Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver announced his retirement on Thursday. He is one of a few receivers in the spotlight in the week leading up to the 2013 Super Bowl, though he has never been one for stardom.
While Driver was busy putting up quietly effective seasons one after another, Randy Moss was alternating between record-setting athleticism and bouts of effortlessness. Earlier this week, Moss claimed he was the greatest wide receiver to ever play football.
NFL Hall of Famer and holder of many career and single-season records Jerry Rice thinks otherwise, though he didn't stoop to Moss' level of self-promotion. Rice told the media to look at the stats, which heavily favor Rice, even though Moss is one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. Perhaps a lesson from Driver could have taught Moss how to stay away from the negative limelight.
In his career, Donald Driver gained over 10,000 yards through receptions, catching 743 passes from the likes of star quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Driver recorded seven seasons of 1,000 receiving yards or more, and had six in a row from 2004 through 2009. The Packers wideout scored 61 touchdowns in his career, notching a single-season high of nine on two occasions (2002 and 2004). He made the Pro Bowl three times.
Driver leads the Green Bay franchise in all-time receptions and has the fifth highest single season record for receptions (with 92 in 2006). He gained more yards through the air than any other Packer in history. He is fourth on the team's receiving touchdown list, and has more 1,000 yard receiving yards than anyone before him.
Driver may never join the conversation of greatest NFL wide receiver, but his effort year in and year out gave the Packers one of the best offenses in the league. Randy Moss should take notice.
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