nerdmann
14 years ago
http://packerupdate.net/?p=12019 

Donald Driver has had a terrific career, but truth be told, his chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame aren’t very good. I bring this up because the veteran receiver commented about the possibility after his charity softball game earlier this month. “If I can play two to three more years and put a nice little stamp on it, those records will stand there forever, and when it’s all said and done, maybe one day I can stand up here in Canton, Ohio, saying, ‘I made it.’”

Already the franchise leader in catches (698), Driver is poised to overtake the great James Lofton atop the career receiving yards list (only 40 behind). That’s pretty heady stuff, and while those numbers will guarantee him a spot in the Packer Hall of Fame, they shouldn’t get him anywhere close to one of those coveted yellow blazers. That’s because the former Alcorn State standout has had only three Pro Football Hall of Fame-type seasons in his entire career. From 2004 to 2006, he averaged 87 catches, 1,241 yards and 7 TDs. In his other six seasons as a starter, Driver averaged 66.5 catches, 895 yards and 4.5 TDs. Solid numbers, but hardly spectacular in a day and age when somebody like the much-maligned Bill Schroeder averaged 64-989-6 from 1999 to 2001.

Among active receivers, there are at least nine players who are already more worthy of a spot in Canton than Driver. The list includes Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, Hines Ward, Chad Ochocinco, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Derrick Mason and Steve Smith. And in another four or five years, you’ll probably be able to add the names like Roddy White, Marques Colston, Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and Greg Jennings to the list.

So what made Driver bring up this subject? Probably a conversation he had with former Raiders great Tim Brown prior to the Super Bowl. Here’s what DD told the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “He sat down and said, ‘If you win a Super Bowl come Sunday, they will have to look at you as a candidate for the Hall of Fame. For him to say that, that was something that made me dream about it even more. … When Tim Brown tells you they have to look at me as being a candidate, I shook my head that night and said all I have to do is win the Super Bowl and maybe I’ll get the opportunity to maybe one day be there.”

Well, he won the Super Bowl, but the second half of the daily double probably isn’t going to happen. In fact, once Driver calls it a career, he won’t even be the best former Packer wide receiver not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That dubious honor would still belong to Sterling Sharpe, who had nearly twice as many great seasons as Driver despite being forced to retire due to a neck injury at the age of 29. Fans may not have loved Sharpe the way they love Driver (for good reason) but no objective person could watch the two play and not know immediately who was the better receiver. And it’s not even all that close.

Twenty-one wide receivers are currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the vast majority were far more dominant in their eras than Driver was in his. That’s a fact. But there are a few head-scratchers on that list – the biggest being Art Monk. The former Redskin played for a long time and posted gaudy statistics, but like Driver, he was never one of the top handful of players at his position. Never. Any person who believes Driver deserves a yellow blazer could rightfully use Monk’s induction in 2008 as their strongest argument. My response would be that two wrongs don’t make a right. If the Pro Football Hall of Fame continues to open its doors to very good players, Canton will soon resemble Cooperstown – a place where longevity long ago caught up to greatness as a criteria for enshrinement.

PU wrote:


“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
Nice article, but is there a reason why you didn't post it in the other thread (or is it two or three now?) we have on the exact same topic?
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zombieslayer
14 years ago
For the record, Lofton is a much better WR. He didn't get his numbers on the Packers for several reasons:
1) His career on the Packers wasn't that long,
2) Lynn Dickey was often injured and his backups were possibly the worst QBs in the NFL at the time,
3) Some of Lofton's best years weren't on the Packers

Art Monk is a good comparison. Monk shouldn't be in the Hall. Lofton was superior to Monk and I don't think anyone who says otherwise can have a logical conversation about it.

Nice list of WRs who were better. Hey look, I'm a HUGE Driver fan. But it's not going to happen. Not getting my hopes up. The best we can hope for Driver to make it is for us to win the SB the next 2 years and both games, Driver gets MVP by having ridiculous stats. If that happens, then yes, he has a shot. Otherwise, no. Driver just never dominated like Steve Smith dominated one year, Moss dominated several years. Heck, even Wes Welker has had an All Pro even though he runs 5 yard patterns.

Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne, TO (as much as I hate him), are all better WRs and even they may not make the Hall. Wayne has put up some good numbers but will probably fall short. TO should make it but it's not guaranteed. Fitzgerald needs to play longer at the same level to have a shot. Steve Smith is done and won't make it. And hasn't Gregorious already passed up Driver in TDs, even though he hasn't played that long?
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. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
The idea that Donald Driver is Hall-worthy has been thoroughly debunked on this site for at least two years now. I don't know why the idea keeps getting brought up, when it is just as flawed now as it was then. I guess writers run out of material and reach into the recycle bin for help.
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zombieslayer
14 years ago

The idea that Donald Driver is Hall-worthy has been thoroughly debunked on this site for at least two years now. I don't know why the idea keeps getting brought up, when it is just as flawed now as it was then. I guess writers run out of material and reach into the recycle bin for help.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 



Pretty much.

By the way, you're right, these threads should be merged.
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. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
DakotaT
14 years ago
Please explain to me how sniffles Irvin and his extremely pedestrian quarterback are in the Hall of Fame? I mean Aikman could really handle the handoff thing to Emmit, but other than that, I have no clue how he made the Hall of Fame.
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Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
Because Hall voters are shallow and the most important thing to them is the bling on the hand.
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DakotaT
14 years ago
I don't think I'd put Driver in the HOF either. He is an exceptional #2 reciever; and has been doing it for a very long time. What Driver would be is an outstanding NFL rags to riches success story, and I'll take a whole team of guys like him.
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zombieslayer
14 years ago

Please explain to me how sniffles Irvin and his extremely pedestrian quarterback are in the Hall of Fame? I mean Aikman could really handle the handoff thing to Emmit, but other than that, I have no clue how he made the Hall of Fame.

Originally Posted by: DakotaT 



Aikman I could make a legitimate case for. But not Michael Irvin. He has no place in the Hall. He's only been an All-Pro once in his career. Take a wild guess how many times he's led the NFL in TDs? Anyone? Anyone?




Zero. That's right. He's never led the NFL in TDs. He's only led the NFL in yards once. And he's never led the NFL in yards. He's only had double digit receiving TDs once in his career.

I used to call Ben R the "Mr. Right Place at the Right Time" player. Now, it obviously goes to Michael Irvin.

A Hall of Fame player should be a player who is dominant. Irvin was not dominant by any means. Yes, he has had some solid seasons. But I would rank Steve Smith (Panthers) higher than Irvin and I already said in this thread that Smith doesn't belong in the Hall.

So in the future, if you hear me calling someone "Mr. Right Place at the Right Time," it's no longer referring to Ben R. It's now referring to Michael Irvin.
My man Donald Driver
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2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
vikesrule
14 years ago

But not Michael Irvin. He has no place in the Hall.....So in the future, if you hear me calling someone "Mr. Right Place at the Right Time," it's no longer referring to Ben R. It's now referring to Michael Irvin.

Originally Posted by: zombieslayer 



Agreed


Not in the HOF...that pisses me off
UserPostedImage 

In the HOF....that pisses me off.
UserPostedImage 



As for Donald Driver, what can I say.
The man is a great credit to the game, an outstanding player and one hell of a fine person.
There are few that I both admire and respect...Mr. Driver is one of those.


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