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  • Tue., May. 28, 2013 11:30AM - 1:00PM CDT Organized Team Activities (OTAs) The Packers announced details on the remainder of their offseason schedule, including the fact that five of the team’s offseason practices will be open to the public, weather permitting.

    The open practices will be three organized team activities (OTAs) and two mandatory minicamp workouts. The open OTA practices are slated for three Tuesdays — May 21, May 28 and June 11 — and will begin at 11:30 a.m. CT. The two mandatory minicamp practices are scheduled for June 4 and 5 with a start time TBA.

    Due to ongoing preparations on Ray Nitschke Field for training camp, the OTA and minicamp workouts will be held on Clarke Hinkle Field this year. Viewing of the open practices will be standing-room only along the Oneida Street side of Hinkle Field.
  • Sat., Jun. 01, 2013 8:30AM - 3:30PM CDT Junior Power Pack Clinic The 16th Annual Junior Power Pack Clinic will take place June 1, 2013 inside the Don Hutson Center, the Packers indoor practice facility. Reserved exclusively for members of the Junior Power Pack kids fan club (ages 5-14), this event features the chance to run skills and drills with other Packer backers and a few up-and-coming Packers players.
  • Sun., Jun. 02, 2013 8:00AM - 1:00PM CDT USA Football coaching school

    The Green Bay Packers have teamed up with USA Football to host a coaching school for Wisconsin youth football coaches at Lambeau Field on June 2, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Sat., Jun. 08, 2013 3:00PM - 5:00PM CDT Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for the 10th annual Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer event, set for Saturday, June 8. The event once again features a motorcycle ride, but non-riding fans who want to support the cause are welcome to attend the post-ride party at Lambeau Field’s North Loft, the rooftop deck below the TundraVision in the north end zone.
     
    On the day of the ride, registration begins at 9 a.m. and will continue through 10:30 a.m. at Vandervest Harley-Davidson in Green Bay. The post-ride party begins at 3 p.m. at Lambeau Field in the North Loft, which can be accessed through the Bellin Health Gate. The party will include food and drink for purchase, a silent and live auction and fun while bringing awareness to cancer. Attendees will also have the opportunity to get autographs from Packers players in exchange for a $10 donation to the event.
  • Tue., Jun. 11, 2013 11:30AM - 1:00PM CDT Organized Team Activities (OTAs) The Packers announced details on the remainder of their offseason schedule, including the fact that five of the team’s offseason practices will be open to the public, weather permitting.

    The open practices will be three organized team activities (OTAs) and two mandatory minicamp workouts. The open OTA practices are slated for three Tuesdays — May 21, May 28 and June 11 — and will begin at 11:30 a.m. CT. The two mandatory minicamp practices are scheduled for June 4 and 5 with a start time TBA.

    Due to ongoing preparations on Ray Nitschke Field for training camp, the OTA and minicamp workouts will be held on Clarke Hinkle Field this year. Viewing of the open practices will be standing-room only along the Oneida Street side of Hinkle Field.
  • Wed., Jul. 24, 2013 11:00AM - 1:00PM CDT Packers Shareholders Meeting

    The Green Bay Packers 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held Wednesday, July 24, at 11 a.m., at Lambeau Field. The meeting will take place rain or shine.
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News

Mike Spofford

Mike Spofford has worked as a sportswriter in Wisconsin since 1995 and has been a packers.com staff writer since 2006. He has covered the Packers' last two Super Bowl appearances, XXXII and XLV.
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Spotlight shines on Driver again

Posted Dec 4, 2011

By Mike Spofford, packers.com staff writer

Comments:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Don’t sleep on Donald Driver.

That was the message the Packers and the veteran receiver sent on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, as Driver enjoyed a two-touchdown game for the first time in six years in helping the Packers to a 38-35 win over the Giants to remain unbeaten.

“I just had fun today,” said Driver, who scored on short TD passes in the second and fourth quarters. “When the opportunities come you have to make the best of them, and my opportunity came today and I wasn’t going to let it slip away.”

Taking on a lesser role without complaint in a passing offense that features Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and tight end Jermichael Finley, Driver showed he’s still got plenty to offer. He came into Sunday’s game with just two touchdowns on the season and no more than four catches in any given game, but he doubled his touchdown total to match the four he had last season.

Driver caught only four passes on Sunday, for 34 yards, but he found the end zone twice for the first time since Nov. 21, 2005, at Lambeau Field against Minnesota.

“D-Drive had a great game today,” Finley said. “I love him to death.”

On his first score, with 1:10 left in the second quarter, Driver was left all alone in the end zone when it appeared New York’s coverage was focused on Nelson. The throw was a little low, but he made sure to secure the 13-yard catch by tumbling to the ground.

“They don’t worry about me,” Driver joked. “You’re old and they don’t worry about you any more. They left me wide open.”

His second score was vintage Driver, as the 13-year veteran stayed alive in the back of the end zone as quarterback Aaron Rodgers scrambled to his right. Rodgers fired to the sideline and Driver made a picture-perfect tip-toe catch for a key score with 3:34 left in the game that gave the Packers a 35-27 lead.

The play was reviewed, and Driver nearly stepped out of the back of the end zone before coming back to make the catch, but he stayed in – both there and as he made the 7-yard grab.

“I can get a little excited sometimes, and I pretty much ran out of breath picking him up and hitting him and messing with him,” Jennings said. “Huge catch. That’s why he’s still here.”

Driver wasn’t a factor on the game-winning drive, but the march was nonetheless an example of how balanced the Packers’ passing attack is.

Rodgers completed four straight passes, to four different players, to get the Packers in position for Mason Crosby’s game-winning 30-yard field goal.

He hit Finley for 24 yards, Nelson for 27, rookie running back Brandon Saine for minus-1 and then Jennings for 18. The four plays took 55 of the 58 seconds the Packers had when the drive started, and the whole time the Giants never knew where the ball was going next.

“That’s what makes us difficult to stop,” Nelson said. “That’s the main problem teams have against us is who to match up with. Right down the field, four different guys. Everyone’s expected to make plays.”

No receiver topped 100 yards for the Packers but three came close. Jennings and Nelson finished with 94 yards apiece, and Finley added 87.

Despite a few drops here and there during the day, the receiving corps’ confidence was sky-high with the game on the line.

“Nothing was really said,” Jennings said. “Guys pretty much knew. This is it. Let’s go get it. There was nothing that needed to be said. This is the type of team we’ve created.”

A team that can count on any receiver in any situation, even the oldest of the bunch who quietly leads and remains as reliable as ever.

“Even though his role is diminished a little bit he still stays positive, and that’s what we need,” Jennings said of his good friend. “When his number is called, just like anybody else he’s going to make the play.”

Additional coverage - Dec. 4