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Packers receivers finish strong

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The Green Bay Packers have until 8pm tonight to reduce their roster from 75

Jarrett Boykin

to 53 players.  The backup receivers certainly made a case for the Packers to keep 6 receivers instead of the normal 5.

Jarrett Boykin had 5 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown last night.  His preseason total is 13 catches for 166 yards.  Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel both had a pair of catches last night.

AUDIO: Tori Gurley says he, Borel & Boykin stated their case :18

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said a number of statements were made in this contest.

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy says a number of players made statements :22

Mike McCarthy said after the game that he doesn’t have a high level of concern about B.J. Raji’s injured ankle.  Raji hurt his ankle on the first play of the game.

Rodgers says Packers will have some tough decisions

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Just like head coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes this 2012 team could be better than the

Aaron Rodgers

2011 version that finished 15-1 in the regular season. 

What that also means is that the Packers brass will have some real difficult decisions to make when it’s time to shape the final 53 man roster in a month.

AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers says the Packers will have some tough calls to make :22

The Packers will have some tough calls to make at wide receiver as well.  After Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones, do they hang on to veteran Donald Driver or go with some of their youth.  Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel have both performed well in camp and warrant a good hard look.  Driver restructured his contract in the offseason and has been rock solid in the first week of camp, proving so far that he has some fuel left in the tank.

AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers says game action will help decide what young players are for real :19

A wealth of players added on defense have also raised the energy level, something that a number of players have mentioned already and Rodgers re-iterated today.

Is Driver a lock to make the 53-man roster?

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Donald Driver

Veteran wide receiver Donald Driver may have restructured his contract, but is he a lock to make the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster a month from now? At age 37, Driver is having a good training camp so far.  He had another solid day yesterday, making a number of key catches and he continues to be motivated by those that think he’s done.

AUDIO: Donald Driver on proving his doubters wrong :22

To some, it was a bit of a surprise the Packers decided to bring Driver back.  General Manager Ted Thompson was asked about that move earlier this week.

AUDIO: Ted Thompson on his decision to keep Donald Driver :12

Driver may or may not be a part of the Packers future, but there’s a number of reasons why bringing Driver back for another Training Camp was a good call.

When Ted Thompson has to make a decision a month from now, it won’t be easy.  Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel are both having good camps and will be hard to let go.  But Thompson and Mike McCarthy were smart to keep Driver to at least force Gurley and Borel to prove themselves during the preseason.

Injuries could also play a factor.  If somebody goes down prior to the start of the regular season, then the Packers will at the very least have some insurance with Driver.

Driver also proved last year that he understands his role and he’ll be ready to step up whenever necessary, just like last years playoff game against the Giants.

AUDIO: Driver is totally comfortable with his role :19

Gurley and Borel both got raises late last season to stay with the Packers after both received offers from other NFL teams to leave the Packers practice squad.

AUDIO: Tori Gurley on staying in Green Bay when he had other offers :23

Gurley has made a number of impressive catches so far in camp and has opened some eyes with his blocking.  He put on nearly 15 pounds in muscle and now stands at 6’4, 232 lbs.

Ted Thompson has gone with youth when making these types of roster decisions.  He has not allowed emotion to play a factor in his decision-making.

Thompson wouldn’t likely win any popularity contests if he were to get rid of Driver.  Driver is one of the most popular players on the team, especially after winning the title on “Dancing with the Stars”.  He’s captured the hearts of fans nationwide after the dance competition.

But Thompson won’t let popularity get in the way of making a difficult decision.  It’ll come down to whether or not Gurley and/or Borel are the real deal or not.  If Thompson determines that they can help the Packers now and in the long-term, then his decision will be a tough one.

Driver proved at age 36 that he could still play and there’s no proof that he won’t do the same at age 37.

AUDIO: Donald Driver says he feels great at age 37 :16

Driver said he’ll continue to play as long as he feels good.  The question is, will that be for the Packers or some other NFL team?

Driver restructure’s deal with Packers

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When the Green Bay Packers lost to the Giants back in January, Donald Driver

Donald Driver

thought that he may have worn his Packers number-80 jersey for the last time.

After winning the 2012 version of Dancing with the Stars, Driver even further cemented his legendary status with Packers’ fans. 

Yet during the process, speculation was swirling with regards to Drivers future with the Packers.  Afterall, he had a $5-million salary and a $1.5-million bonus that was due when the Packers opened their training camp doors.  Clearly, Driver’s deal would need to be re-worked, something he agreed to as well. [Read more…]

Will the Packers bring Donald Driver back?

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Donald Driver has been installed as the favorite to win “Dancing with the

Donald Driver

Stars”.  As far as a 14th NFL season with the Green Bay Packers is concerned, Driver’s return is sketchy at best.

Driver has certainly been a fan favorite and an outstanding contributor as the Packers all-time leading receiver. 

I’ve said all along that Driver has at least one more good year in him, but at what cost.

Driver has already made it known that he’d take a pay cut, but it goes beyond that.  The Packers haven’t been one of the best teams in the league for the last decade because they hang on to players too long. [Read more…]