Driver asks to play on ST's in order to be active...

I love Driver, but I want to see the 45 guys the coaches feel give the team the best chance to win on Saturday, not my 45 favorite players. If they think he can provide value on ST and think having him available as a WR will help, lace 'em up.

If it adds any unnecessary planning or brings even the slightest downgrade to any of the units, thanks but no thanks.

What a man. Just when I thought it was impossible to respect and admire the man any more than I already do, this happens. One of my favorite Packers of all time, and I'm someone who remembers watching watching Boyd Dowler catch passes from Bart Starr.

It is a humble request.. but is he the best available ST? With his body size, where does he line up? Gunner? Who does he replace?

My point is, if the coaching staff thinks he can improve a ST position, cool. I'm not a fan of throwing him out there for charity purposes though. Just because he's DONALD DRIVER doesn't mean he's the team's best option to play on ST.

Perhaps GoldieCheese can start a thread on this topic in 3 days.

quote:

Originally posted by IL_Pack_Fan:
If it adds any unnecessary planning or brings even the slightest downgrade to any of the units, thanks but no thanks.

This.

Ditto.

He's not going to return kicks and that's really his only potential role for a player of his body type on ST. In fact, other than recovering a few onside kicks (a role where he might still have value), he has never returned a kick or a punt in his career.

It's not like he's going to be a good option to tackle someone on defending returns or block someone when Cobb or Ross are returning.

I agree that you need your best 45 players on the field tomorrow and every game. However, . . .

Was Jeff Saturday the best center on the team this season? If Collingsworth is to be believed, it was Saturday who benched himself, not the Packers' coaching staff.

Was Finley the best option at TE all season? He has played well lately, but pretty much sucked for a good part of the season.

How about Crosby as place kicker? TT and MM stuck with him despite a horrible stretch of games.

Recall that in last year's playoff fiasco against the Giants, Driver was one of the few Packers who actually showed up and made some plays. If there are 11 guys who are truly head and shoulders above DD on special teams then play them. Otherwise, he's earned at least this much consideration from the team.

whatever happens what a guy!

i am sure hntr5 mentioned this on page one of a 15 page thread someplace....jesus ****

quote:

Recall that in last year's playoff fiasco against the Giants, Driver was one of the few Packers who actually showed up and made some plays. If there are 11 guys who are truly head and shoulders above DD on special teams then play them. Otherwise, he's earned at least this much consideration from the team.

Ok. Where does he play on ST and who does he replace?

If DD was clamoring to be a part of ST this season, his time to shine was in TC. Did he have a willingness then?

Seems to me he started his crusade after being in street clothes on the sidelines last week. How many reps on ST's has DD taken this year in practice?

No charity for Donald. He's either good enough to be on the 45 as a WR or he's in street clothes again.

Did we not learn anything from the Brent debacle? No matter how great of a player you were, time passes everybody by. I swear to Christ some Packer fans would be cool with Fuzzy Thurston lining up at G tomorrow night if he expressed an interest.

quote:

Originally posted by Oldtimer:
If Collingsworth is to be believed, it was Saturday who benched himself, not the Packers' coaching staff.

He should never be believed. Saturday has denied this. He just wants everyone to STFU and not cause a distraction.

quote:

some Packer fans would be cool with Fuzzy Thurston lining up at G tomorrow night if he expressed an interest

no way! he wouldn't be able to make calls with his lack of voice these days. otherwise, no problem.

An unnecessary distraction and it's inconceivable to me that he could possibly upgrade any of the ST units. Probably would have been best for all parties involved if the cord had been cut after last season.

quote:

My point is, if the coaching staff thinks he can improve a ST position, cool. I'm not a fan of throwing him out there for charity purposes though. Just because he's DONALD DRIVER doesn't mean he's the team's best option to play on ST.

I don't disagree with this at all.

But I think some are missing the point here. Look I want the best 45 players on the team as well. But the mere fact the Driver, in order to be part of the team and contribute, is offering to play on ST's if that's what would get him active is beyond fu***** admirable.

Think Brent and his ego would even consider that?

