September 18, 2011

To my family, the Packers organization, current and former teammates, friends and all of Packers Nation,

THANK YOU for the opportunity to play for the greatest franchise, and best fans, in all of sports. The Green Bay Packers team goals are absolutely the most important focus for all of us moving forward. With the incredible blessing of the birth of my third child (Charity) last week and becoming the All Time Packers Leading Receiver in Yardage today by surpassing Pro Football Hall of Fame’s James Lofton, I also wanted to briefly reflect for a day on the wonderful experiences that I have shared with all of you.

I still remember the Packers drafting me as the 213th overall player in the last round of the 1999 NFL Draft. The Packers had the 212th and 213th picks back to back that year, and they would not even take me 212th! I clearly did not know Wisconsin very well back then, because I got off the plane that April in just shorts and a short sleeve shirt – and yes, I froze!

Thankfully, I have learned a lot since then about a number of topics:

1) How to be a loving father and husband

2) To appreciate every single day what it is like to play for a Packers organization that is committed to excellence

3) That Packers fans will always support you, no matter how cold it gets!

4) That on field accomplishments matter, but that charity and giving back to the community is the most important accomplishment of all

5) That I will never be done learning, interacting and enjoying the special relationship with Packers staff, teammates, fans and community supporters throughout the world

In closing, I want to encourage all of you to hug your loved ones this week and please continue to support the Packers and your community! THANK YOU!

Sincerely,

As a Packers fan for 35 years, I’ve seen everything from Super Bowl campaigns to scabs to the forgettable Randy Wright era (although I cheered for Wright as much as I ever did Brett Favre — maybe more). Still, few Packers have been easier to cheer for than wide receiver Donald Driver.

Donald Driver is perhaps the easiest Packer for whom to root.

When Favre vomited his dignity all over the field in overtime of the NFC Championship game after the 2007 season, I thought it was probably Driver’s last chance to make it to the Super Bowl. I’m glad I was wrong.

Why? That’s easy: Because Driver is one of the NFL’s great role models. He came from a more than difficult childhood determined to “make it” in life and better himself. The Michael Vicks and Ben Roethlisbergers may get the headlines, but it’s Driver who deserves the respect and the success.

I am the first to groan when he makes bone-headed drops (and he’s had his share the last two or three seasons), but Driver — or “Quickie,” as  his friends and family call him — makes just as many highlight-reel and clutch grabs. Off the field, though, his dedication to charity and community, not to mention his family, mean he rarely drops the ball in the game of life. At 36, he is near the end of an amazing career in which he has broken many of Green Bay’s receiving records, surpassing icons like Don Hutson and Sterling Sharpe in the process.

As such, it’s fitting that the Packers’ deserving Driver has found his way to his ultimate prize. To that, I say “Congratulations.” Nevertheless, ESPN’s Wayne Drehs said it better than I ever could.