GREEN BAY Donald Driver wants his contract reworked again.
The Green Bay Packers three-time Pro Bowl wideout was missing from the teams first open-to-the-media organized team activity practice Thursday at the Don Hutson Center, and two NFL sources said and a team source confirmed that Driver was absent because he wants the team to sweeten his deal.
Driver, 34, has two years remaining on his current deal, which calls for a $3.9 million base salary this season and a $4 million base salary in 2010. Driver finished the 2008 season with 74 catches for 1,012 yards and five touchdowns. His number of receptions and yardage were his lowest since 2003.
This is the fourth straight year Driver has approached the team about improving his deal. According to one source, Driver first approached the team at the annual FanFest in March. Its surprising Driver has taken this approach, given his standing in the community and popularity with fans. Driver has taken over ex-Packers quarterback Brett Favres annual charity softball game, which is scheduled for June 14 this year.
I dont know what hes doing, one NFL source said. It makes no sense.
Driver has been surpassed as the Packers No. 1 receiver by Greg Jennings, who the final year of his four-year contract. Jennings is scheduled to make $535,000 this season the minimum salary for a player with three years of experience. Yet Jennings is attending OTAs.
They knew I was going to be here, Jennings said. If something were to come up, it wouldnt be because of my contract situation, it would be because of my family.
Before the 2006 season, Driver complained about being underpaid and the Packers responded by adding two years to his contract, a move that increased the value of his deal to $17 million over four years through the 09 season. Driver made more than $5 million of that $17 million in 06 and was scheduled to make $2.7 million in 07, $3.9 million in 08 and $4.9 million in 09 in base salary and roster bonuses.
But before the 07 season, after Driver made his second Pro Bowl, the Packers again reworked his deal, adding more than $10 million in new money, much of it in the form of an additional year of 2010. The rest of the new money came in the form of roster bonuses and workout bonuses. Portions of those roster bonuses were based on Driver being on the active 45-man roster for each game.
In 2007, when he played in 15 of 16 games, Driver was to eligible earn $1.3 million in roster bonus money, in addition to his $2.7 million base salary. Last season, when he played in all 16 games, he earned $2 million in roster bonus money in addition to his $2.9 million base salary.
This year, Driver has a $2 million roster bonus in addition to his $3.9 million base salary. In 2010, the roster bonus is $2.8 million atop a $4 million salary. By not working out with the team a set number of times during the offseason, Driver would forfeit workout bonuses worth more than $200,000 per year.
Contacted via e-mail, Drivers agent, Jordan Woy, said Driver is training in Texas and the Packers know this. It is not a mandatory camp. Attempts to reach Driver via phone and text message were unsuccessful, but in an interview with Milwaukee TV station WITI last week, Driver was asked if he was happy with his contract and replied, "Oh, I'm happy. ... They always say when you get later in your career you go out there and do your best and hopefully you'll get what you deserve."
OTAs are technically voluntary but are strongly encouraged. Only two other veterans cornerback Charles Woodson and safety Nick Collins were absent Thursday.
Collins father, James Collins Sr., died of cancer at age 56 Saturday in Florida, although Collins agent, David Butz, told the State Journal earlier this month that Collins would not be participating in the OTAs regardless of any family matters. Woodson was excused by coach Mike McCarthy for personal reasons but is expected to attend later in the session.
As far as the guys that are not here Donald Driver, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins no different than weve done in the past, I know everybody here understands that whether its personal reasons, business reasons, whatever they are, Im not going to discuss those, McCarthy said. I know the fans respect that we dont do business in the media.
Asked if he expects to have Driver, Woodson and Collins back at some point during OTAs, McCarthy replied, Ive addressed that. Time will answer that. Im done with attendance. I hope you can respect that.
Meanwhile, exclusive-rights free-agent cornerback Tramon Williams signed a one-year contract. Williams practiced the first two days of OTAs without a deal, which agent Rodney Williams said was worth more than the one-year, $460,000 exclusive-rights tender. The agent would not elaborate.
According to the National Football Post, Williams' deal is worth $900,000 -- $525,000 in base salary plus a $375,000 signing bonus.
Its team-first, man. Im a team-first guy, said Tramon Williams, who played in 16 games (nine starts) last year. Weve got a new defense in, and obviously it wouldve hurt me more if I wasnt here to learn the defense. But I still would have been here. I dont want to miss any workouts mandatory or voluntary. Thats just the way I do it.