Packers bid farewell to Driver

GREEN BAY - Donald Driver has long been a fan favorite, and Wednesday got the send-off he desired and deserved in front of a standing room only crowd at Lambeau Field.
   
Donald delivered a stirring speech as he heads into retirement.

• Photos: Donald Driver retirement ceremony

The folks talking about Donald seemed to look at him as a family member, and Driver got most emotional when talking about his own family.

"To my mothers, Momma Jack, thank you for always loving and supporting me. To my mom, thank you for the love, for instilling in me to always follow my dreams. Life is what it is, and whatever it may be. Life without you in my life is nothing. I love you,” said Donald Driver, former Packers wide receiver.

"Just to spend time with the family. Almost made it. I'm talking about the husband, I'm talking about the father, I’m talking about the friend,” said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

Driver was surrounded by family, his wife Betina at his side, and his extended Packers family, fans taking up every bit of space in the atrium, former teammates like Jordy Nelson.
    
The tribute included a video, and many famous well-wishers.

"It's been a great pleasure getting to know you over those years, it goes without saying you will truly be missed by all the Green Bay Packer community,” said Bart Starr, former Packers quarterback.

• Video: Actor Phil Morris talks about Donald Driver

This kind of scene, all the people…Not one you could have predicted for an unheralded guy back in 1999. But those who remember his very first training camp saw something in the kid from Alcorn State, who may have lacked something in size.

"He shows up, he is skinny, skinny, guy. Good player, but he's a skinny guy…What we were seeing wasn't something you can define so much, just a special quality a player had…You could see the joy Donald had in playing the game,” said Packers general manger Ted Thompson.

“Out of nowhere, here comes Donald Driver, makes a big catch, you could see right away this guy definitely belongs,” said McCarthy.

“Success has not changed me. I’m the same skinny kid that walked in in 1999, I'll be the same skinny kid, well, grown man that walks out in 2013. Nothing changes for me,” said Driver.

Every speaker Wednesday, of course the fans you talked to seemed to have a favorite Donald Driver moment…So I asked Driver his favorite moment.
    
He said, “All of them.” But running out of the tunnel in the Super Bowl tops the list, though I'm sure Wednesday won't be too far behind.