Donald Driver faces uncertain future

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and trainer Mike McCarthy both enjoy watching veteran wide receiver Donald Driver compete on “Dancing With the Stars.”
There is no promise he’ll be on the roster by the time training camp rolls around.

Driver is the leading receiver in contract history with 735 catches for 10,060 yards. But he turned 37 in February and said after the Packers’ playoff loss to the New York Giants that he wasn’t convinced whether the team would bring him back for the final year of his contract.

Asked about Driver’s future Saturday, Thompson stopped short of guaranteeing that Driver’s spot was safe.
“I would never speculate on something like that,” Thompson said. “He’s dancing right now. Doing well, too.”

McCarthy said there was “no reason to speculate on that.”

But, McCarthy did say he and his family are having fun watching Driver’s dancing.

“Of course,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t comprehend it was such a tough thing for a man that they ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ And if I’m not at home, we have to DVR it and watch it as a family. We’re rooting him on and voting eight times like you’re supposed to. He’s doing a immense job — keeping in shape, that’s for sure. 

Not that that was ever a problem with Donald. It’s a great experience for him and his family.”

The Packers previously have made tough decisions on two veteran players in the past week, releasing security Nick Collins and left tackle Chad Clifton.

Clifton is coming off an injury-filled 2011 season, and the team was concerned about Collins’ capability to return from a season-ending neck injury.

“That is something you never get used to,” McCarthy said. “That was a hard week starting with Chad on Monday and Nick, both with medical situations that led to that conclusion.”

McCarthy said Collins’ decision was mainly personal.

“Ted Thompson and I sat down and the last question gets asked: If Nick was your son, would you let him play?”

McCarthy said. “So that’s why we made the decision we did.”