For the second consecutive week, the Packers whipped a bad opponent as they routed the Browns 31-3 on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes in the win, including a 45-yarder to Spencer Havner, a 71-yarder to Donald Driver and a 5-yarder to James Jones.

But the story for the Packers was their running game, as they totaled 202 yards on the ground. Ryan Grant rushed for 148 yards on 27 carries and Brandon Jackson chipped in 31 rushing yards on nine carries. The Packers’ O-line is still incredibly banged up and vulnerable, but if they can run the ball every week as well as they did today, then they won’t have to worry about teams pinning their ears back to get after Rodgers.

The Packers are starting to build confidence. Granted, they’re building confidence against the trash of the NFL, but they’re building confidence nonetheless. They still haven’t beaten a team with a winning record (they beat the Bears, but that was in the opener), but they’re crushing bad teams.

And make no mistake about it – the Browns are a bad football team. In fact, they’re one of the most offensively inept teams I’ve ever wasted time watching. Nobody kills a potential scoring drive like Derek Anderson and unless Josh Cribbs scores on a kick return or in the Wildcat, the Browns don’t score period.

Eric Mangini has a lot of work to do to getting this Cleveland team to respectable. I know at times the Browns have been competitive this season, but they were a total disaster today.

Several media outlets including SI.com and ESPN.com have reported that Packers’ receiver Donald Driver “ripped” or “trashed” the Bears’ receiving corps on a recent radio interview. But further examination of his comments might suggest otherwise.

This is what Driver said in the national radio interview last week on Sirius NFL Radio:

“I think Chicago did a great job, and Lovie Smith went out there and got Jay Cutler to lead this team, but one thing they don’t have is they don’t have the receiver group,” Driver said. “They have the running back, they have the offensive line and they have a great defense. But you’re going to have to need receivers to make plays down the field, and they don’t have that right now. So I can see on our end we have all of that on our offense. And then you go back to look at Minnesota. Minnesota has a great running game, but they just don’t have the top-of-the-line quarterback that they need. So I’m hoping my guy doesn’t go over there, but if he does then I wish the best for him.”

Does that sound like Driver was trashing the Bears receivers to anyone? He’s essentially saying what everyone already knows – the Bears don’t have the best set of receivers. In fact, one would even dare to say it’s a weakness for them.

When I first read that Driver “ripped the Bears receiving corps” on SI.com, I saw the quote and said “meh,” and moved on. But then I was recently in my car and a couple of Chicago radio hosts were talking about the topic and one of them (you’ll have to excuse me for not catching which jockey it was on which station but I was merely skimming through the AM dial looking for a ballgame) suggested that Driver shouldn’t provide the Bears with any bulletin board material and essentially should keep quiet. Then I read a similar headline to this story in ESPN’s “rumors” section as I did on SI: “Driver trashes Bears receivers.”

Seriously? Driver’s comments were the skim milk variety of trashing an opponent. Again, he’s not stating anything that we (including probably the Bears) don’t already know and I hardly deem what he said as “bulletin board material.” I’m shocked that this has caught fire as much as it has.

Last week we looked at the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks from 2008 with a look toward 2009. This week, it’s about those who catch passes. Wide receivers have become almost as valuable as running backs, so it’s important not to overlook that when you’re preparing for your fantasy draft. And you are preparing, right? Or will you cram on Labor Day weekend? If you’re like me, you’re reading this stuff now because these long months without football suck. So, about those receivers….and keep in mind this Top 10 is based on scoring from one of my own fantasy leagues, and stats may differ from league to league:

1. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals—There should be no question remaining as to who has the best hands in football. In fact, I’ll just say it — that Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in football, and one of the best since the days of (dare I say it) Jerry Rice, or Lynn Swann. Yeah, he’s that good, and he’s just getting started. In ’08, Fitzgerald had 96 catches for 1431 yards and 12 touchdowns….and that’s with Kurt Warner having two other legitimate targets in Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions—This poor bastard put up huge numbers last year for an 0-16 team—78 receptions for 1331 yards and 12 scores. It’s difficult to draft anyone on the Lions, though.

3. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans—This guy is just a beast. I mean, a freaking beast. Johnson had SIX games of over 130 receiving yards, and wound up with 115 catches for 1575 yards and 8 TDs…all usually with two guys covering him. Like I said, a beast. Now what would he do with a real QB?

4. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals—Q wants the ball, and he may not get it in Arizona this season. But his numbers and skills have every other GM salivating. Last year, despite missing four games with injuries, Boldin caught 89 passes for 1038 yards and 11 scores. He even rushed 9 times for 67 yards.

5. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers—Jennings has been on the verge of fantasy superstardom for a few years now, and I think the next two seasons may be peak years for him — especially with Aaron Rodgers coming into his own and Donald Driver losing a step or two. His 2008 numbers? 80 catches for 1292 yards and 8 touchdowns. This year, I’m saying 100-1500-12.

6. Randy Moss, New England Patriots—The fact that Moss still had a 1000-yard season catching passes from the yet-unproven Matt Cassel says a lot about Moss. Dude is a sick receiver. He had just four 100-yard games, but was consistent over the season with 69 receptions for 1008 yards and 11 TDs. He gets his boy Brady back in 2009, so look for 2007-ish numbers again.

7. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys—He had one game over 200 yards, one more over 100, and every other game below 100. Owens managed 1052 yards on 69 catches with 10 scores, but by his standards the season was a bust. In Buffalo, I can’t imagine his numbers will be much better.

8. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints—Marques Colston was never quite right after coming back from an injury, but Drew Brees kept throwing the ball to this guy, to the tune of 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns—with three 100-yard games.

9. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers—He was suspended for the first two games in 2008, but still racked up 1421 yards on 78 catches with 6 scores…and a whopping eight 100-yard games. Steve Smith is just money, and he should be a Top 5 receiver in every fantasy league.

10. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs—Bryant had his best season as a pro last year after missing the entire 2007 campaign, catching 83 passes for 1248 yards and 7 TDs…and he gets bonus points for doing it with the Tampa Bay Bucs!

Packers wide receiver Donald Driver skipped the team’s OTA session on Thursday, apparently because he’s unhappy about his contract.

Receiver Donald Driver also skipped the OTA session, and the Wisconsin State Journal reported that Driver wants the team to redo his contract.

Driver, 34, has two years left on his contract and is due to be paid base salaries of $3.9 million this season and $4 million next season. The report said this is the fourth straight year that Driver has approached the team about reworking his contract. Driver’s agent, Jordan Woy, did not return messages.

Driver is certainly getting up there in age, but he’s always been one of the most underrated players in the league. This might be an interesting story to follow this summer, although given how Driver is the consummate professional, I highly doubt he would hurt the team in any way by holding out.

Hopefully for Packer fans the situation gets resolved, because Driver and Greg Jennings continue to be a solid 1-2 receiving combo.

5/30 Update: The Packers are currently working with Driver’s agent on a new deal.

Notable Free Agents: Atari Bigby, S (restricted); Mark Taucher, OT; Michael Montgomery, DE; Colin Cole, DT.

Projected 2009 Cap Space: $18,000,000

Draft Order: 9

Top Needs: OLB, OL, 3-4 defensive linemen.

Offseason Outlook: After hiring Dom Capers to run the defense, the Packers will move to a 3-4 defensive front next season. That means defensive end Aaron Kampman will move to one of the outside linebacker spots, while A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett will be the team’s starting inside ‘backers. The outside linebacker spot opposite of Kampman will be Brady Poppinga’s to lose, although Green Bay will likely bring in competition to push him for the starting position.

The Packers most pressing need this offseason will be finding D-linemen that can fit the 3-4 defensive front – especially at defensive end. Green Bay is in luck too, because after Julius Peppers (who was franchised by Carolina), the next best defensive ends on the market are Chris Canty (Cowboys) and Igor Olshansky (Chargers) – two relatively young linemen that are used to playing in a 3-4. Either way, they have to address both end positions because neither Michael Montgomery nor Colin Cole are expected to be re-signed and there are serious doubts that former first round pick Justin Harrell can be effective in a 3-4.

Even though they project Ryan Pickett to be the starting nose tackle, the Packers might consider drafting Boston College defensive lineman B.J. Raji, who stands 6’1” and weighs 323 pounds. He has excellent strength, can occupy multiple blockers and could easily play nose in a 3-4 scheme. And considering what the needs are for the teams selecting ahead of Green Bay in the draft, Raji should be available at No. 9.

If the Packers decide to go with Pickett at nose, another option for them in the first round is Florida State defensive end Everette Brown, who is athletic enough to move to outside linebacker in a 3-4. He could immediately challenge Poppinga for the starting outside linebacker position opposite Kampman and hopefully give Green Bay’s pass rush (the Pack finished near the bottom of the league in sacks last year) a major boost.

Green Bay might add depth to its secondary this offseason, but don’t expect wholesale changes. GM Ted Thompson is already committed to Al Harris and Charles Woodson at the cornerback positions and Nick Collins emerged as one of the more underrated safeties in the NFL last season.

