Driver Signs Extension With Packers (1 Viewer)

[Fla\/\/ed]

The Packer haters were in a win-win situation with Driver. If they don't re-do his deal the haters will rip on them for potentially causing another situation like Walker's. If they re-do his contract, they get ripped for a perceived double standard.

 

[BlueOnion]

The Packer haters were in a win-win situation with Driver. If they don't re-do his deal the haters will rip on them for potentially causing another situation like Walker's. If they re-do his contract, they get ripped for a perceived double standard.

That is clearly not a win-win situation.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

The Packer haters were in a win-win situation with Driver. If they don't re-do his deal the haters will rip on them for potentially causing another situation like Walker's. If they re-do his contract, they get ripped for a perceived double standard.

That is clearly not a win-win situation.

For the Packers haters it is. They can rip on the team no matter what they did with Driver.

 

[BlueOnion]

The Packer haters were in a win-win situation with Driver. If they don't re-do his deal the haters will rip on them for potentially causing another situation like Walker's. If they re-do his contract, they get ripped for a perceived double standard.

That is clearly not a win-win situation.

For the Packers haters it is. They can rip on the team no matter what they did with Driver.

Actually no, that is awin-lose scenario for the Packer haters.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

The Packer haters were in a win-win situation with Driver. If they don't re-do his deal the haters will rip on them for potentially causing another situation like Walker's. If they re-do his contract, they get ripped for a perceived double standard.

That is clearly not a win-win situation.

For the Packers haters it is. They can rip on the team no matter what they did with Driver.

Actually no, that is awin-lose scenario for the Packer haters.

Actually, it's pathetic either way.

 

[fatness]

Hey Fla\/\/ed, did you have anything to say about Donald Driver and his contract extension?

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

Hey Fla\/\/ed, did you have anything to say about Donald Driver and his contract extension?

No, too busy reading the drivel the usual Packer hating suspects have written. You had some classic stuff in the Driver Wants Out thread.

 

[sho nuff]

That's not his style though. He doesn't care about facts.

Yeah, because the 9 zillion threads where Packer fans made up excuses for the Packers, demonizing Walker, are filled with so many "facts." You know as well as I do the Packers said very little publically aside from "no comment" on the impasse with Walker. Perhaps you went to a shareholder meeting to gather your facts? Should have paid attention to the SEC disclaimer on forward looking statements. Fact is, your favorite team allowed its relationship with a 24 year old 1st round talent to disintegrate, only to pull the sour grapes double standard and extend the contract of a 31 year old who's likely seen his best days. But you're right, who cares about facts. "Facts"=Assumptions Packer fans want to believe.

Double standard where?So you claim to know what went on with Walker so much so that you wish only to blame the franchise?

Fact. Walker asked for a new deal.

Fact. All we know is he was turned down...not how, not what was actually said...just that they said no at the time, given their cap situation, not too much of a shocker there.

Fact. Walker whined to the media and threatened holding out.

Fact. Driver did not go to the media and cry.

Fact. Driver was rewarded for both his play on the field, and the way he conducts business.

All teams renegotiate deals when they see fit...the standard the Packers have shown is that they do not renegotiate when forced into it...but when they feel it is right.

 

[sho nuff]

It seems to me the Packers are more into sour grape "ha ha's" aimed at former employees than doing the right thing for the right reason. I'm confident this move was 85% aimed at making Walker seethe after he publically dumped them, and 15% a statement that Driver is such a special employee that the policy goes out the window.

Or maybe it's just that they reward players who have a history and are proven?

Well said. On the one hand, it is curious that Thompson would break from a standing team rule about not extending contracts before the final year of the deal. This policy has been in place for some time and it's one Thompson believes in. And by agreeing to re-do Driver's contract before the final year of his deal it does open the door for people to question why he's doing so now but refused to do so with Walker (obviously Mike McKenzie has nothing to do with this situation since Thompson was in Seattle at the time).

One could legitimately wonder why Thompson is doing something for Driver that he adamantly refused to do for Walker. That is a fair question to ask.

It's possible the answer resides in one of three areas:

1. Driver had been promised an extension by Sherman and Thompson wanted to make good on that promise.

2. Driver was rewarded for multiple years of productivity and had gone about his situation the right way, without trying to use the media or threats of team unrest as a way of getting what he wanted.

3. Thompson wanted to send a clear message that No. 2 is the way to go about doing business and if you want to adopt the "Walker Plan" you're not going to get the money you want in Green Bay.

That's a simplified look at the situation I realize and without being privy to the exact nature of the situation the best any of us can do is speculate. But while I agree that Driver deserved his contract extension because he's been a good player and a total class act, Thompson has now opened a door here and it will be interesting to see what transpires because of it.

