By Rob Demovsky
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Even on bad football teams, players produce and put up gaudy statistics. No one has done that better for the 0-2 Green Bay Packers than receiver Donald Driver, who has 15 catches for 249 yards, a 16.6-yard average.
Only two players — Amani Toomer of the New York Giants and Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts — have more receptions than Driver. But just barely. Toomer has two more and Harrison one more.
Only one player — Laveranues Coles of the New York Jets — has more receiving yards than Driver. Again, just barely. Coles has 4 more yards than Driver.
What that makes Driver is open for debate. He's either a good player because he's on a bad team with few other weapons, or he's just a good player, period.
There are still those around the NFL who doubt Driver is worthy of being tabbed a No. 1 receiver because he's not the flashiest or quickest or biggest or strongest guy in the league.
If how other teams treat Driver is any indication, then the Packers' first two opponents, the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, didn't consider Driver as such because they rarely double-teamed him.
"They haven't yet, but we anticipate that (teams) probably are going to try," Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "Driver's been unbelievably productive (and) explosive for us, and I hope it continues."
Driver, who's in his eighth NFL season, has been a starter for five years, but he often has been overshadowed by the Packers' other receiver.
In 2002, it was Terry Glenn. All Driver did was post 14 more catches than Glenn on his way to his first 1,000-yard season.
In 2003, the Packers drafted Javon Walker in the first round, but Driver easily outperformed Walker.
In 2004, when Walker had his breakout season with 89 catches, 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, Driver almost matched him catch for catch and ended up with 84 receptions, 1,208 yards and nine touchdowns.
Finally, last season, after Walker went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1, Driver had the spotlight all to himself. All he did was post career highs of 86 catches and 1,221 yards.
The problem was, the Packers went 4-12 and almost nobody noticed.
Despite ranking fifth in the NFC in receptions and seventh in yards, Driver was not selected to the Pro Bowl. Perhaps that's because the perception was that because the Packers were so often playing from behind, they had no choice but to throw more than usual. Or perhaps it's because Driver came into to the NFL as a seventh-round pick.
"Once a guy gets stereotyped, it sticks," Packers cornerback Al Harris said. "Before I got here, I was never supposed to be an every-down guy. I was only supposed to be a No. 3 corner. I think (Driver) is legit. When they throw him the ball, he makes things happen. I think when a guy gets 1,000 yards receiving, that makes him a No. 1 receiver."
Driver is the Packers' go-to guy. That was ensured when they traded the unhappy Walker to Denver in the offseason.
At 31, an age when some players begin to show their years, Driver hasn't shown any signs of declining. His versatility was on display last week against the Saints, when he caught eight passes for 153 yards.
In the first quarter, he caught a short pass, used a spin move to fake out safety Josh Bullocks and then ran by cornerback Josh Craft for a 48-yard completion.
"That route was a 4-yard pass, and he turned it into a (48)-yard gain," Jagodzinski said.
As impressive was a running, over-the-shoulder catch on a corner route in traffic for a 22-yard gain in the third quarter.
"I'd take him anyplace I'd go," Jagodzinski said. "As far as being a No. 1 receiver, yeah he is. Just take a look at his production right now. It's as good as any guy in the league."
Newly acquired receiver Koren Robinson said: "Everybody has their own opinion, but I don't know how you can say that he's not a No. 1 receiver when all the dude does is go out there and make plays like he did last week. He's our No. 1 right now, and I wouldn't contest that."
Quarterback Brett Favre clearly has a trust in and a feel for Driver that he doesn't have with any other receiver on the roster. Though Driver doesn't have a touchdown catch yet this season, he has 26 of them in his career from Favre. Only Antonio Freeman (with 57), Sterling Sharpe (41) and Robert Brooks (32) have more from Favre.
"My thing is, I love criticism," Driver said. "Criticism makes me play harder. No one thought I'd be a top receiver in this league. I think I've proven that four years in a row."
