Driver gets a little respect from Pack
The Packers restructured receiver Donald Driver’s contract, which includs a $11 million raise. He’ll now make roughly $5.75 million per season and won’t be a free agent until 2010.
I’ve long thought that Driver is one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL, one of the few that does his job, doesn’t complain and certainly isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body to make the tough catch. He is 32 and has some injury concerns, but it’s nice to see Green Bay take care of a player who has worked hard for them over the years.
Driver deserves it just as Al Harris deserves it and just as Kampman deserved it last year. I was pleased to see Woodson earn his pay last year. It’s starting to make a little sense even if it is going kinda slow – reward and retain your solid players, dump the dead weight and fill from the draft. I wish he’d put a little more into free agency. It looked like we really missed out on some good opportunities this year, and I’m not talkin’ Randy Moss.
Seems pretty clear that we got used on that one.
I am concerned about the backfield. A lot of good RBs changed teams and we ended up with Vernand Morency and Brandon Jackson as our RBs. Not sure about the Harrell pick, but after last year’s draft, I tend to trust Ted Thompson.
Backfield and TE – unless Donald Lee really steps up (and I mean in a freakish way), we may have a real problem there again this year. With young wideouts, Favre really needs reliable tight ends and RBs. I’ve lost faith in Bubba these last two years, but I’ve been really wrong about that sorta thing before.
If Harrell can be anything like a first rounder should be, we could have a very solid defensive line for years. I don’t know how much to expect this year coming off the injury, but that might not be the worst of all possible arrangements. He gets to spend a year getting bigger, stronger and smarter without huge expectations right away.
Ole Ted is definitely playing for the long haul. I guess we’ll see how things go. The line should be better – the coaching should be a little better – the wideouts have a chance. I’m starting to like the D with the exception of S and the obvious age at CB.
You seem like a long term Packer fan there John. So I’m guessing we’ve both watched seasons much worse than I expect this one to be. GO PACK!!!
Good call, Jeff. I was born and raised in Pewaukee, WI, just outside of Milwaukee.
I grew up rooting for the likes of Lynn Dikey, Eddie Lee Ivory and Paul Ott Carruth. Outside of the 2005 season, we’ve had a pretty good run the last 15 years or so. I just wish we had that Aaron Rodgers pick back. It would be nice to have Heath Miller, Mike Patterson, Logan Mankins or Reggie Brown instead.
Here’s my take on Favre’s decision to return, if you’re interested.