Javon wants out of Denver?

[Randall]

Javon Walker: Broncos are "not for me"

By Bill Williamson The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 12/31/2007 01:30:48 PM MST

 

 

 

Javon Walker dropped the first bomb of the Broncos' offseason this morning.

 

 

In a rambling briefing with the press, Walker essentially said he longer wants to be with the Broncos.

"It's not for Javon," Walker said. "It's not for me."

 

Walker bounced and back and forth and said that he'll do whatever the Broncos decide but he concluded by saying that being here is not for him.

 

Walker even suggested a return to Green Bay. The Broncos acquired him from the Packers in April 2006 for a second round draft choice.

Walker was unhappy with the Packers when he was dealt.

 

Walker missed seven games this season with a knee injury and second-year player Brandon Marshall flourished, catching 102 balls.

 

Walker said that the offense is centered around Marshall now and he is happy for his teammate.

 

Walker has $5.4 million in option bonus money coming to him this year and the team was planning on keeping him. However, after his bombshell, the team will likely seriously consider parting ways.

[Chief Dick]

I used to think he was a pretty good guy but it's becoming clear he's a wanker.

[Sturphy]

Bahahahah... awesome. All the crap he put us through. I can't see TT taking him back. He was a menace to the franchise and a major distraction. I've never done a bigger 180 on a player than him. Loved him, then hated him.

[MTSuper7]

I used to think he was a pretty good guy but it's becoming clear he's a wanker.

 

+1 - typically anyone who refers to himself in the third person is a tool.

[Randall]

I used to think he was a pretty good guy but it's becoming clear he's a wanker.

 

 

I'm not so sure. Darrent Williams died in his arms and he may just want to leave. There may be more to this than we know.

[Chief Dick]

I'm not so sure. Darrent Williams died in his arms and he may just want to leave. There may be more to this than we know.

 

That's true.

[Randall]

There is this about Brandon Marshall-

 

When Marshall arrived at a downtown Denver nightclub on New Year's Eve to join a party he, Williams and Walker were co-hosting with some Denver Nuggets, he saw a long line outside and asked the bouncer to let him bypass it. He pointed out his name was on a flier advertising the party.

 

Someone in line shouted out, "You're not the only one with money," according to Marshall.

 

"Me, knowing the situation and knowing my environment, I made a joke out of it. I said, 'Well, if you have money, too, then the drinks are on you tonight,' " Marshall says. "So one of his friends started laughing, and we were laughing about it, but there was one guy that just kept that serious face."

 

Marshall says he convinced the bouncer to let the group in with him. Members of the group confronted Williams later in the night after being sprayed with champagne, according to the Real Sports report. Marshall says he and others intervened. "They said what they had to say, and they walked away," Marshall says.

 

After the club closed, Marshall says he stayed inside for about 20 minutes to let the crowd clear. But when he left, he found everyone still outside. Members of the group Marshall met at the beginning of the night were flashing gang signs, he says. Williams, who was 24, encouraged his teammates and their friends to leave, but Marshall exchanged words with the group.

 

"This is where I feel like I was wrong," he says. "The whole night I kept my cool, and 75% of the time, 75% out of 100, I was in the right. This 25% I felt like was wrong because I fed back into it. I fueled their fire."

 

Asked whether he's shouldering a sense of responsibility for the shooting that ensued, Marshall leans in, drops his head and says: "There's things that are messing with me still, but I think I'm a strong enough person to know that it was a tragic event. I'm strong enough that I can work through it within myself."

 

He's working through some of it between the sidelines. Ask his coaches and teammates the difference between this season and last, when the fourth-round draft pick had 18 of his 20 catches and 287 of his 309 yards in the final seven games, and they use words such as "growing up" and "maturity."

 

"We've known he had the ability to do what he's done," assistant head coach Mike Heimerdinger says. "It's just a matter of whether he was going to do it or not. Having talent has never been a question with Brandon. He's got the size and the speed and the talent."

 

Now he also has the drive. Williams and Nash might not be on his wrist, but they are on his mind.

 

"When I catch a ball, I'm catching a ball because I know that's how Darrent caught a pick," Marshall says. "When I catch a ball and run with it, I'm running with it the way Nash ran with the ball — with just the attitude that no one's going to stop me, no one's going to take me down."

 

Marshall was the last Bronco to see Nash alive. He accepted Nash's invitation to play in a charity basketball game Nash arranged at his suburban St. Louis high school to benefit heart transplant research. Nash's brother Darris had a heart transplant in 2006.

 

Nash, who was 24, caught good-natured grief from Marshall and others for not playing strong defense in the game. He benched himself after the game got close, Marshall says.

 

After the game, Marshall joined about 20 of Nash's family and friends, including Nash's wife, Judy White-Nash, and then 7-month-old daughter Phaith, at Nash's house. Nash was in a bedroom.

