Shocker! The Green Bay Packers all-time leading receiver, Donald Driver, is leaning toward retirement, according to a report by USA Today.
The announcement could come as soon as next week.
Following a disappointing season in which he caught eight passes and was inactive for one of the team’s two playoff games, Driver is leaning toward retirement, according to a person informed of Driver’s thinking on the matter. The person, who spoke to USA TODAY on condition of anonymity because Driver hasn’t made a final decision, said an announcement could come as soon as next week.
Obviously, no surprise here.
A once great Packer, Driver slid all the way down to No. 6 on the receiver depth chart by the end of the 2012 season. It was one in which he caught just eight passes for 77 yards and was inactive for several games down the stretch, including the Packers first playoff game.
The writing is on the wall for Driver, who will turn 38 this month.
When it becomes official, Driver will finish his career with 743 receptions and 10,137 yards, both all-time team marks.
We can debate this later, but despite holding those marks, we’d argue that Driver is only the fourth-best receiver in team history behind Don Hutson, Sterling Sharpe and James Lofton.
Of course, that’s nothing to sneeze at. Two of those guys are in the Hall of Fame and the other one would be if his career hadn’t been cut short because of injury.
I think Sterling was outperforming Jerry Rice for awhile. What a waste. I wonder sometimes how things would have played out differently for the Packers had he played 10+ seasons.
All things must come to an end at some point. DD was always a man’s man during his time in Green Bay and for that, if for no other reason, he deserves to be remembered with the same amount of grace and class that he always carried himself with.
If anyone ever asks about how Donald Driver played football, just point them to his TD run from the 49ers game from a few years ago, when he broke 6 tackles!! That is my all time favorite DD moment.
maybe not the best Packer WR ever, but he’s maybe the best loved Packer WR ever by the fans. Probably between him and Don Hutson.
He is not the best Packer WR ever but I’d say he was the most important. They way he mentored guys and gave the whole wr corps a scrappy attitude. I love watching the way all those guys work and a lot has to do with Drivers leadership. Truly a Packer great and can’t wait for his next role with the team.
Sterling Sharpe IS the best Packer wide reciever ever. Donald Driver isn’t far behind.
Gay.
I wasn’t around in the Hutson era. James Lofton was a great deep threat receiver. Sharp was a great receiver and served as Favre’s security blanket early in his career. Here’s where Sharp lost me as a fan….When he held out for a new contract on a Saturday, 1 day before the season opener in 94. He refused to play if Wolf didnt give him a new contract, blackmailing the team, the day before the season started. Some call that creating leverage. I call that B S.
Wolf gave in to him, knowing the team and Favre needed him. From that day, i no longer cared about Sterling Sharpe, to this day, it still holds true. That why, i put Donald Driver as my favorite Packer wide receiver. Not only does he hold the receiving yard record, he’s always been clutch. As a player, his production dictates the utmost respect. As a man, he deserves more respect, i havent heard a negative thing about Driver. EVER. he is, what every Packer player should achieve to be when they 1st enter the Packer locker room. He belongs in the Green Bay Packer Ring of honor.
Second that motion – Put him up there before they do it for #4. He deserves it.
On the slim slim chance, that Donald Driver would read this……..Thank you Donald for all that you have done, and all that you mean, to the Packers and to us Packer fans. Not only were you a great Packer player, you are also a great man.