Driver contract issue too?

[Captain Erv]

Good grief..

Driver absent, working out in Houston
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
May. 28, 2009 9:19 p.m.

Green Bay - Wide receiver Donald Driver has joined safety Nick Collins in taking issue with his contract, according to sources.

Both joined cornerback Charles Woodson, who has never been a regular to off-season practices, in being the only veteran players absent for the start of organized team activities.

But in an email, Driver’s agent, Jordan Woy, said Driver’s contract is not at issue.

“Donald is training in Texas,” Woy wrote. “It is not a mandatory camp and the Packers understand this.”

Driver, after having his contract reworked in ’06 and ’07, is due to make $6.1 million this season and $7 million in 2010, the final year of his contract, between base salary and bonuses.

Driver’s average salary per year ($6.6 million) for the length of his existing contract ranks second on the team, behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers ($12.7 million) and ahead of linebacker Nick Barnett ($6.57 million).

Driver was asked last week by WITI-TV Fox6 in Milwaukee whether he was happy with his contract.

"Oh, I'm happy," Driver said. "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."

Last season, Driver, 34, posted his lowest number of catches (74) and yards (1,012) since the ’03 season.

He likely knows receiver Greg Jennings, who practiced despite not having his new contract, is line for a contract that will exceed Driver's.

Any prolonged absence could put Driver’s $207,280 roster bonus in jeopardy.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Yeah I don't understand this. Driver has had his contract re-worked 2 times in the last 3 years. He didn't even have a great year number wise last year either.

I am a pretty big TT supporter, but he better get Collins and Jennings locked up soon. This is why we don't go after a lot of FAs, so we can lock up our own young talent.

Packers are starting to have a lot of contract issues...Collins, Jennings, Driver, and Kampman. Hopefully this all gets figured out and doesn't affect training camp.

[Fandom]

Already being refuted.

It didn't make sense anyway.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel - Donald Driver's agent has refuted rumors that the Green Bay receiver is unhappy with his contract.

Driver is working out in Houston instead of attending the team's voluntary workouts, a decision that only fed into rumors.

"Donald is training in Texas," agent Jordan Woy wrote in an e-mail to the Journal-Sentinel. "It is not a mandatory camp and the Packers understand this."

Driver is due to make $6.1 million this season and $7 million in 2010.

"Oh, I'm happy," Driver said of his contract when asked by WITI-TV Fox6 in Milwaukee. "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."

[MickeyDavis]

I find it interesting that he was in Wisconsin last week making a lot of personal appearances and when OTA's open up, he goes back to Texas. He's always been in GB for OTA's in the past. This is not a coincidence. Driver isn't one to take a dispute public but there is no doubt he is angling for (another) better deal.

[Captain Erv]

PFT makes a decent point:

In our view, it’s possible that the consternation arises not from the amount to be paid, but from the structure. Driver currently is guaranteed nothing. So if the Packers decide that Greg Jennings is the new No. 1 wideout and that James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and/or Ruvell Martin can supplant Driver as the No. 2, the Packers might give the veteran pass-catcher a “take-a-pay-cut-or-take-a-hike” ultimatum in August.

If that’s the case, there’s a flaw in Driver’s reasoning. By staying away now, he’s giving Jones, Nelson, and Martin an opportunity to prove that they can replace him, making it easier for the Packers to decide to divert his $5.9 million to Jennings, who’ll make less than 10 percent of that amount under his current deal.

[ReasonablySober]

The only reason I still like Driver here is depth. But I don't have any doubts that one of Jones or Nelson could fill his void.

I would still be very happy with a WR corp of

Jennings
Nelson
Jones
Martin
Simmons/Swain/whatever.

[MickeyDavis]

Jones has done little after getting off to a good start. Combination of injuries and lack of mental abilities have limited him. He caught 30 passes the first half of his rookie year, then just 17 the second half and 20 all of last year. He may one day become a good #1 or #2 but right now no way. You have to stay on the field to be considered a key contributor. And he needs to become a whole lot smarter. With Nelson it's too early to tell. He has the tools but so do a lot of guys who never amount to much.

