Blogs

Driver scores three 7’s with first dance

WR Donald Driver made his debut on “Dancing with the Stars” Monday night on the show’s season premiere, and he and partner Peta Murgatroyd earned a 7 from each of the three judges for their “Cha-Cha.” Their total of 21 (of a maximum 30) tied for eighth place among the 12 couples after the first night’s dances. The top score was a 26, achieved by two pairs.

Driver earned praise from the judges for his talent and enthusiasm, but he may have shown a little too much of the latter. Two of the judges criticized him for being a little too over-exuberant, but they were nonetheless impressed with his moves and command on the dance floor. The judges expressed keen interest in seeing how Driver performs as the season progresses, sounding as though they expect him to become a more refined performer.

Driver and Murgatroyd will perform again next Monday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 27, when couples begin to get voted off and the competition narrows. Fans can cast their votes for Driver at abc.com.

Jennings talks fantasy football at SXSW Interactive in Austin

Packers WR Greg Jennings was in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, serving as a panelist at SXSW Interactive. The annual interactive/film/music conference recruited Jennings to participate in a session called “Fantasy Sports: Where Does It Go from Here?”

“They wanted a player’s take and a player’s perspective on the positives and negatives of fantasy, whether we play or not, and how it’s changed our approach to the game,” Jennings told packers.com after the session ended.

Jennings seemed to hit it off with the crowd, getting big laughs from some of his stories about fantasy owners that have approached him and begged for big production from the star receiver on Sundays. When asked by a member of the audience whether he thought NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers had Jennings on a fantasy roster, Jennings matter-of-factly deadpanned, “If he does have a fantasy team, I better be on it.”

Jennings also gave his thoughts on teammate Donald Driver’s upcoming participation in the ABC hit show “Dancing With The Stars.”

“I’m loving it. I’m absolutely loving it,” Jennings said. “I probably knew before 99% of people. It’s huge for him. I think it’ll be great.”

What gives Jennings confidence in Driver?

“He has the smile and he has charisma,” Jennings said. “It’s not so much about the dancing as it is how you connect with the fans. With the following being so vast and great in Green Bay, he’s gonna knock the ball out of the park. He better win. He better bring it on.”

And what’s the next stop for Jennings? He’s heading to Africa with Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and a group of other athletes to help provide hard-of-hearing children around the world with hearing aids.

Read Mike Spofford’s story about Jennings’ upcoming trip.

Donald Driver joins ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Veteran Packers WR Donald Driver has joined the cast of the ABC hit show “Dancing with the Stars” for the upcoming season.

For the 14th season of the show, Driver will be joined by a host of other celebrities including actors Jack Wagner (“Melrose Place”) and Jaleel White (“Family Matters”), actress Melissa Gilbert (“Little House on the Prairie”), former tennis star Martina Navratilova, and Motown legend Gladys Knight, among others.

The announcement was made on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Tuesday.

Driver’s pro dancing partner for the show will be Peta Murgatroyd, who is returning for her second season on the show.

Other past or present NFL players who have appeared previously on the show include Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Jason Taylor, Lawrence Taylor, Kurt Warner, Jerry Rice, Chad Ochocinco, Warren Sapp and Hines Ward. Smith and Ward were both winners of the competition.

The new season of “Dancing with the Stars” begins on Monday, March 19, at 7 p.m. CT.

More detailed information on the complete cast of the show can be found on the “Good Morning America” website right here.