Driver Willing to take a Pay cut to remain a Packer

Donald Driver is the anti TOG. He wants to stay in Green Bay, and is willing to do whatever it takes.

Tori Gurley deserves his shot for sure, and I think the guy's going to be a stud, but I just don't want Driver to go. The guy made some clutch receptions late in the season, and while he's nowhere near the Pro Bowler he once was, he can still contribute. And if I'm bringing up a young wideout, there's nobody better to learn from. I hope we find a way to keep him on the roster for cheap.

Thankfully Ted will do what is best for the team, and not suffer from the sentimentality I do.

It's why you don't want your GM being your HC. One of the reasons to respect TT so much is that he keeps a wall up from getting too close to players and he can make these decisions without emotion.

That's awesome DD is willing to do this but as ironic as it sounds it really may NOT come down to money. Driver will take a roster spot. Not just as a WR but that means another guy....a DE a S a CB or an OLB isn't going to fill.

If DD is on the 2012 roster I know it will be because TT wants him there and believes he is a player that will make the team better. Not because Teds let emotions dictate his actions.

And that's fine with me.

You're right, Packerboi. I will be interested to see what happens.

One thing I do know, however. If the Packers do cut ties with Donald, I'm going to tear up. The guy has been the consummate professional since he's been here, and an even better person.

My wife's only jersey. Please stay.

It's about the roster spot, not the money. Love DD and all he's contributed as a Packer but football is a young man's game and there are a couple of players waiting in the wings.

I still think there should be one roster exemption per team for a player over 36 so stars can retire gracefully and on their own terms. It's a shame watching guys be forced out of the league based on nothing but their age.

Simple solution: Keep 4 TE's instead of 5. Then you can have both Gurley and Driver on the team. Quarless probably won't be ready to start the season anyway.

Simple solution #2: increase the roster size to a number that takes injuries into consideration.

Oh right, that costs money and the NFL is broke.

One of the only guys who actually showed up vs the Gigantes.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando Wolf:
One of the only guys who actually showed up vs the Gigantes.

You are 100% right!

DD played tough down the stretch too...made some key grabs in key games. ie., the tiptoe TD at the NYGs.

I would love to see him stick for one more season. TT doesnt strike me as a sentimental guy. But he may have a soft spot for #80.

quote:

Originally posted by michiganjoe:
It's about the roster spot, not the money. Love DD and all he's contributed as a Packer but football is a young man's game and there are a couple of players waiting in the wings.

Agree.

Tell me his big performances in big games matters if he's young or old. I say you come to play went it matters and you stick around whether you're 28 or 38. Someone needs to pull some numbers. Maybe I'm wrong that he's been clutch. If so, then give his spot to some up and comer.

If Gurley is good enough, or someone like him ... I hope TT sends #89 packing and doubles up Gurley with DD on the roster. The TE's have to come make an impact. IMO, a quick small back out of the backfield ala #43 for Saints is my last wish for this offense.

but I defer to the S-E-A.

Driver's value to this team goes beyond catches and touchdowns.

Agree that with a pay cut DD would be nice to keep, if he plays well enough in TC to make the squad.

But, with a pay cut and DD likely not being a starter anymore that puts him in the category of guys who must play special teams. I dont recall if DD was on many Special Teams last year, but if he does'nt then he holds a roster spot for a younger lower paid guy that is needed for ST's.

quote:

Originally posted by michiganjoe:
It's about the roster spot, not the money. Love DD and all he's contributed as a Packer but football is a young man's game and there are a couple of players waiting in the wings.

Yup. I love the guy...who doesn't? I think that roster spot belongs to Gurley at this point, unfortunately.

I wonder if he could go the Edgar Bennett route and work his way up the coaching ladder? He's a natural leader in the lockerroom by all outside appearances...I think he could have a real positive influence on players in that capacity.

quote:

Originally posted by trump:
If Gurley is good enough, or someone like him ... I hope TT sends #89 packing and doubles up Gurley with DD on the roster.

Why is everybody so quick to send James Jones on the first train out of GB? The guy is much more talented than DD at this point, plain and simple. I'm glad TT doesn't make decisions based on sentimentality.

Check out Ron Wolf in those couple of seasons after SB XXXI and see where that gets a team. Better yet, check out the entire Mike Sherman GM reign.

Hines Ward, former SB MVP, getting axed

It definitely is a young man's game.

quote:

Originally posted by Fond Du Arrigo:

Why is everybody so quick to send James Jones on the first train out of GB?

I don't get this either. Jones isn't going anywhere. He's young, he's relatively cheap and he's been productive when he's played. This just seems like one of those ideas that catches on and somehow morphs into a common belief. AR just openly campaigned to keep the guy last year, he surprisingly wasn't that sought after when he could have been had for nothing and he's not going to bring a haul back in a trade. You don't get rid of guys like this to keep a spot for a guy who's moving into his late 30's.

GB's WR corps is probably gonna look like this:

1. Jennings
2. Nelson
3. Cobb
4. Jones
5. Gurley

NOBODY has a #4 WR on their roster better than James Jones. He's locked up for two more seasons, and at a bargain basement rate. TT would have to be crazy to get rid him.

Buit if you could trade Jones for a quality depth DE or OLB and keep Driver at a reduced rate doesn't that make a better Green Bay Packer team?

Yes, it does.

Perhaps, but that assumes quite a bit IMHO. First, it assumes that Jones would bring a quality player back in a trade. Not sure that happens, and if it was DL or OLB depth, as you say, then no, Jones for the equivalent of Walden/Zombo/CJ Wilson doesn't make them a better team.

