Zero2Cool
15 years ago
http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/news_items_more.php?id=3797§ion_id=40 

[img_r]http://wauk-am.tritondigitalmedia.com/includes/news_items/40/3797/driversmilectc.jpg[/img_r]GREEN BAY Donald Driver isnt saying he found the fountain of youth when he underwent arthroscopic surgery on each of his knees in January, but the Green Bay Packers ageless wide receiver is convinced that he extended his career by having team doctor Pat McKenzie perform the procedures.

My biggest thing is, Ive been playing with these knees like this for the last four or five years, said Driver, who despite some limited range of motion and inflexibility in the knees still caught 70 passes for 1,061 yards and six touchdowns last season, his 11th in the NFL. It just got to the point where, I didnt have to get it done, but for me to be able to still play at a high level and play as long as I want to play, I had to get something done.

The 35-year-old Driver has said repeatedly that he wants to play until hes 40, which hell turn on Feb. 2, 2015. He said McKenzie told him he could probably play another three years before the pain would become too much to bear and hed be forced to either have the surgery or retire. Driver said the knees bothered him during games at times but were especially troublesome during his down time.

Id have a sharp pain shoot through when I was walking up stairs, he said.

The source of the pain was the plica, a band of tissue that separates the knee into compartments during fetal development and often remains in adults. The plica on the inner side of the knee is particularly prone to irritation and injury.

So in January, McKenzie went in and removed the plica from each knee, and Driver felt almost instant relief. Packers coach Mike McCarthy held him out of organized team activity practices and the two-day mandatory minicamp even though he medical staff had cleared him to participate.

Thats all I needed, said Driver, who has never suffered a significant knee injury, such as a torn ligament or meniscus damage. My knees werent bad, but from (high) jumping in college and playing football and basketball in college and playing football (in the NFL), they had taken a pounding. To have had no problems with my knees my whole time in Green Bay, it was time to get something done.

I sat down with Doc, and I asked him, How long do you think I can play with this before I have to have surgery? He said, Id give you three more solid years before you have to come in because you cant take the pain. I said, What would it be if I did have the surgery? He said, You can play as long as you want. So I said, Lets get this thing done.

Driver told wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson that he wished hed done the surgery sooner.

He says he feels better than he has in years, Robinson said. Im excited to see him in training camp and watch him get out there.

Robinson said the time off during OTAs and minicamp will likely benefit Driver, and the missed repetitions wont hurt him because of his vast experience.

This guy works out twice a day on his own when hes down there in Texas (in the offseason), Robinson said. I think itll be good for him in the long run.

And thanks to the surgery, that long run might be even longer than Driver originally planned. Having become the franchises all-time receptions leader (647) last season, caught at least one pass in a team-record 127 consecutive regular-season games and registered more 1,000-yard seasons (seven) than any receiver in Packers history, Driver needs just 607 yards to pass Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver James Loftons team record for career receiving yards (9,656).

My goal is to play until Im 40. If I get to 40 and yall still see me running around here looking fresh, then Ill keep going, said Driver, who has missed only four of a possible 160 regular-season games due to injury since becoming a regular contributor in 2000. I think God has blessed me to play this long. It was good to get the surgery done, and I think everyone sees the difference. I played with a lot of pain, and now that pain is over with.

Im running, cutting and I dont have any pain. I feel like Im young again.


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Bigbyfan
15 years ago
Both this article and the article about Al Harris shows that we may have two of the best pros in the league, IMO. Just the hard work they put into the game and continuing to getting it done at an "old" age.
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zombieslayer
15 years ago
Pretty amazing to get 1000+ yards on bad knees. Goes to show how much heart the guy has (and that's why he's one of my favorite players).
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
buckeyepackfan
15 years ago
Give me 22 guys with DD's heart and work ehtics and I will give you a SB championship team.
I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!
Zero2Cool
15 years ago

Give me 22 guys with Donald Driver's heart and work ehtics and I will give you a SB championship team.

"buckeyepackfan" wrote:



If I have 22 guys, I'm not giving them away. I'm putting them to work to make money for me so I can develop a new custom coded website.
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tromadz
15 years ago
With abs like those he can.....................................what was this thing about again? Got distracted.
Wamzlee
15 years ago
I admit, I was in the boat that he was starting to miss a step towards the end of last year. However, this surgery may bring that step back. I love to see him dodge, not one, but two defenders after a catch this year. 😉
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Dulak
15 years ago

I admit, I was in the boat that he was starting to miss a step towards the end of last year. However, this surgery may bring that step back. I love to see him dodge, not one, but two defenders after a catch this year. ;)

"Wamzlee" wrote:



ya I got to say driver was the better receiver this year compared to jennings the year before... perhaps its because jennings pulled dbl coverage alot (big contract so big coverage).

I seem to recall 2 one handed catches for big yardage driver made this year.
PackerTraxx
15 years ago
I'm really looking forward to seeing Driver this year. Hopefully, this helps this helps not only with his running and cutting, but also with his drops. Feeling better, having no pain has got to help.
Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
15 years ago

Give me 22 guys with Donald Driver's heart and work ehtics and I will give you a SB championship team.

"buckeyepackfan" wrote:



Add to that skill level and talent. He makes some of the most ridiculous catches that I've ever seen.
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