Donald Driver States The Obvious About Chicago Bears
By djlombardi
On a recent radio show, Packers receiver Donald Driver was asked a question about the receivers for the Chicago Bears, and he stated the obvious:
"“They don’t have a receiver,” Driver said on the “Waddle & Silvy” show on ESPN 1000. “They don’t have any true receivers that step up and play and take their team to where they want to go.“I love Devin [Hester], and Devin knows that, but Devin plays [defensive back]. I don’t think he’s just a solid receiver right now. He may become one as years go on, but it doesn’t happen overnight.”"
I’m not sure there’s anyone that can deny this, even Bears fans. Let’s look at the wide receivers on the Bears roster currently: Hester, Brandon Rideau, Eric Peterman, Johnny Knox, Derek Kinder, Juaquin Iglesias, Rashied Davis, John Broussard, Earl Bennett, and Devin Aromashodu. Peterman, Knox, Kinder, and Iglesias are all rookies. I’ve never heard of Rideau. Bennett and Aromashodu have yet to show anything on the NFL level. Davis has had flashes of brilliance, but his career season was 2008, when he had 35 receptions for 445 yards and two touchdowns. Hester had 52 receptions for 665 yards and three touchdowns.
Granted, with Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman as your quarterbacks, it’s hard to produce. With Jay Cutler in town, the wide receivers will see some improvement, but you have to have some toys for your quarterback to play with. Cutler is a great quarterback, but I doubt he will be able to turn these guys into Pro Bowlers within one or two seasons. The Bears weakest point on their offense is their receiving corps. Hester has his moments, but it feels like most of the time he is used as a diversion or as a gimmick.
If Chicago wants to contend, they need a Brandon Marshall or an Anquan Boldin, a big target that can make any quarterback look good. However, with the king’s ransom they payed for Cutler, it doesn’t look like they have anything to give up for them. The Cutler acquisition of Cutler gives Chicago the franchise quarterback it needs, but he doesn’t have any receivers, meaning a tough time getting adjusted for Jay.
Donald Driver states the obvious folks. Seriously, before you read this, could you name a Bears wide receiver besides Hester?
The other thing that I found interesting about this is that Driver is usually pretty silent when it comes to the media. He doesn’t toot his own horn that much or make too much noise on the airwaves. That being said, I like it. It gives the Packers a bit of an edge for 2009. Driver also answered questions about future Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre:
"“A lot of guys just kind of put it out of their mind, and said that whatever Brett does he’s going to do it on his own, and we can’t worry about it in Green Bay,” Driver said. “If he signs with Minnesota, he does, and if he doesn’t he doesn’t.“If he signs with them, then we prepare for him when that week comes around, but right now we’re not focused on that. We’re just focused on winning games trying to get to where we want to go, and that’s the world championship.”"
Good words from Driver. Less than two weeks until Favre’s decision. My guess? He’ll be back.
Follow @LombardiAve on Twitter or subscribe and get daily updates from Lombardi Ave here.