I said quality, not fair to middling.

I just go back to last year. I was absolutely sure that Jones was gone after the season. I could not have been more Rong about what the market determined his value was to other teams. He's a guy who seems more valuable in GB than to other teams for whatever reason. No one stepped up to sign him a year ago, and his value didn't go up this year. Therefore I don't see a team being willing to give up a good player when anyone could have had him for nothing last year. I also think you need to start thinking of Driver as a luxury at this point. If he fits on the roster and at the right price, then great - keep him around. I would not depend on him to be a big producer at this point going forward, though. He's 37.

Probably because he is not dynamic enought for anyone to spend assets on that they could just as well pickup for cheap.

You're right, he has more value to the pack because of his depth chart position and knowledge of the offense.

If TT believes he has to get Gurley and Cobb on the depth chart, it becomes interesting.

I've always been a big fan of DD, but seeing the Giants cover him often with a linebacker in the playoff game was concerning. If the Packers can exploit this matchup successfully if used in the future that's great. But if DD cannot take advantage, then the coaching staff obviously made a mistake in keeping him.

quote:

Originally posted by ammo:
Buit if you could trade Jones for a quality depth DE or OLB and keep Driver at a reduced rate doesn't that make a better Green Bay Packer team?

We already have depth at those positions. We need a couple of capable starters. I don't think teams are going to send starting caliber players at those positions for James Jones.

Sure, I'd be willing to move Jones if it made sense. Like I said above, if it were for a player that could improve the anemic pass rush? You bet I'd send him packing for that. To keep DD? Doesn't make much sense to me.

quote:

Originally posted by missingU92:
I've always been a big fan of DD, but seeing the Giants cover him often with a linebacker in the playoff game was concerning.

yes and no

The Packers cover WRs with an LB too. It happens more often than many realize.
Using a LB on a WR is less than ideal, but there is always help over the top. And rather than being an indictment of Driver or any other WR - its just the way offenses/defenses play chess with formations, personnel and motion all game long.

quote:

Originally posted by Fond Du Arrigo: We already have depth at those positions. We need a couple of capable starters. I don't think teams are going to send starting caliber players at those positions for James Jones.

Sure, I'd be willing to move Jones if it made sense. Like I said above, if it were for a player that could improve the anemic pass rush? You bet I'd send him packing for that.

There is always the "change of scenery" guy. Maybe there is a player out of position or out of favor with another team that may want to be dumped. I suspect the scouting staff missed out on some guys that could possibly be available for JJ.

CB makes a good point...just kidding.

It is trueDriver was covered by LBs in the Giants game, but if memory serves me right, he beat those LBs.

quote:

Originally posted by chickenboy:

quote:

Originally posted by Fond Du Arrigo: We already have depth at those positions. We need a couple of capable starters. I don't think teams are going to send starting caliber players at those positions for James Jones.

Sure, I'd be willing to move Jones if it made sense. Like I said above, if it were for a player that could improve the anemic pass rush? You bet I'd send him packing for that.

There is always the "change of scenery" guy. Maybe there is a player out of position or out of favor with another team that may want to be dumped. I suspect the scouting staff missed out on some guys that could possibly be available for JJ.

Yeah, like Haynesworth or someone of his kind, I'm sure he's fallen out of favor with most teams

Plenty of examples out there. A guy maybe like Aaron Curry who Oakland traded for this season. MLynch was one of those guys. There are guys all over the league like this.

I guess if we want to applaud the Pack's front office and scouting staff as superior and ridicule so many other organizations, I don't think it is a crazy o think there may be a diamond in the rough or a former diamond who has become tarnished. I will also add that JJ by playing in Green Bay in that offense, with that QB and system may have an overinflated value.

But then again I may just be smoking too much weed.

Looks like Hines is on the block also..
Hines Ward

If Gurley or Jones were better than Driver, they would be playing instead. I think Jones' talent is a given at this point, and Gurley's is TBD. As I recall, it took DD a year or 3 to become a starter, and I don't know that there is a immediate need to have Gurley all of a sudden become a "#2" WR.
However, if either or both of them can beat out DD for a starting role during the upcoming TC, so be it. They should have every opportunity to unseat him.
I agree that his contract will need to be restructured, but that surely wouldn't be a hinderance.

I don't think anybody feels there's an immediate need for Gurley to be a "#2" WR. There does seem to be a belief that he needs to be on the roster next season, however. The Packers paid him more money to stay on our PS rather than signing with the Vikings. That says they have long term plans for the guy.

If everything goes as I expect, Gurley will be the #5 WR next season.

quote:

Originally posted by Fond Du Arrigo:
GB's WR corps is probably gonna look like this:

1. Jennings
2. Nelson
3. Cobb
4. Jones
5. Gurley
6. Driver

NOBODY has a #4 WR on their roster better than James Jones. He's locked up for two more seasons, and at a bargain basement rate. TT would have to be crazy to get rid him.

Fixed. We keep 6 WR's in 2012

A reduced salary for a reduced role. Keep six.
I feel strongly that keeping Driver is important.
I also felt very strongly that the Pack would crush the gints at Lambeau this year.
Will I be 50/50 or total craps?

It sounds like a great thing, Driver taking a pay cut, but he's really putting Thompson in an awkward position. If Driver was unwilling to take a pay cut and the Packers have to cut him, then Driver looks like the inflexible one, but everyone would understand both sides. Now that he has said he would take a pay cut to stay, Thompson looks like a dick for cutting a Packer legend and fan favorite. He needs to be cut though. I appreciate and like the guy as much as any other Packer fan, but we have younger players with way more upside that won't get a chance with him on the roster.