Veteran wide receiver Donald Driver has said many times that he wanted to retire as a Green Bay Packer, and he took a step toward achieving that goal on Friday.
Driver, who is entering the final year of his contract, agreed to an extension with the Packers that will run through the 2012 season. Talks with the team began after last season, according to Driver, and Friday it was made official when he signed the new contract with his wife, son and daughter at his side.
Now I am going to retire as a Packer, Driver said. That is something I have dreamed of for a long time, and its here now. My wife and kids, they love it. We went upstairs as a family and signed our extension, so we know that we are going to retire here.
When it is all said and done and I am done playing, Ill be wearing green and gold.
Last season, Driver became the all-time receptions leader in team history (currently has 647), surpassing Sterling Sharpes previous record of 595 catches. With 9,050 career yards, Driver enters the 2010 season ranked No. 2 in that category behind only Hall of Famer James Lofton (9,656).
A great guy wore the number before me, James Lofton, and Im hoping that I can stay here long enough that I can break his record and one day that jersey will never be worn again, and my name is going to be in the ring like all of the great players before me, Driver said.
Originally a seventh-round draft pick by the Packers in 1999 out of Alcorn State, Driver has shown no signs of slowing down, registering 1,061 yards and six touchdowns on 70 receptions last season. He has recorded a team-record seven 1,000-yard seasons during his 11-year career, including six straight (2004-09), also a franchise best. With that string of consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, Driver stands with the Colts Reggie Wayne as the only NFL receivers to accomplish that feat the past six seasons.
My wife, she has always said she never wanted to leave Green Bay, Driver said. I have always said I never wanted to leave here. When I got the opportunity in 1999 it was just trying to make it year by year.
Now that I get to finish my career out here, its going to be remarkable. And to be able to one day, hoping that I am going to be in the Packers Hall of Fame, thats going to be a great thing.
Driver underwent clean-up surgery on both of his knees this offseason, a move he made to relieve some pain and extend his career.
I feel so much better, Driver said. The aches and pains, you are going to have those because it is training camp, but outside of that my knees feel good. I have been playing well, and thats what you want. You want to be able to continue to play at a high level.
When Drivers contract expires he will be 38 years old, and in the past he has talked about wanting to play until he was 40. While not ruling out the possibility of playing beyond 2012, still performing at a high level when he does retire seems to be just as much of a priority.
I have always said I wanted to play until I am 40, Driver said. If the Lord tells me at 38 when my contract is up to continue playing, I will. But if not, then I retire and I am happy about it.
You get to a point where it is more mentally than physical. If its mentally right now with me at 38, when it gets to that point I am willing to walk away. I am willing to walk away before they have to tell me to walk away. I think that is more respectful to the organization, myself, just to walk away from the game before I embarrass myself.