Driver receives a raise

[Boston's Future]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=642737

After the second Pro Bowl season of his eight-year career, the 32-year-old Driver has been rewarded again with a contract extension that adds almost $11 million in new money to his existing contract, according to a source with access to NFL Players Association salary data. Much of the money - $7.2 million - is contained in the extra year added to the deal, which might not be earned because Driver will be 35 going into that season.

But the deal boosts his salary through roster and workout bonuses by about $3.8 million over the next three seasons and brings his average per-year salary to about $5.75 million. It is the second time in two years that Driver has seen his contract upgraded despite having multiple years left on the deal.

It is unclear what role Driver played in pushing for a second extension, but he clearly thinks he's deserving of being paid among the top receivers in the league and doesn't want to be sold short. He admitted that it might be unprecedented for the Packers to upgrade a contract in two straight years, but he said he had performed well enough to deserve it.

"I always felt like I was going to be one of the top receivers in the league," Driver said after the club's intrasquad scrimmage Saturday night. "I guess that's how everybody in the world (would) want to get compensated. I feel like I'm a top five receiver in the league. I've been a Green Bay Packer for life.

"That's what you want from the organization that they can see that in you. When you have an organization like that, what other organization would you rather play for? My goal is to (always) be here."

After Driver spoke out about being underpaid before last season, the Packers added two years to his contract, raising the value to $17 million over four years. He made $5.2 million of that last season and was scheduled to make in base salary and roster bonuses another $2.7 million this year, $3.9 million in 2008 and $4.9 million in '09.

With the extension, he can make in base salary and roster bonuses $4.3 million this year, $4.9 million in '08 and $5.9 million in '09. The new roster bonuses are tied to him being on the 45-man active list each week. Any week that he's not on it, he won't receive a prorated portion of the bonus.

There are also off-season workout bonuses that can net him another $200,000 per year.

[MickeyDavis]

http://www.realgm.com/boards/football/v ... php?t=1756