Offensively, Jason Spitz is expected to move to center full time, which will free up the starting right guard position for former fourth rounder Josh Sitton, who showed promise as a rookie last season before suffering a sprained knee in August.

The Packers want to bring back free agent right tackle Mark Tauscher, but won’t break the bank to do so after he had ACL surgery in February. If they fail to re-sign Tauscher, they could draft an offensive tackle to take his place, although it probably won’t come in the first round with so many holes to fill in the defensive front seven.

The coaching staff is extremely high on youngster Jermichael Finley, who could steal the starting tight end job away from Donald Lee this summer. If the explosive Finley can give Rodgers a solid target in the middle of the field, that should only benefit Donald Driver and Greg Jennings (who should get a new contract soon) on the outside.

Whether fans like it or not, the quarterback position won’t be addressed this offseason. Aaron Rodgers is the starter and will be expected to further his development in his second full season as a starter. And even though he battled injuries last year, Ryan Grant remains the starter at running back and should benefit from having a year under his belt in the zone-blocking scheme the Packers implemented two seasons ago.

“Supposedly he was being elbowed in the throat,” family spokesman Quanell X said. “He motioned like this with his arm that he was being elbowed to the throat and said they were kneeing him a lot.”

In a news conference near the site of the arrest, family and friends said Marvin Driver had just dropped off his brother at his mother’s house early Monday morning when Houston police arrested Marvin on outstanding traffic warrants.

“So how can someone have traffic warrants for their arrest and be taken away from here in good health, no restraining whatsoever, then end up like this in intensive care after being in police custody,” community activist Quanell X said, holding up a photo of Marvin on a ventilator.

Despite the tubes, Marvin has been trying to tell his side of the story.

“Marvin Driver writes that they took him, picked him up behind a Valero station by a dark road where he was beaten,” Quanell X said.

Marvin says three Houston police officers — one he says he knew — kicked and beat him, then forced him to swallow a pill.

“Told him to ‘Swallow this, you’re going to see Jesus,” Quanell alleged.

Marvin’s brother Winston says he saw the arrest and says Marvin was not resisting.

“He left here in perfect condition,” says Winston, Donald Driver’s uncle. “I can tell by the police officers, way they were grabbing him, smashing him, that he was in trouble.”

It’s not our place to speculate on what happened here, but this is a strange, unsettling story. And if what the Driver’s are claiming is true, than let’s hope these officers are punished. We’ll have to wait until all the facts come out.

Upset Watch: Jets (3-2) at Raiders (1-4), 4:15 PM CBS
It’s incredibly hard to back the mess that is the Oakland Raiders right now, but they still have a ton of talent on their roster and the Jets have been awfully inconsistent this season. One week they look like playoff contenders and the next they’re getting drummed. Even though they walked away with a victory, New York didn’t play that well against Cincinnati and Brett Favre continues to turn the ball over. The Jets haven’t been able to run the ball successfully of late either, managing just 66 yards per game in the last three weeks. If Oakland is going to pull off a victory in Tom Cable’s home debut, they’ll need to run the ball effectively themselves. Because clearly QB JaMarcus Russell isn’t ready to lead this team on his own yet.

Intriguing Matchup: Cowboys (4-2) at Rams (1-4), 1:00 PM FOX
The biggest question on everyone’s minds (especially fantasy owners) is whether QB Tony Romo will play or not. Despite breaking his pinkie finger in the loss to the Cardinals last week, all indications are that Romo will in fact play. He’ll have a new weapon to throw to in Roy Williams, who the team recently acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline. But not only will it be interesting to see how effective Romo can be with a broken finger, it’ll also be intriguing to watch the many personalities the ‘Boys have on offense now that Williams and T.O. have to share looks in the passing game. Dallas has not played well since their Sunday night win against the Packers early in the year and the Rams proved last week in a win over the Redskins that they won’t be pushovers now that Jim Haslett is running things.

Other Notable Games:
Saints (3-3) at Panthers (4-2), 1:00 PM ET FOX
While everyone is focusing on the East being the best division in the NFC, the South doesn’t have any teams below .500 right now. Some still believe the Saints are the best team in the division and they’ll get the opportunity to prove it this week in Carolina.

Browns (2-3) at Redskins (4-2), 4:15 PM ET CBS
What was the bigger fluke from Week 6 – the Browns beating the Giants or the Redskins losing to the Rams?

Titans (5-0) at Chiefs (1-4), 1:00 PM ET CBS
The Titans get to put their undefeated record on the line this week in Kansas City and fortunately for them the Larry Johnson-less Chiefs shouldn’t provide much of a challenge.