I have a hunch Nelson will turn out better than Jones in the long run.

[ReasonablySober]

Nelson's already as good or better than Jones. But that's no slam on James, who's production dipped more because he was the 4th or 5th WR last season than anything. We've got four very good pass catchers out there. They all can't catch 50-80 balls.

[MickeyDavis]

Right, and the reason Jones was 4th or 5th receiver is because he couldn't stay healthy and he had a lot of trouble grasping the offense. And then he bitched about playing time. He's still young and will still have opportunities but I'm very dubious about his chances of becoming a 1 or 2.

The Jennings contract needs to be resolved one way or the other this summer. Don't let it drag into camp where it will become a distraction.

[Icness]

Driver wants more years, not necessarily more money. He doesn't want to hit free agency and get less than he would now, what with his advancing age and diminishing role. Doesn't sound real acrimonious though.

[MickeyDavis]

He'll be 36 when his current contract is up. Adding a couple of years when he's 37 and 38 won't mean too much. He's looking for more guaranteed money. The Packers have been good about reworking players contracts. But he did the same thing in 2006 and 2007.

[El Duderino]

The only reason I still like Driver here is depth. But I don't have any doubts that one of Jones or Nelson could fill his void.

I have doubts because even at his age, i think Driver is still our second best WR

[Bucksfans1and2]

There seems to be a constant battle between the vets and TT on this team. TT was right to ditch Favre but I get this vibe that TT doesn't like guys that he didn't bring in. I know that in the NFL teams constantly let go of older vets to bring in new talent but I've never had that feeling with the Packers. Maybe because I'm getting older I'm noticing more but it sure seems like the locker room is fractured between Favre and TT guys. I could be totally off base, but that's the vibe I'm getting. I've never seen a Packers team where the veteran players dislike the "staff" so much. Before TT it seemed that things were settled in private. Now I'm starting to hear more and more from the media about dissatisfied player. Maybe this is the way the NFL is moving or maybe I'm completely wrong.

BF2

[Ayt]

There seems to be a constant battle between the vets and TT on this team. TT was right to ditch Favre but I get this vibe that TT doesn't like guys that he didn't bring in. I know that in the NFL teams constantly let go of older vets to bring in new talent but I've never had that feeling with the Packers. Maybe because I'm getting older I'm noticing more but it sure seems like the locker room is fractured between Favre and TT guys. I could be totally off base, but that's the vibe I'm getting. I've never seen a Packers team where the veteran players dislike the "staff" so much. Before TT it seemed that things were settled in private. Now I'm starting to hear more and more from the media about dissatisfied player. Maybe this is the way the NFL is moving or maybe I'm completely wrong.

BF2

I might agree with you if TT hadn't given extensions or redone the deals of multiple players he didn't bring in. DD (twice), Kampy, Harris, Barnett, Tauscher, Franks, Wells, Jenkins. He's tended to reward his productive veteran players with new deals or more money on their existing deals.

As far as the privacy thing, did you forget about Walker and McKenzie? Other than Favre, we've had relatively quiet offseasons under TT in my opinion.

The NFL is a brutal sport with only partially guaranteed contracts. We'll probably never have an offseason where somebody doesn't want a new deal unless the labor agreement is altered.

[Jollay]

The only reason I still like Driver here is depth. But I don't have any doubts that one of Jones or Nelson could fill his void.

I have doubts because even at his age, i think Driver is still our second best WR

This team needs veterans. Driver is a veteran and last I checked pretty productive, but not a shocker that alot of people here think we don't need him or something.

Not sure DBs give even half the respect to Nelson or Jones they give to Driver, to help keep defenses from focusing on Jennings.

Still, not sure we can do much more for Driver; it would be kind of a bad precedent to set, even for a guy that's always been here--reworking him 3 out of 4 years.

[blueedwards]

Drivers wife had a death in the family. Driver is partially not happy with his contract. I think he wants a extention. Plus I think hes trying to play until 40 like Jerry Rice.

[MickeyDavis]

He's reworked his contract twice in the last three years. Enough already.