Green Bay Packers: Why Donald Driver belongs in Canton

Donald Driver belongs in Canton, Ohio. This statement is long overdue. The Green Bay Packers legend proved his worth for 14 seasons in the NFL spanning across three decades while playing for just one team.

No. 80 is one of the most beloved Packers players of all-time and certainly one of the most under-appreciated NFL receivers of the last few decades. The Houston native deserves his Hall of Fame bust right now. It is time.

Driver was the hardest worker on the field whenever he stepped foot on it. If you don’t believe that, you probably forgot that he was drafted in the seventh round with pick No. 213 out of Alcorn State in 1999.

After the departures of receivers Antonio Freeman and Corey Bradford in 2002, Driver started to blossom into his starting role, catching passes from one of the greatest quarterbacks ever in Brett Favre.

Driver would play a total of nine seasons with Favre and five with another all-time great in Aaron Rodgers.

In his 14 seasons in Green Bay, No. 80 would catch over 700 passes, eclipse 10,000 receiving yards and grab over 60 touchdowns. He is one of just a handful of receivers to put up those numbers with only one team.

He would make three Pro Bowls, which just shows how poor the voting system is considering he caught 70 passes for at least 1,000 yards in seven of his 14 career seasons, including six straight from 2004-2009.

Consistent and steady. Oh yeah, he was also a Super Bowl champion). There is no question that his portfolio is worthy enough for Canton.

If you think not, take some of these notes down.

Driver has more receptions than Calvin Johnson and Don Maynard. More touchdown receptions than Drew Pearson and Lynn Swann. More receiving yards than Fred Biletnikoff, Raymond Berry, and Harold Carmichael.

He has a higher yards-per-reception mark than Andre Reed and Art Monk. Driver has played in more games than Steve Largent, Michael Irvin, and Marvin Harrison.

All of those receivers that I compared Driver to are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Driver stands for everything the game of football is all about. Hard work. Toughness. Resiliency. Family. Togetherness.

Anything positive you have to say about the game of football, you can say that about Donald Driver. He was and, still is today, all about community. He loves people. The people in Green Bay know that all too well.

Driver has a street named after him in Green Bay. He is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Now, it’s time for the folks in Canton to build another shelf and craft a bronze bust for Mr. Driver. Let the former seventh-round pick into Canton, Ohio where he belongs forever.