Donald Driver Ready to Return if Packers Call

More so than any Packer of recent vintage, Donald Driver knows how to handle PR and say the right thing.

During his charity softball outing, Driver informed the assembled media that while teams have called the retired wide receiver about making a comeback, he'd only return for one team.

"I love the game, but I only love one team," Driver said. "When you love the game, you'll play for anybody. Anybody who offers you something, you're willing to step on the field and play for them. I decided that I love one team. But I do love the game. At the end of the day, if I get that itch, it would only be for the green and gold."

For the record, I'm of the belief that playing for only one team isn't a virtue. No one begrudges Johnny Unitas for his final year in San Diego, nor will Peyton Manning's time in Denver or LaDainian Tomlinson's move to New York be held against them. It's never been a guarantee or even a safe bet to assume a player will only play with one team.

But fans don't think that way. They love their team to such a degree that the idea of one of "their players" wearing another jersey, even if their team no longer wants that player, invokes rage and other powerful emotions.

All of which is why Driver's words are perfectly selected. In reality, the Packers will not call Driver, who only caught 8 passes on 13 targets last season, to come out of retirement for them. It's even dubious whether any team would seriously consider the 38 year old wide receiver.

But fans hear Driver saying, "While I have options, I will never leave you," and it warms their hearts. This is why Driver will always have a paycheck in Green Bay, even if it isn't coming from the Packers.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Acme Packing Co. He has previously written for Lombardi Ave, College Hoops Net, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is also currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter: @JBHirschhorn