So, when do we find out about Driver..and

Players become FA near the end of Feb/Early March.

Players with (workout) bonuses are usually tied to the beginning of the NFL year (also Early March).

If a player, for example Driver, does not have any kind of bonus for 2013 we could hear about them at just about any time.

Driver is a free agent, isn't he?

I wonder if Driver has discussed switching to middle linebacker in order to keep his spot on the roster.

I think we learned about Driver the past few weeks while watching him in street clothes on teh sideline.

DD is a FA... I thought his deal went through 2013.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports...5jrrd-155841325.html

quote:

Driver's agent Jordan Woy did not return several messages, but Andrew Brandt reported on his Twitter account that Driver's new deal is for $2.5 million in 2012, including an up-front sum of $500,000 which "should ensure his spot with the team," said Brandt, an NFL business analyst for ESPN and former Packers vice president.

The league year begins on March 12th at 4:00 PM.

That is when contracts expire, that's when teams have to have their ERFA and RFA tenders in, that's when teams have to be under the cap, that's when trades can start happening and that's when free agency begins...although technically clubs can negotiate with UFA's as early as March 9th.

I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty sure if you're on the roster by then that's when teams have to pay things like roster bonuses. Hawk is due an $800,000 roster bonus, Woodson is due a 2.5 million roster bonus, and Saturday is due a 1.4 million bonus. Finley is due a 3.5 million roster bonus on March 26th.

So my hunch is that we will either see some renegotiation shortly before that day with some of these guys or their outright release. Saturday is toast IMO. Hawk's bonus isn't much compared to others, but if they're sure they're not keeping him then he will be release before they have to pay that. They could decide to pay it and see what happens with the draft and FA and either keep or release him later. Woodson will be an interesting one because that's a lot of money for an aging player at a position where we have adequate replacements...I have a hunch he will renegotiate though. He doesn't have much leverage.

Unlike Hawk, how they handle Finley will tell us his fate. They won't pay him 3.5 million just to release him later. If they pay him that bonus, he's here to stay.

@Donald_Driver80
Great article: Analysis: Keep Driver with Packers, but in bigger role than on the field

jesus **** catching a couple hundred passes does not make you qualified to run the Green Bay Packers

Jay Sorgi has lost his mind.

Learned a lot today Driver at President CEO of the packers

CMIII battling it out with Esera Tuaolo Jr. for inside linebacker.

God I have missed the offseason.

quote:

Originally posted by Iowacheese:
jesus **** catching a couple hundred passes does not make you qualified to run the Green Bay Packers

Bingo, I remember living thru the Starr and Gregg ys, all time great Packers but when proven to be lousy coaches because of fan loyalty it was tuff to get rid of them. Thats how I remember it anyway.

Pleanty of qualified people out there, if we need new blood find it ouside the organization

By the way, 743 receptions.

If his transgressions can be ignored by the media, he's in.

BTW, does DD have a U.S. birth certificate?

Has DD ever expressed any interest in a front office job when his career is over? If so, great, start grooming him now. If not, this article is nothing more than an attempt to appease fans. I'm not sure DD would stay in GB if he wasn't playing.

It's ProFootballTalk... Driver leaning toward retirement.

http://profootballtalk.nbcspor...g-toward-retirement/

That's good to hear. It's time and hopefully he hangs them up.

He caught a few TD passes for us in 2012 but he's definitely in the twilight (if not the end) of his career.

He is & always will be a Packer. What a fantastic career from a 7th round draft choice. One of Ron Wolf's finest

EDIT: 'Won with Shermans guys'?!?!?!

quote:

TT has been pushing Donald out the door for the past 2 seasons…if Driver hadn’t won “Dancing with the Stars” he would have been forced to retire before the 2012-13 season. And when McCarthy didn’t put Driver on the field for the last meaningless drive in the playoff loss to SF he showed the new Packers lack of class…the game was lost…throw him a hitch pass and let him retire in a manner befitting his career in GB…but once the TT sycophants open their eyes they will see he won with Sherman’s guys and is losing with his picks…when he pays A-rod the biggest contract in football he will create a cap situation the team on the field cannot survive…as the Pack sinks to the middle of the power rankings and 2nd/3rd in the NFC North

Jason Wilde ‏@jasonjwilde As I'm sure you know, @MikeGarafolo of @USATODAYsports reports @Donald_Driver80 leaning toward retirement. Driver's agent is @JordanWoy.

