
Rod Smith
Hines Ward

Tainted Blue Chip (occasional All-Pros, but age/injury issues)
Javon Walker
Eric Moulds
Issac Bruce
Joey Galloway

Potential Blue Chip (potential All-Pro talent)
Larry Fitzgerald
Anquan Bolden
Andre Johnson
Roy Williams
Chris Chambers
Santana Moss

Those are 20 guys who I believe have more talent than Driver...and could put up numbers consistently better than Driver if playing in the same offense with the same QB over the long term.

Personally, I consider Driver to be very close to Reggie Wayne in terms of ability...both guys have put up better stats than they would otherwise due to offenses that possessed several elite offensive talents to help. They are blue chip players when you place them with Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. Hell, Bill Schroeder was almost blue chip talent with Brett Favre throwing him the ball.

That said...I can't think of too many other players I would rather have on my team than Driver (just in terms of TALENT, not character/presence) outside of the 20 I listed above. Any other names I am missing off the top of my head???