Well said...also it helps when they have plenty of cap room...rather than a player wanting a raise when the team is needing to cut people to get under the cap.I expect Tauscher, Clifton...maybe Barnett will be redone at some point over the next 2 years as well.

 

[BlueOnion]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

 

[Kleck.]

This adds another chapter to Driver's feel-good story.

 

[fatness]

Hey Fla\/\/ed, did you have anything to say about Donald Driver and his contract extension?

No, too busy reading the drivel the usual Packer hating suspects have written.

I didn't think so.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

This adds another chapter to Driver's feel-good story.

He has come along way with the Packers. He deserved this and he will again be an asset to the team.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

Hey Fla\/\/ed, did you have anything to say about Donald Driver and his contract extension?

No, too busy reading the drivel the usual Packer hating suspects have written.

I didn't think so.

And we all know you add some quality analysis to Packer threads. :X

 

[sho nuff]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

He was out in left field to expect it and demand it, feel disrespected if they turn him down (givne their cap situation), then go to the media and threaten a holdout.I do not recall too many people saying he was wrong to ask. It was how he went about the rest of it that was what people thought was wrong.

 

[packersfan]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

Walker wanting more money has never been the primary issue. He was always entitled to ask for a raise and try to get an increase in salary. It's the way he went about trying to get it that was the problem.

 

[BlueOnion]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

Walker wanting more money has never been the primary issue. He was always entitled to ask for a raise and try to get an increase in salary. It's the way he went about trying to get it that was the problem.

Why would that be an actual problem?

 

[BigJim®]

This adds another chapter to Driver's feel-good story.

Yes. For those keeping track at home, this is Chapter 31, where Driver becomes overpaid beyond his prime just because he's a great guy, and their uber-talented young first round pick rides off unhappily into the sunset to make a much needed impact to another team's receiving corps. I have a weird feeling this thread will be bumped after Chapter 32.

 

[BigJim®]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

Walker wanting more money has never been the primary issue. He was always entitled to ask for a raise and try to get an increase in salary. It's the way he went about trying to get it that was the problem.

Is that one of those assumptions you're calling a fact? Care to ?

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

This adds another chapter to Driver's feel-good story. 

Yes. For those keeping track at home, this is Chapter 31, where Driver becomes overpaid beyond his prime just because he's a great guy, and their uber-talented young first round pick rides off unhappily into the sunset to make a much needed impact to another team's receiving corps. I have a weird feeling this thread will be bumped after Chapter 32.

You forgot to mention they were able to sign Driver for less than they would have had to pay Walker. You also forgot to mention the 4 draft picks the Packer received by trading Walker which helped add some depth to positions the Packers needed. You forgot to mention the fact that Walker is coming off a serious knee injury.Have you seen what Driver has done the last two years? It sure doesn't look like his numbers are slipping. 170 receptions the last two years for over 2,400 yards and 14 TDs. Driver was in the top 10 last year in receptions and yardage.

 

[packersfan]

This adds another chapter to Driver's feel-good story.

Yes. For those keeping track at home, this is Chapter 31, where Driver becomes overpaid beyond his prime just because he's a great guy, and their uber-talented young first round pick rides off unhappily into the sunset to make a much needed impact to another team's receiving corps. I have a weird feeling this thread will be bumped after Chapter 32.

So Driver at 31 and coming off 1,000-yard receiving seasons in three of the past four years is past his prime and Walker at 28 with only one strong season under his belt is young? Interesting perspective. While I agree Walker is more talented than Driver, the idea that Walker is young and Driver's game is slipping are both incorrect.

 

[sho nuff]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

Walker wanting more money has never been the primary issue. He was always entitled to ask for a raise and try to get an increase in salary. It's the way he went about trying to get it that was the problem.

Why would that be an actual problem?

Are you playing dumb here? Both in this thread and in the other about Walker.Why would demanding a raise or he will hold out a problem?

Why would demanding to be traded or he will retire be a problem?

Are those courses of action that you think sit well with both managment and players?

 

[sho nuff]

This adds another chapter to Driver's feel-good story. 

Yes. For those keeping track at home, this is Chapter 31, where Driver becomes overpaid beyond his prime just because he's a great guy, and their uber-talented young first round pick rides off unhappily into the sunset to make a much needed impact to another team's receiving corps. I have a weird feeling this thread will be bumped after Chapter 32.

Overpaid? Getting paid a pretty good salary for what he has actually done really.You really need to get a clue.