To me this is more about Driver's humility, his team spirit, and his drive to do what it takes to be active.

If MM doesn't activate him so be it. But there is no denying the kind of team player Drive is. And even if not on the field, it should serve as one hell of an ispiration to the 45 who are on Saturday.

please don't let this derail the thread but bert gave up running past the line of scrimmage... what? about 5-6 years before his initial retirement. it was beneath him or he was afraid, whatever. DD woulda still been going for that 1st down, body and soul.

I may be mistaken but I seem to recall a bit of mocking just last week when AP indicated that he wanted in on special teams.

quote:

Originally posted by Iowacheese:
i am sure hntr5 mentioned this on page one of a 15 page thread someplace....jesus ****

Just busting your chops.

DD is the man!!! I'm sure it was killing him last week, that he was in street clothes, basically a healthy scratch. He's the ultimate team player, and I shed a tear thinking about his story, and how lucky I was to watch and follow him play during his career.

I hope that he dresses one more time, be that this week, next week, possible SB, etc.

In my mind, this is sort of like Rudy, can his mind and will to succeed overcome his athletic ability at this point. I say give him a chance. If we lose do to ST play, and because he is on the ST team, it will hurt, and it will hurt no one more than DD. DD has been what every fan wants as a player on their team, a hard worker, team first guy, and give an opportunity to play and succeed, and he has done it all, I hope he gets at least one more chance.

Packers WRs: Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Ross, Driver, Boykin(out)

Driver did not get the nod ahead of Manning last game because of STs, expect the same this week. If Nelson or Cobb where unable to go Driver would probably be active.

Last weeks inactives:


11 WR Jarrett Boykin
31 CB Davon House
44 RB James Starks
58 LB Frank Zombo
80 WR Donald Driver
91 DT Jordan Miller
99 DE Jerel Worthy

This weeks Inactives:

11 WR Jarrett Boykin
91 DT Jordan Miller
99 DE Jerel Worthy
?
?
?
?

Who do you sit so Driver can play?

It sounds like Nelson is a bit iffy, so even if Ross has moved ahead of DD at WR, I'm fine if they want to activate him for emergency depth. I just think we need to put ourselves outside of the mindset of a guy "earning" anything given his past.

Why couldn't they make him like an honorary captain or something?

quote:

Originally posted by Pakrz:

quote:

Recall that in last year's playoff fiasco against the Giants, Driver was one of the few Packers who actually showed up and made some plays. If there are 11 guys who are truly head and shoulders above DD on special teams then play them. Otherwise, he's earned at least this much consideration from the team.

Ok. Where does he play on ST and who does he replace?

If DD was clamoring to be a part of ST this season, his time to shine was in TC. Did he have a willingness then?

Seems to me he started his crusade after being in street clothes on the sidelines last week. How many reps on ST's has DD taken this year in practice?

No charity for Donald. He's either good enough to be on the 45 as a WR or he's in street clothes again.

Did we not learn anything from the Brent debacle? No matter how great of a player you were, time passes everybody by. I swear to Christ some Packer fans would be cool with Fuzzy Thurston lining up at G tomorrow night if he expressed an interest.

This.

quote:

Originally posted by IL_Pack_Fan:
It sounds like Nelson is a bit iffy, so even if Ross has moved ahead of DD at WR, I'm fine if they want to activate him for emergency depth.

According to Silverstein yeaterday, Nelson was moving well in practice and "looked fine". Barring something weird, I highly doubt he's inactive.

And considering how Ross looked in returns, I'd sooner have him catching passes in an emergency vs DD since he looked damn hard to bring down.

It's going to be a very physical game. Im guessing MM will want to place his most physical smash mouth ST's unit out there.

quote:

Originally posted by Herschel:

quote:

Originally posted by Pakrz:
[QUOTE]Recall that in last year's playoff fiasco against the Giants, Driver was one of the few Packers who actually showed up and made some plays. If there are 11 guys who are truly head and shoulders above DD on special teams then play them. Otherwise, he's earned at least this much consideration from the team.

Ok. Where does he play on ST and who does he replace?

