NFL Discussion Thread - Hall of Fame Game: August 3rd

[solarius49]

we swore to protect it

this thing we couldn't be without

 

[fraij da 5 11]

[h3]Packers wide receiver prepares for celebration of 14-year career[/h3]

GREEN BAY—Dee Miller, Jahine Arnold and Zola Davis: Those are three names above or next to Donald Driver ’s on the Packers’ 1999 pre-training camp depth chart at wide receiver. He still remembers them.

Don Hutson, James Lofton and Sterling Sharpe: Those are three names alongside or surpassed by Driver in the franchise record books as he wraps up his career following 14 memorable seasons. His legacy is secure.

“I would never have expected it, being a seventh-round pick, and a lot of people telling you that you weren’t going to make the team,” Driver told packers.com a few short years ago, when he rattled off the long-since-forgotten players he was competing with as a young, wide-eyed rookie. “To get that opportunity to pass all the greats that have played before me, it’s an honor just to be mentioned in the same breath as those guys.”

Driver has announced that his against-all-odds career has come to an end, with an official retirement ceremony slated for next Wednesday, Feb. 6, in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

He retires as one of the most beloved players in franchise history, for a number of reasons – his infectious smile, his humble upbringing and his countless contributions to the community, to name just a few.

He also retires as one of the best receivers ever to don a Packers uniform. Here’s an unofficial list of the franchise records he holds:

• 
  Most receptions (743)
• 
  Most receiving yards (10,137)
• 
  Most 1,000-yard seasons (seven, a record six of them consecutive from 2004-09)
• 
  Most 50-catch seasons (nine, also a consecutive record from 2002-10)
• 
  Most consecutive games with a reception (133)
• 
  Most receptions at Lambeau Field (363)
• 
  Most receiving yards at Lambeau Field (5,000)

Considering his career began with little action or fanfare – just 37 receptions for 520 yards over his first three seasons – it’s worth pondering the statistics he might have compiled had he begun more highly regarded than a seventh-round draft pick simply fighting for a roster spot.

Or whether he might have finished higher than third on the franchise list for TD receptions with 61 (behind only Hutson, 99, and Sharpe, 65), or if he would have made a stronger push for Ahman Green’s franchise record for total yards from scrimmage (11,04 instead of coming in second at 10,354 (including 217 rushing).

Then again, Driver was never shy about stating that his motivation came from the doubters. He was always out to prove conventional wisdom wrong. He didn’t care that he wasn’t highly regarded. Instead, he enjoyed building a career on being lowly regarded.

An Olympic-caliber high jumper coming out of college wasn’t supposed to have the physique or stamina to survive in the NFL, yet, Driver played in all 16 regular-season games eight times in his career and missed only one game in three other years. One of his one-game absences came on the heels of a horrific-looking neck injury in 2003, but it hardly slowed him down.

No, Driver would be the first to admit it was fitting his football career began just as his life did, humbly. The circumstances drove him to accomplish what he did. The more disadvantageous, the better.

Those names on that ’99 depth chart are as etched in his memory as the ones he has eclipsed in the record book. That’s the best way to understand Driver’s incredible career.

All those names provided the context and created the legacy. They all mattered in one way or another, but it is Driver’s name that is unforgettable.

All-time franchise leader in being just a flat out good dude.

Hes one of those guys you're proud to have on your team.

Hopefully we can get him back to coach some day.

 

[RyGuy45]

Ahhh the newspapers and their perfect timing

EXCLUSIVE: NFL legend Dan Marino had a love child with CBS employee in 2005

By Ian Mohr, New York Post
Page Six Exclusive

Dan Marino is famous for his touchdowns — but the Hall of Famer’s scoring off the field is downright shocking.

The married gridiron great — a pregame analyst for CBS since 2003 who will be doing this Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast — sired a love child with a network underling and then paid her millions to keep quiet, sources have exclusively told The Post.

The ex-Miami Dolphin QB — who has long had an image as one of pro sports’ most squeaky-clean guys — knocked up Donna Savattere, a then-35-year-old production assistant at CBS Sports’ Manhattan studio.

She gave birth to their daughter, Chloe, in June 2005.

“They had an affair, and she had a baby,” said a source. “Everything was on the down-low and secretive.”

News of the affair and child comes as Marino is set to work Sunday’s big “Super Bowl Today” telecast.

He and other former NFL greats, such as Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe, will jaw about the big game for hours before the 6:30 p.m. kickoff between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. The revelation could make for some awkward moments during the long broadcast, which starts at 2 p.m.

Marino yesterday admitted to his dalliance.

“This is a personal and private matter. I take full responsibility both personally and financially for my actions now as I did then,” he told The Post in a written statement. “We mutually agreed to keep our arrangement private to protect all parties involved.”

At the time of the affair and Chloe’s birth, Marino was married to his wife of 20 years, Claire, with whom he had six kids, including four sons and two adopted daughters.

 

[tripda6]

WHY did they use that picture of my dude Dan? Got him lookin straight stupid.

Deep ball on the field... balls deep off it.

 

[shox23]

January has been a bad month for athletes, been getting exposed left and right

 

[651akathepaul]

He always did look and sound like a sleaze ball. Just has the aura of someone you can't trust.

 

[CP1708]

I need better picks of the broad before I make a determination.

 

[fraij da 5 11]

 

[va757va]

January has been a bad month for athletes, been getting exposed left and right

im saying..

i know the media LOVES negative stories, and ishs on positive stuff...

but it seems like theyre headhunting this week man...like theyre determined to ruin someones livelihood...

$$$$  >>> journalistic integrity nowadays...like theyre thirsty for news

 

[david bowman]

January has been a bad month for athletes, been getting exposed left and right

Those in the media like to pretend like they are the moral police. As if they are all saints.

We could dig up the same amount of dirt on them

I consider most of them parasites.

 

[deuce king]

January has been a bad month for athletes, been getting exposed left and right

Those in the media like to pretend like they are the moral police. As if they are all saints.

We could dig up the same amount of dirt on them

I consider most of them parasites.

 

[antidope]

NFL awards tonight?

 

[duba169]

Bill Plaschke always rubbed me the wrong way. he's always on some holier than thou ****. wouldn't be surprised if that guy was a sado masachistic ****old

 

[shox23]

Kaepernicks girl

 

[mister friendly]

Bill Plaschke always rubbed me the wrong way. he's always on some holier than thou ****. wouldn't be surprised if that guy was a sado masachistic ****old

 

[sequan]

This year's Playoffs have been so bitter. 20 days till the Combine, 40 days till Free Agency, 84 days till the Draft

 

[dland24]

You cant get lucky every year bro.

 

[mmg]

 

[ag 47]

Bill Plaschke always rubbed me the wrong way. he's always on some holier than thou ****. wouldn't be surprised if that guy was a sado masachistic ****old

Well...he does enjoy the taste of penis.

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

Bill Plaschke always rubbed me the wrong way. he's always on some holier than thou ****. wouldn't be surprised if that guy was a sado masachistic ****old

Well...he does enjoy the taste of penis.

(Trying to figure this one out).

 

[elpablo21]

Bill Plaschke is the worst

 

[sequan]

You cant get lucky every year bro.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=321014025

 

[lightweight champion]

Kap's old girl

Kap's new girl

 

[mmg]

His old girl >

But I guess since he's in the Bay Area he's trying to jump on that Asian bandwagon.

 

[mr marcus]

his old girl was