 

[BlueOnion]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

Walker wanting more money has never been the primary issue. He was always entitled to ask for a raise and try to get an increase in salary. It's the way he went about trying to get it that was the problem.

Why would that be an actual problem?

Are you playing dumb here? Both in this thread and in the other about Walker.Why would demanding a raise or he will hold out a problem?

Why would demanding to be traded or he will retire be a problem?

Are those courses of action that you think sit well with both managment and players?

Just because a player does something that does not sit well with management doesn't mean it is a problem.

 

[fatness]

Wisconsin State Journal

All along, Donald Driver vowed that he wouldn't be like Javon Walker in his quest for a contract extension. And while Driver may not end up getting paid like his former Green Bay Packers teammate - assuming Walker collects all the money in his new deal with the Denver Broncos, that is - Driver remained true to his word and now has the contract he wanted, one that contains more guaranteed money than Walker's. And, Driver got it with the team he wants to play for and without the messy, acrimonious holdout.

One day after the Broncos officially announced that they signed Walker to a five-year, $40 million extension that kicks in after the 2006 season, the 31-year-old Driver signed a four-year, $17 million deal that will keep him in Green Bay through 2009, Driver's agent, Jordan Woy, confirmed Thursday. The popular wide receiver had two years remaining on the five-year, $11 million extension he signed in November 2002 and was scheduled to receive base salaries of $1.36 million this season and $1.84 million in 2007.

He received a $4 million signing bonus as part of that deal, a contract that left him underpaid compared to other wide receivers throughout the league but represented big-time money for a guy who was homeless on the streets of Houston as a child and entered the league in 1999 as a little-known seventh-round draft pick from Alcorn State. "Donald is a special person as well as a special player," Packers vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt said Thursday night. The new deal replaces those remaining two years and brings Driver's pay scale up considerably, though it is still below elite receiver money.

Although Woy wouldn't divulge contract details, an NFL source said Driver will receive a guaranteed $5 million signing bonus. His 2006 base salary is now $950,000, but his subsequent base salaries are $2.7 million in 2007, $2.9 million in 2008 and $3.9 million in 2009.

 

[sho nuff]

Just because a player does something that does not sit well with management doesn't mean it is a problem.

What the hell else would you call it?What if it also does not sit well with the team?

When in your opinion does it become a problem?

No comment on the possibility that he was the one who stated Driver wanted out?

 

[BlueOnion]

What the hell else would you call it?

What if it also does not sit well with the team?

When in your opinion does it become a problem?

No comment on the possibility that he was the one who stated Driver wanted out?

If I really valued the guy as a player on my team, I would hardly let anything he says in the media prevent me from keeping the guy on the roster.Labeling Javon Walker's actions as a problem is a huge cop-out. If you don't want him, say you don't want him. If you do want him, then sign him.

possibility...that is just speculation and I am not going to comment on that.

 

[sho nuff]

What the hell else would you call it?

What if it also does not sit well with the team?

When in your opinion does it become a problem?

No comment on the possibility that he was the one who stated Driver wanted out?

If I really valued the guy as a player on my team, I would hardly let anything he says in the media prevent me from keeping the guy on the roster.Labeling Javon Walker's actions as a problem is a huge cop-out. If you don't want him, say you don't want him. If you do want him, then sign him.

possibility...that is just speculation and I am not going to comment on that.

Talk about a copout...that is all this post of yours is.If I value a guy on my team, that is one thing...but how much value does a guy who threatened to hold out when we had not money...then threatened to retire the next year have? Especially coming off of a major knee injury.

It is speculation...but if true, it shows alot about what kind of character Walker is.

His actions do appear to be a problem...not the whole problem...but a problem. Certainly his actions, plus the question mark around his injury are why he is gone.

 

[fatness]

There have probably been about 9 zillion Walker threads in this forum in the last year and quite probably each of them contains the legitimate facts about that situation.

Care to share a link perhaps?

Seriously? I may have exagerrated a tad with the number of Walker threads but honestly there have been a rather large number of them. Surely you've seen them or at least some of them. In many of them there have been posts by myself and people such as Faede, Pony Boy and Ditkaless Wonders who have laid out some clear and concise facts about the situation; what unfolded and more importantly, why.

Actually, yes, I was serious. I realize the # of threads is exaggerated of course. But referring to facts in evidence when they're somewhere else isn't really informative. I figured since you referred to those facts you'd want to point out the threads where they are, that's all. Care to share a link perhaps? Thanks.

 

[Big Score]

Javon Walker is a CANCER!, TO the II / aka Little TO

Javon Walker demands trade, Where's he going to end up?

Walker to Denver, Suprised it has not happened yet?????

