Randall Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Another unhappy player. What a shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 I don't normally side with players in contract disputes, but in this case I think Walker is more right than wrong. While the Packers await a decision from quarterback Brett Favre about whether he intends to retire or return, wide receiver Javon Walker, who is rehabilitating the right knee he injured in last year's season opener and yet whose relationship with the organization remains fractured following the team's refusal last summer to renegotiate his contract and Favre's public criticism of Walker's holdout threat, told ESPN.com on Thursday that he has already informed the Packers of his desire to play elsewhere. Walker said he's expressed his feelings to new Packers coach Mike McCarthy, while his agent, CSMG Sports' Kennard McGuire, has asked general manager Ted Thompson, as did former Walker agent Drew Rosenhaus, to deal Walker or allow them to pursue a trade. Thompson on Wednesday denied the requests. "I just don't feel like this is the best place for me to be right now," said Walker, 27, preparing to enter his sixth pro season. "I really have no interest in being in a Green Bay Packers uniform or playing for Green Bay again." Citing recent contract squabbles with running back Ahman Green, tight end Bubba Franks, defensive lineman Grady Jackson and cornerback Mike McKenzie, as well as his own, Walker added, "I just don't like the way the organization runs itself. They want players to come up there and play hard and work hard, but when it comes time to be compensated, it's like, 'We forgot what you've done.'" The source of Walker's bitterness is the team's refusal even to discuss his contract, which at the time had two years remaining, the penultimate year of which paid him $515,000 the season after he made the Pro Bowl by catching 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. But Walker says that at this point, money is not the issue. Favre offended Walker when he spoke out against the receiver in his contract dispute, saying he should come to training camp and not hold out. (Walker heeded the advice.) Walker believes Favre's comments made living and working in Wisconsin difficult; Walker tells of one instance when he was in a hotel and an employee announced his presence on an Internet message board for "anyone who had something to say to Javon Walker." It also angered Walker that the team allowed its iconic quarterback to interfere publicly in a teammate's business with management. He held his tongue all year. "There's an unwritten rule that players stick together," said Walker, still biting his tongue on Favre for the most part. While Walker is quite adamant about not sticking around in Green Bay for the final year of his contract -- whether Favre returns or not -- he promises not to be a disruption next season, because he doesn't plan to show up at all for training camp. "If I had to go back there, I'd retire," he said. "I don't have to play." The rift is so deep and his animosity toward Favre so great that, Walker said, he is even willing if necessary to repay the Packers the prorated portion of his signing bonus, which amounts to around $850,000. "Why should I risk another year of getting beat up playing for a team that I don't want to play for? That's stupid," Walker said. Walker, who underwent surgery Oct. 7 in Houston, says his rehab at Florida State (his alma mater) is going as planned. He's sprinting and should be ready to go by training camp -- for some other team, he hopes. "I love the game," Walker said. "But I'm not going to risk what I went through this year, tearing an ACL and taking pain pills. If I'm going to go out and take hits, it's going to be for a team that I love playing for." Walker said he told McCarthy, "It's nothing against you or your staff, but it's unfair to you to have a player in your organization that doesn't want to be there." "I'm not going to grandstand," Walker said. "I just want the Packers to give me peace of mind." Reached in his office, McCarthy declined comment. Michael Smith is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 This is very interesting. this seems like there is no way walker's coming back to GB. this leaves their wr corps very thin. i wonder how this is factoring in to favre's decision. i think he was banking on having walker back. maybe this is something favre can still repair? but walker's gripe is with favre and the organization. and in this case i do agree that walker is getting the shaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 This is very interesting. this seems like there is no way walker's coming back to GB. this leaves their wr corps very thin. i wonder how this is factoring in to favre's decision. i think he was banking on having walker back. maybe this is something favre can still repair? but walker's gripe is with favre and the organization. and in this case i do agree that walker is getting the shaft. 1362168[/snapback] Favre has MADE enough WR's in his day to listen to the 1 who only had 1 good season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Ryan Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 as posted in the other thread. I understand the idea he signed a contract so live with it. But shouldnt the NFL have to live with contracts they offer too. Is it really fair to cut a player and not have to pay him what hes worth, if he cant quit that team and find another that will pay him more. I know the NFL is not the real world, but in the real world if you get fired, and are under contract you get your pay and can find another job. But the employee can also quit a job, and move onto another company for more money. Just seems like a huge double standard here. For the record I sided with the owners in the CBA, thinking the players were getting paid too much as is. But I cant agree with the owners being able to tear up contracts after they are signed to get out of them, but not allowing players the same right of leaving for more money if he deserves it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 as posted in the other thread. I understand the idea he signed a contract so live with it. But shouldnt the NFL have to live with contracts they offer too. Is it really fair to cut a player and not have to pay him what hes worth, if he cant quit that team and find another that will pay him more. I know the NFL is not the real world, but in the real world if you get fired, and are under contract you get your pay and can find another job. But the employee can also quit a job, and move onto another company for more money. Just seems like a huge double standard here. For the record I sided with the owners in the CBA, thinking the players were getting paid too much as is. But I cant agree with the owners being able to tear up contracts after they are signed to get out of them, but not allowing players the same right of leaving for more money if he deserves it. 1362289[/snapback] I'm with ya sarge. This is something i would like someone to explain to me. I'm an 'employee at will' and either i or my employer can terminate employment at any time (technically); but this doesn't seem to go both ways in the NFL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Furley Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Walker is a little lady dog too. This is getting insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebartender Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 as posted in the other thread. I understand the idea he signed a contract so live with it. But shouldnt the NFL have to live with contracts they offer too. Is it really fair to cut a player and not have to pay him what hes worth, if he cant quit that team and find another that will pay him more. I know the NFL is not the real world, but in the real world if you get fired, and are under contract you get your pay and can find another job. But the employee can also quit a job, and move onto another company for more money. Just seems like a huge double standard here. For the record I sided with the owners in the CBA, thinking the players were getting paid too much as is. But I cant agree with the owners being able to tear up contracts after they are signed to get out of them, but not allowing players the same right of leaving for more money if he deserves it. 1362289[/snapback] When a player is cut does he give back the signing bonus? I'm not trying to be a smartass, I seriously don't know. If the player keeps the entire signing bonus then I don't have a problem with teams being able to cut them. If they don't keep the signing bonus then I agree with you sarge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Dick Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Send him to KC. We'll take him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted March 10, 2006 Author Share Posted March 10, 2006 Did the Packers get any value for McKenzie? I think they set him down and work this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Did the Packers get any value for McKenzie? I think they set him down and work this out. 1363057[/snapback] They got a second-round draft pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Send him to KC. We'll take him. 1363028[/snapback] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Send him to KC. We'll take him. 1363028[/snapback] Exactly, send him to the Hawks. It would make me happy as I listen to all the whiney fans whine about a player whineing about a whiney contract from a whiney owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilthorp Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 It's really going to be tough to see the Packers suck for the foreseeable future...really tough indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted March 11, 2006 Author Share Posted March 11, 2006 (edited) Someone should instruct this guy in the correct ways to get a raise. "His agent, Kennard McGuire of Chicago, reiterated Friday what his client essentially told ESPN.com Thursday. Walker has played his final game for Green Bay. "He has made it perfectly clear that he does not want a new contract from them," McGuire said. "The mind-set is there really is no future there. This young man only wants peace of mind. He does not feel that he would have peace of mind playing there." Edited March 11, 2006 by Randall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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