If DD does retire, and I think it's time, the NFL loses one of the all-time good guys. I do hope the Packers offer him something along the lines of becoming an ambassador for the team, something to let fans really say "thank you" for all the great years and great smiles.

Yep. Driver should call it a career and move on. He has a great personality and should have no problems living the real world after the NFL.

Is Driver an NFL HOFer?

quote:

Originally posted by GBP1:
Is Driver an NFL HOFer?

No. Why TT gave him another year remains a mystery to me.

Dancing with the stars winner.

quote:

Originally posted by michiganjoe:

quote:

Originally posted by GBP1:
Is Driver an NFL HOFer?

No. Why TT gave him another year remains a mystery to me.

Reports at the time were, he still he had it then. He outplayed the younger guys competing for his spot and earned it outright. At the time, there was nothing charitable about it. He earned it. He was better than the competition.

DD's career--and his life--has always taken an uncoventional path. It looks like the end of his career has, too: he actually fizzled during the season. It was like training camp was the last tributary, the salmon spawned, and all that was left is the carcass.

Here's hoping he breaks the trend and ends his career with dignity. Haven't had much luck with that lately (see Reggie, TOG).

quote:

Originally posted by Pistol GB:
He outplayed the younger guys competing for his spot and earned it outright.

I'm inclined to lean toward Bob McGinn's analysis as to why the team stuck with him for another year.

quote:

There is little doubt the organization felt compelled to retain Driver after he became a national celebrity following victory in Season 14 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

I concur. Driver's presence on the roster was a political/business decision. Gratitude for his contributions over the years.

quote:

There is little doubt the organization felt compelled to retain Driver after he became a national celebrity following victory in Season 14 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Yeah, heaven forbid the Pack pisses off this "segment" of their fan base.

and I admit I was wrong. I thought at some point this past season having DD would pay a huge benefit. dead wrong but it didn't really hurt having him around so oh well.

He didn't have the magic on the field this year, but there's no way those of us on the outside could measure his impact in the locker room. Very glad he was kept on the team this year.

quote:

Originally posted by michiganjoe:

quote:

Originally posted by Pistol GB:
He outplayed the younger guys competing for his spot and earned it outright.

I'm inclined to lean toward Bob McGinn's analysis as to why the team stuck with him for another year.

quote:

There is little doubt the organization felt compelled to retain Driver after he became a national celebrity following victory in Season 14 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

I'm inclined to think that's neato speculation, but under that analysis, MM and TT both wasted a roster spot AND lied about it afterwards.

They said they were considering releasing him, but he played his way onto the roster and no one took his spot. McGinn can speculate all he wants, those were TT and MM's words. It also matched reports of Driver's play all Summer long. He still had it then, and everyone said it, not just TT but scouts, players, coaches, reporters, everyone.

And to think the "Dancing with the Stars" gig influenced TT is to not know TT. If anything, it would have made releasing him easier, IMO.

Saturday retiring

Wish he'd have retired a year ago.

quote:

There is little doubt the organization felt compelled to retain Driver after he became a national celebrity following victory in Season 14 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

I've seen that sentiment several times and it just makes absolutely no sense to me regarding how the organization operates. I can set the Yets doing something like that but of all the reasons for 1265 to keep DD on the roster, that doesn't seem to be on the list.

quote:

Originally posted by Pistol GB:
.....under that analysis, MM and TT both wasted a roster spot AND lied about it afterwards.

I'm of the opinion that a roster spot was wasted but it's not fair to accuse them of lying. I'd just say they weren't completely forthright about everything that factored into their decision.

Whatever the complete rationale behind the decision, Driver only got three snaps against the 49ers in the first game and MM obviously didn't feel he could contribute much on the field.

Vikes might be interested in DD

The missing piece.

I just rewatched the 2010 playoff game v. ATL. Driver was still a force, had some big clutch catches for good distances. He certainly still had the speed and explosiveness needed for the position. It's incredible how much he dropped off in two years. I think he still looked "good enough" in TC but he was a non-factor when he did play.

Do you think the local Vikings beat writers just keep stories like these about soon-to-be ex Packers at the ready like the NYT does with celebrity obituaries?

If the Pack doesn't want him, who cares where he plays?

quote:

Originally posted by Tequila_Monster:
If the Pack doesn't want him