1997 Donald Driver 7th rnd Alcorn State
DD drafted for his all around athletic ability.
He competed for the Alcorn State Braves track team, where he shone in the high jump and earned all-conference honors his senior year. He leaped 2.30 meters in the high jump, 15.62 meters in the triple jump and 7.75 meters in the long jump.
Driver attended Alcorn State University in Mississippi, where he lettered in both football and track & field. He finished his college football career there with 88 receptions for 1993 yards (19.69 yards per catch). He was a five-time "Athlete of the Year" in his conference for his track and football prowess.
Coming from a small college DD was probably looked at a a project at best.
DD road the pine, crafted his skills and by 2002 became Brett Favres #1 guy.
2006 Greg Jennings 2nd rnd West. Michigan
With injuries and overall lack of talent at the wr position Greg was thrown into the fire almost immediatly.
2006 45 rec for 632 yds 3 tds
Brett Favre commented one of the reasons he decided to come back in 2007 was what he saw in GJ.
2007 53 rec for 920 yds and a whopping 12 td's
By 2008 Greg was the undisputed #1 guy with 80 rec. 1292 yds 9 tds
2007 James Jones 3rd rnd San Jose St.
James struggled his 1st few years, he played in all 16 games as a rookie, injuries limited him to 10 games in 2008.
Though the numbers were not huge James established himself as the #3 guy in Green Bay by the end of 2009.
The decision to re-sign James after the 2010 season, though not popular to some, proved to be the right thing to do.
2008 Jordy Nelson 2nd rnd Kansas St.
Being the 4th option Jordy was able to ease into the NFL.
In fact it wasn't till the end of the 2010 season we all saw just what a talent Jordy was.
He ended the 2010 regular season with 45 reed for 582 yds and 2 tds.
Jordy came of age in that magical 6 game run to The Super Bowl,
For not a couple of dropped balle, he may very well have been the MVP.
2008 Jermichael Finley 3rd rnd Texas
The final piece, Big strong, fast TE who could split the middle of the field.
The sky was the limit for Jermichael.
Injuries slowed JF's progress as a rookie, he did appear in 14 games but only had 4 rec for 74 yds and 1 td.
2009 showed us all what a special player Jermicheal was.
Although only appearing in 13 games he had 55 rec for 676 yds and 5 td's.
2010 was going to be the year for Jermicheal, as the game plan evolved around getting him the ball.
Injuries once again cut his year short, appearing in only 5 games.
The BIG 5 were in place coming off a spectacular season in 2010, 2011 proved to be one for the ages.
QB1 had a career year, completing 343 passes for 4,643 yds, 45 tds, with only 6 int.
a career best Pass Rate of 122.5.
Why am i writing this?
#1 it is off season and once in awhile it's fun to look back.
#2 IMHO there will be a return of The Big 5 next year.
#1a Jordy Nelson the now 8 year vet = Donald Driver
#1b Randall Cobb 5 year vet = Greg Jennings
#3 Davante Adams 2 yr vet = James Jones
#4 Ty Montgomery 1 year vet = a young Jordy Nelson
#5 Richard Rodgers = Jermicheal Finley
One thing the original big 5 does not have is a couple of 2 year vet receivers who have struggled at times due to injury or just plain learning how to be an NFL receiver ready to step in in case of injury.
Abbey and the new JJ excited everyone with their performances at Arizona!
I know Richard Rodgers does not have the god given talent of Jermicheal Findley, what he does have is a great pair of hands and has learned the system and knows his role.
Final note,
It takes time to develop into a profesional , no matter what position.
Some do it faster than others.
I read in another thread about a "perfect storm" coming together as the reason for that devastating defeat at the end of 2015.
I'm predicting right now there is a "perfect storm" coming together in Green Bay, and it is going to wreak havoc on the rest of The NFL in 2016.
CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!
I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!