... I swear to Christ some Packer fans would be cool with Fuzzy Thurston lining up at G tomorrow night if he expressed an interest.

well maybe not fuzzy but I still would vote for Jerry Kramer

Donald Driver. Lynchpin of doom.

Driver
Active? Since Boykin is Out

Grant Active?
Do they need 4 RBs plus Kuhn?

Both Active?
Doubtful.

Neither?
Probable, IMO.

If Starks is active, methinks they sit Alex Green before they sit Grant.

I agree on Green sitting. Read something about scar tissue on this knee due to concussion layoff...

quote:

Was Finley the best option at TE all season? He has played well lately, but pretty much sucked for a good part of the season.

But GB, like every other team in the league, runs multiple-TE sets.

Last year against Oakland they ran a 4TE set. (The play that resulted in Ryan Taylor's TD.)

Put Driver on STs, deactivate Bush. That way Bush can't wander on the field for any defensive snaps. Addition by subtraction.

Deactivate your best special teams cover guy. That will certainly assure victory.

quote:

Originally posted by YATittle:
I agree on Green sitting. Read something about scar tissue on this knee due to concussion layoff...

probably found it on the internet somewhere

I assume Driver requested to take over any field goals of 40 yards or more?

Given how Nelson limped off in the last game and the troubles he's had this year staying healthy and that Boykin is out, I hope they do activate DD as an emergency receiver if nothing else. If Nelson limps off early in the game, I'd hate to have to count on Ross, who has hardly played any snaps on O. You can put Ross out there to see what he does, but DD is a terrific insurance blanket. I sure don't want to see MM have to limit the offense because they are short a receiver or Ross doesn't know what's up.

quote:

Originally posted by El-Ka-Bong:

quote:

Originally posted by YATittle:
I agree on Green sitting. Read something about scar tissue on this knee due to concussion layoff...

probably found it on the internet somewhere

http://www.jsonline.com/sports...87ug2-185499171.html

quote:

But running backs coach Alex Van Pelt said that Green's surgically repaired knee was a big factor. Green missed the week of practice after the Chicago game because of a concussion, and Van Pelt said when he isn't practicing scar tissue builds up in the knee.

It was obvious in the week of practice leading up to the Vikings game that he wasn't himself.

"You could see it," Van Pelt said. "With his situation with the time off, it kind of hurts him, like the bye week. He had the concussion and didn't practice for a week, that's when the scar tissue builds up in the knee that was repaired and it kind of takes him three or four days to break that scar tissue back up.

quote:

Given how Nelson limped off in the last game and the troubles he's had this year staying healthy and that Boykin is out, I hope they do activate DD as an emergency receiver if nothing else.

Whom do they deactivate if they activate Driver?

Interesting. Wonder if it always be that way for him

quote:

Originally posted by packerboi:
But I think some are missing the point here. Look I want the best 45 players on the team as well. But the mere fact the Driver, in order to be part of the team and contribute, is offering to play on ST's if that's what would get him active is beyond fu***** admirable.

Think Brent and his ego would even consider that?

To me this is more about Driver's humility, his team spirit, and his drive to do what it takes to be active.

If MM doesn't activate him so be it. But there is no denying the kind of team player Drive is. And even if not on the field, it should serve as one hell of an ispiration to the 45 who are on Saturday.

I don't think there's anything too admirable about publicly announcing you'll play special teams even though you haven't done it in years and haven't practiced with the unit.

If he did so privately to the coaches...that's fine. But publicly it basically becomes a plea to be active so he can play.

I'm sure it's difficult for a player with Driver's track record to be a healthy scratch in the biggest games of the year. But he needs to get over it. That was clearly a possibility going into the year and he's being paid considerably for his role.

If Driver wants to be a team player, then his only public announcement should be that while he appreciates the fans support, he's happy to help the team in whatever capacity Coach McCarthy decides is best.

All the injuries to the wideouts this year and the guy only ended up with eight catches. If he's the last resort I'm sure he'll be active, but it's apparent the coaching staff feels he's got very little to nothing left.