GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) No different uniform would certainly fit Donald Driver .
The all-time leading phone proclaimed his pension Thursday, by using a open public ceremony thought out intended for Feb. a few at the Lambeau Field Atrium.
''I performed my entire career inside Green Bay and also have usually appreciated its own attachment with the fans,'' Driver said in the affirmation launched because of the Packers. ''I might assume regarding no greater technique to be able to retire when compared with to be able to enjoy using them as well as Packers organization.''
Driver is done his 14-year career as Green Bay's all-time leader in back yards getting (10,137 yards), gets (743) and 1,000-yard seasons (seven), and it is third at the rear of Don Hutson and also Sterling Sharpe by using 61 touchdown receptions. He was component of this crew this won that 2011 Super Bowl, and exclusively Brett Favre played out more video games inside a Packers uniform.
''All 14 years. Every day,'' Driver said when enquired with regard to his or her favored recollection in a great job interview on ESPN's ''Mike & Mike.'' ''That's a special place in order to stroll away of, and that is some thing I'll for no reason forget.''
Drafted by simply Green Bay from the seventh rounded from the 1999 draft, Driver turned one on the the majority of well-liked and high profile Packers. He had six direct 1,000-yard seasons through 2004-09, averaging 14 back yards for each catch through stretch. He made a minimum of one capture around 133 directly online games out of 2002 to 2010, a different franchise record.
He's certainly one of simply 18 extensive receivers inside NFL history by using 700-plus employment catches along with 10,000 or even more obtaining yards around 200 games.
It was not just simply his effectiveness about the domain that made Driver on the list of a lot of precious players inside Packers history. Fans were thrilled by his / her brilliant laugh in addition to transmittable laugh, and shifted simply by his adventure connected with alleviating apparently insurmountable odds. Growing up, Driver plus his family members were thus poor of which he, his or her mother and siblings occasionally invested the particular nights from a U-Haul. He and also his brother stole vehicles for getting money, in addition to Driver offered drugs, too.
Driver by no means forgot in which daunting childhood, outstanding effective in the actual area all through his career.
''His info into the story in the continues to be extraordinary,'' Bart Starr said. ''I am honored in order to congratulate the pup on all of his or her triumphs on and also journey field.''
Though Driver had explained he thought that can be played until eventually he / she appeared to be forty - he transforms 38 on Saturday - his pensionable seemed to be rarely a surprise. He had restructured a final calendar year of his / her agreement an extra shot that season, nevertheless gamed simply a little bit function within the the offense having Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb prior to him for the degree chart. Driver's eight catches intended for 77 yards have been his lowest totals considering his or her first year season, as well as he / she was lazy for four games, including the NFC wild-card, his finalized activity with Lambeau Field.
''It's constantly difficult, particularly when you think it is possible to even now play the actual game,'' Driver said upon ''Mike & Mike.'' ''There's other things out there there. There's your next section of one's profession in addition to I'm completely ready regarding it.''
Driver acquired said following Green Bay displaced that will San Francisco inside NFC divisional circle that they will talk to his / her family before making almost any decisions. While there have been rumors Minnesota have a number of desire for him, Driver said he did this the ideal decision intended for your pet and also his family.
Driver plus his wife, Bettina, include several kids.
''My wife's comments said. the girl couldn't want to go anywhere else,'' Driver told ''Mike & Mike.'' ''Someone's gonna generally convey to this youngsters in which their daddy had been an awesome basketball player. But no-one can realize their desire to tell my children which their dad appeared to be a wonderful pops including a fantastic husband, thus I need to be capable of suggest to them that. And that's what the next section with my career should be.''
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