Since nobody else wants to step up fatness, here are the "Big 3" Walker threads.

Two 6 pagers & one 3 pager.

 

[larry_boy_44]

Big Jim:

These hicks in WI know no better than simply being apologists for Favre and their "Fan-owned"  franchise.  It's useless to tell them how sorry of a job Thompson as well as Harlan has done (on par with Millen's).

I mean, these are the same folks who have deluded themselves into actually thinking that Harlan and the board aren't pocketing at least 80% of the actual profits.

Only in a place like WI can one get away with a "non-profit" NFL franchise.

  :whoosh:

It's things like this that make a person look like much more of a complete idiot that I am sure even Iron intended here.You may want to do some research on the "non-profit" Green Bay Packers, as the money they make does in fact go into a reserve fund which they use to sign free agents, and upgrade the stadium, concessions, parking lot, etc. If the Packers were ever to get moved or sold to an owner or group, all of the money would then go to making a War Memorial for the Veteran's Association located in Green Bay. If you could imagine, that would be one hell of a memorial.

Harlan gets a salary, but the numbers are made public every year. The last thing the NFL or Green Bay Packers want is a controversy concerning their funds. It isn't happening, and will never happen.

maybe... but it would probably be burned down 3 or 4 times before they could convince people to let it stay up since they had to sell the packers to do so...

 

[larry_boy_44]

Based on the past 3 years or so, I think the Packers' policy on contract extensions is very clear: "We don't extend contracts with more than one year remaining ... unless we want to."

Its a nice policy to have, so they don't have to publicly trash guys they don't want to pay, like Walker and McKenzie.

ever think that they might have gotten extensions if they hadn't of held out?

 

[fatness]

Javon Walker is a CANCER!, TO the II / aka Little TO

Javon Walker demands trade, Where's he going to end up?

Walker to Denver, Suprised it has not happened yet?????

Since nobody else wants to step up fatness, here are the "Big 3" Walker threads.

Two 6 pagers & one 3 pager.

Thank you. Looks like a lot of arguing about contract law, about the specifics of Walker's contract with the Packers, and things that were suppsedly established in yet other threads. Link for exampleMostly those threads are a lot of disagreeing about whether Walker should or shouldn't have gotten a new contract from the Packers, lots of opinions all around, some people sayaing he was smart to do so and entitled to do so; other people saying he didn't have a right to ask for more and should shut up and play for Green Bay.

Driver wanted a renegotiated contract from Green Bay and got it.

Walker wanted a renegotiated contract from Green Bay and didn't get it. He was traded and got his new contract.

 

[sho nuff]

Driver wanted a renegotiated contract from Green Bay and got it.

Walker wanted a renegotiated contract from Green Bay and didn't get it. He was traded and got his new contract.

Driver did not go to the media and threaten a holdout. Driver let his actions on the field speak for themselves...and it is unclear whether he was promised an extension (by Sherman) or if that was just part of the rumor before the draft that he wanted out.

 

[Big Score]

Driver wanted a renegotiated contract from Green Bay and got it.

Walker wanted a renegotiated  contract from Green Bay and didn't get it. He was traded and got his new contract.

Driver did not go to the media and threaten a holdout. Driver let his actions on the field speak for themselves...and it is unclear whether he was promised an extension (by Sherman) or if that was just part of the rumor before the draft that he wanted out.

Driver (or his agent) most certainly did go to the media with his unhappiness over his contract and wanting it re-done. That was reported Dec of last year.However you are right about him never threatening a holdout.

 

[cstu]

This adds another chapter to Driver's feel-good story.

Yes. For those keeping track at home, this is Chapter 31, where Driver becomes overpaid beyond his prime just because he's a great guy, and their uber-talented young first round pick rides off unhappily into the sunset to make a much needed impact to another team's receiving corps. I have a weird feeling this thread will be bumped after Chapter 32.

So Driver at 31 and coming off 1,000-yard receiving seasons in three of the past four years is past his prime and Walker at 28 with only one strong season under his belt is young? Interesting perspective. While I agree Walker is more talented than Driver, the idea that Walker is young and Driver's game is slipping are both incorrect.

Walker is still 27 until Oct. and Driver is 31, about a 3 1/2 year difference. Walker is just entering his prime while Driver is exiting it.

 

[BigJim®]

Mostly those threads are a lot of disagreeing about whether Walker should or shouldn't have gotten a new contract from the Packers, lots of opinions all around, some people sayaing he was smart to do so and entitled to do so; other people saying he didn't have a right to ask for more and should shut up and play for Green Bay.

