OT: Remember when the Broncos convinced Javon Walker not to visit the Pats?

[Rob0729]

Remember two years ago when the Broncos basically convinced Walker not to visit the Pats so that they couldn't work a tenative deal contract neccessary for a trade with Green Bay? The Pats passed on Walker and drafted Chad Jackson. Apparently, the love affair with Walker and the Broncos is over.

From Len Pasquerelli's Tip Notes Column:

• Walker on his way out? In terms of patching holes, especially on the defensive side of the ball, there is plenty of work awaiting Denver coach Mike Shanahan in the offseason, and one vehicle for adding to the Broncos' roster might be to subtract wide receiver Javon Walker.

The six-year veteran stopped short this week of demanding a trade but indicated he no longer believes he is a good fit in Denver's offense. Walker endured an injury-plagued season in which he missed considerable playing time and finished with only 26 receptions for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

With Walker absent from the lineup so often, Brandon Marshall emerged as the go-to receiver for quarterback Jay Cutler, and free agent Brandon Stokley did a nice job re-establishing himself as a viable player in the league before injuries slowed him toward the end of the year.

Shanahan might be inclined to agree with Walker that it's time to move on. The offseason trade market has picked up over the past four years, and the commodity most often bartered is veteran wide receivers. So look for Walker to be shopped by Denver management in coming months.

One potential sticking point to a deal: The Broncos will suffer some cap consequences if they trade Walker to another club. His cap figure for 2008 is slightly in excess of $7 million. But even taking a cap hit might be worth it to avoid the $5.4 million in bonuses that Walker is due in the offseason and to jettison a guy who no longer wants to be around anyway.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3180788

Could we get Walker this upcoming offseason for a Randy Moss type of trade?

I am betting Walker wished he got on that plane he kept on delaying and eventually canceling to come to Foxboro to meet with the Pats. I am betting Shanahan wished Walker met with the Pats before he met with the Broncos.

 

[Phokus]

We got enough receivers as it is... i say give Gaffney a chance as the #2 receiver, he's done a very nice job when he's gotten the chance.

 

[Remix 6]

adding Walker would be stupid. His contract his bigger than Stallworths i think and when he said "this isnt the situation for me but its the right 1 for Brandon Marshall.." he sounds ticked that hes not the GO TO guy or #1 Target now

definitely wouldnt work out here like that

 

[Rob0729]

adding Walker would be stupid. His contract his bigger than Stallworths i think and when he said "this isnt the situation for me but its the right 1 for Brandon Marshall.." he sounds ticked that hes not the GO TO guy or #1 Target now

definitely wouldnt work out here like that

He is probably going to have to renegotiate his deal when he gets traded. Besides, I don't think his contract is as big as you might think. He signed a 5 year, $40 million contract extention two years ago. He has already been paid about $12-13 million of it. I am not sure the option bonus due is something any team acquring him will have to pick up.

The question is what the new option bonus buys the team that owns his rights. I thought I read somewhere that the first option bonus picks up his contract until 2010. So the second option might be the final two years bringing it to 2012. The Pats may not have to pick that up if they were to trade for him and then they would have him for his salary only and for far less than Stallworth's. Granted the way the contract is structured, may require the team that owns his rights to pay the second option bonus because the first one was picked up. Without knowing the details of Walker's contract specifically the final option bonus, it is impossible to tell if he really is that expensive or not.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I dont want Walker because he is a BABY.

He wants out of any situation that doesnt fit exactly him.

If i ever see him wear a pats jersey i would spit on him.

 

[PonyExpress]

It wasn't Denver that convinced Walker not to visit the Pats. It was Deon Branch, his JuCo teammate, who didn't want Walker interfering in contract negotiations with the Pats.

 

[fnordcircle]

No seriously let's totally add a guy who has complained and made demands to be traded from every team he has been with, I cannot see this backfiring in any way whatsoever.

 

[khayos]

No seriously let's totally add a guy who has complained and made demands to be traded from every team he has been with, I cannot see this backfiring in any way whatsoever.

Absolutely, lets stay far far away from Randy Moss.

 

[holyredeemer]

WOW! Really...all I can say is WOW! If the report is true, and Walker is wanting to be traded....I mean, c'mon. Sign the guy to a huge deal. Everything goes great, as soon as he gets injured, or under performs and gets competition for his position, he'll demand a trade. Geesh, what a *****.

 

[363839]

Absolutely, lets stay far far away from Randy Moss.

Yeah Randy always wanted to be traded from EVERY team he's ever played on.
All (counts on fingers) one, two... two. All two teams.

 

[khayos]

Yeah Randy always wanted to be traded from EVERY team he's ever played on.
All (counts on fingers) one, two... two. All two teams.

Randy ... Vikings, Raiders

Javon ... Packers, Broncos

Right?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It wasn't Denver that convinced Walker not to visit the Pats. It was Deon Branch, his JuCo teammate, who didn't want Walker interfering in contract negotiations with the Pats.

And we all know how our resultant WR staffing situation affected the team in the AFCCG last January.
Yet another reason 'The Twig' is Dead To Me.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I don't see how a pick up of Walker would really make sense either:

1) Injuries. Is he the same Walker? That's a risk loaded onto the team. They will want the player to pay them to load that risk, either in dollars or in risk of receipt of dollars in return (i.e., backloading the deal)

2) "Winning" and "A ring" don't seem high on Walker's list. So it's not like you can just lure him in with the culture of the place.

3) Of course the above assumes he's motivated by money and/or personal glory. These assumptions are consistent with his career thus far. But granted, we don't know... and public perceptions do turn out to be flawed at times, as in the case of Moss and DIllon. Point taken.

4) How valuable is he to the Pats? Could we get him cheaper than a re-done Stallworth deal? Would he even be a better fit? It's quite possible that even if we signed him super cheap, he'd still be 4th or 5th on the depth chart. I can't believe I said that, but there it is - Moss, Stallworth, and Welker played fine, given that there are only so many passes you can throw. Stallworth maybe needs to acquit himself of some drops but I don't think you call him a receiver who needs replacing. And if you do? WTF, Gaffney shines every time he's in the game. So what the heck do you do with Walker?

It would have to be an "offer we can't refuse" kind of deal. The value to the team is low at high dollar values... so if he came over cheap, sure, but it would have to be way cheap. I don't think a cheap contract and a lot of bench time is what Walker's after. It would be just like being on the Broncos, but without the money.

PFnV

 

[shakadave]

Let's not worry. Our receivers should be better next year, having had more experience getting used to Brady.