Don't say that. Those threads are full of facts on the real story. You know, where people throw out biased opinions that all become true and important facts the moment GB management publicly utters the words "no comment."

 

[Big Score]

Mostly those threads are  a lot of disagreeing about whether Walker should or shouldn't have gotten a new contract from the Packers, lots of opinions all around, some people sayaing he was smart to do so and entitled to do so; other people saying he didn't have a right to ask for more and should shut up and play for Green Bay. 

Don't say that. Those threads are full of facts on the real story. You know, where people throw out biased opinions that all become true and important facts the moment GB management publicly utters the words "no comment."

Here we go again

 

[Sabertooth]

I just feel proud to be the fan of a 4-12 team that other teams just hate! You don't see a lot of Texans haters out do you? But everybody hates the Packers. I wonder why that is.

 

[sho nuff]

I just feel proud to be the fan of a 4-12 team that other teams just hate! You don't see a lot of Texans haters out do you? But everybody hates the Packers. I wonder why that is.

To quote Busta Rhymes in Higher Learning"they just hate me cause they aint me"

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

I just feel proud to be the fan of a 4-12 team that other teams just hate! You don't see a lot of Texans haters out do you? But everybody hates the Packers. I wonder why that is.

They are a pathetic bunch! Too bad they have so many issues that they feel the need to bash, bash and bash again.

 

[BigJim®]

But everybody hates the Packers. I wonder why that is.

While I'm not a fan of the jerseys and I think the cheesehead is a joke on Packer fans that they haven't quite grasped, I've generally thought the front office was superior to anything the Vikes have had in recent years (particularly under Wolf) and there's no better atmosphere for taking in a game than Lambeau. From a public support and facilities standpoint, there's a lot there for your typical Viking fan to envy. But what really turns me off from the franchise generally is certain fans. It's funny timing that you should ask, because just today I was reading the story on wptv.com about some hottie teacher who is moonlighting as a lingerie model [highly recommended story, btw], clicked over to the school's website where the teacher's bio was, and get subjected to the following:

http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/WestBocaRat...cial/bluhm.html

I mean, for crying out loud, why is it exactly that being a Packer fan seems to be the proudest and most rewarding aspect of a Packer Fan's life? I've got my own game day gear, but Packer fans are generally a little too in your face 24/7 for my tastes. I'd compare them to born agains if I needed an analogy. This guy is by no means unique in my experience. He could be any of you gents posting in this thread, and I find that sort of creepy.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

But everybody hates the Packers.  I wonder why that is.

While I'm not a fan of the jerseys and I think the cheesehead is a joke on Packer fans that they haven't quite grasped, I've generally thought the front office was superior to anything the Vikes have had in recent years (particularly under Wolf) and there's no better atmosphere for taking in a game than Lambeau. From a public support and facilities standpoint, there's a lot there for your typical Viking fan to envy. But what really turns me off from the franchise generally is certain fans. It's funny timing that you should ask, because just today I was reading the story on wptv.com about some hottie teacher who is moonlighting as a lingerie model [highly recommended story, btw], clicked over to the school's website where the teacher's bio was, and get subjected to the following:

http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/WestBocaRat...cial/bluhm.html

I mean, for crying out loud, why is it exactly that being a Packer fan seems to be the proudest and most rewarding aspect of a Packer Fan's life? I've got my own game day gear, but Packer fans are generally a little too in your face 24/7 for my tastes. I'd compare them to born agains if I needed an analogy. This guy is by no means unique in my experience. He could be any of you gents posting in this thread, and I find that sort of creepy.

What's creepy is the lengths you go to Packer hate in this forum. It isn't healthy!

 

[camperguy01]

Mostly those threads are  a lot of disagreeing about whether Walker should or shouldn't have gotten a new contract from the Packers, lots of opinions all around, some people sayaing he was smart to do so and entitled to do so; other people saying he didn't have a right to ask for more and should shut up and play for Green Bay. 

Don't say that. Those threads are full of facts on the real story. You know, where people throw out biased opinions that all become true and important facts the moment GB management publicly utters the words "no comment."

Facts? Where do YOU have ANY facts in this thread?

 

[MrPack]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

So maybe the Packers weren't so far out in left field not redoing his contract with 2 years left knowing his knee might not be 100%?

 

[MrPack]

So maybe Javon Walker was not so 'out in left field' to expect the Packers to redo his contract with two years left on his current contract?

Walker wanting more money has never been the primary issue. He was always entitled to ask for a raise and try to get an increase in salary. It's the way he went about trying to get it that was the problem.

Why would that be an actual problem?

You're kidding right?Come on Blue, think about it.