 

"I remember someone saying — I don't remember if it was his cousin or his brother — 'Man, Nash passed out.' Everybody was all nonchalant about it, thinking he just was dehydrated or fatigued a little bit," Marshall says.

 

After a few minutes, people began entering the bedroom to find out what was happening.

 

"All we could do was just get together and pray and do whatever we knew best to revive him," Marshall says. "All I could do was just hold his wife and tell her everything would be all right. No one thinks a guy in shape like him at the age of 24 would just fall and leave us like that."

 

An autopsy found Nash's death was due to natural causes of "cardiac origin," although it did not determine the exact cause.

 

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...shall-nfl_N.htm

[Jackass]

Based on the circumstances, i really can't blame him for wanting out.

[Skilly]

Lord how I miss the days of Easy Ed and Rod Smith...just hard working dudes who caught the football and played for the TEAM.

 

Buh bye Javon.

[AtomicCEO]

I'm not so sure. Darrent Williams died in his arms and he may just want to leave. There may be more to this than we know.

 

That was my first thought. A lot of shtuff has gone down in his time in Denver, and although he says the right things to the media, I can't believe that he doesn't have some lingering issues with Marshall.

[ts]

"Walker said that the offense is centered around Marshall now and he is happy for his teammate."

 

Geez, they want to focus the passing game around a talented healthy guy? Who'd have expected that?

[Donutrun Jellies]

+1 - typically anyone who refers to himself in the third person is a tool.

Mr. T would be the exception to this rule.

 

Walker should just slink out quietly if he can't handle Marshall being the man ... somebody might take him ...

[Randall]

Mr. T would be the exception to this rule.

 

Walker should just slink out quietly if he can't handle Marshall being the man ... somebody might take him ...

 

 

I seriously doubt that's the issue. It seems more likely Marshall was involved with the guys that killed Williams and that's what bothers him. He didn't mind being the #2 behind Rod Smith or Driver in GB. You have him pegged wrong. He's no TO.

 

I feel sorry for you guys that think everyone is like TO.

[BumpNRun]

I seriously doubt that's the issue. It seems more likely Marshall was involved with the guys that killed Williams and that's what bothers him. He didn't mind being the #2 behind Rod Smith or Driver in GB. You have him pegged wrong. He's no TO.

 

I feel sorry for you guys that think everyone is like TO.

Randall, I have noticed you bring a great wealth of knowledge to the boards.....

[ROYALWITCHEESE]

Walker is finished. Not in the sense of an NFL player, but in the sense of the "stud' he once was for a couple of seasons. Was Favre the reason? Sure seems that way.

 

It is painfully obvious that he has never fully recovered from his initial ACL tear and surgery. Recurrent surgeries only make things worse, and he has had many and will surely have many more before all is said and done.

 

He realizes he is not as good as Marshall anymore, and thus has no chance to reclaim the #1 receiver spot from him. Now he wants out. He will get his wish, because the Broncos can't afford TWO grossly overpaid players (Henry). He will go and be a mediocre shadow of his former self for another franchise.

 

He is a rich man's Jerry Porter...

Edited January 1, 2008 by ROYALWITCHEESE

[tomfin2000]

I'm still in the camp that wants to give Walker the benefit of the doubt. He's had a tough year. We've already talked about what he's had to deal with off the field, and I get the sense that he's had a very difficult time, mentally and emotionally, dealing with his knee acting up again. This is a guy that desperately wanted to have a great season this year, and I think what we're hearing in that interview is sheer frustration, not with the Broncos organization itself, but with what he's had to deal with on and off the field.

 

In that respect, is there anyone here that hasn't had a bad year and just felt like skipping town and getting a fresh start somewhere else?

 

My guess is that unless Walker has serious personal issues with Marshall, this gets worked out and he remains a Bronco next year. I'd be surprised if he didn't have to restructure his contract in order to stay though.

 

Until I see some more evidence that he truly is a self centered prima donna, I'm pulling for him to have a great season next year, whether it's in Denver or somewhere else.

[whomper]

+1 - typically anyone who refers to himself in the third person is a tool.

 

 

Whomper agrees

[whomper]

Lord how I miss the days of Easy Ed and Rod Smith...just hard working dudes who caught the football and played for the TEAM.

 

Buh bye Javon.

 

 

Easy Ed and Rod Smith with Shannon Shapre..Dems some weapons..Mcafrey caught and held onto a ball on Monday night once while breaking his leg in the process..Easy Ed and Rod Smith were awesome guys

[piratesownninjas]

I seriously doubt that's the issue. It seems more likely Marshall was involved with the guys that killed Williams and that's what bothers him. He didn't mind being the #2 behind Rod Smith or Driver in GB. You have him pegged wrong. He's no TO.

 

I feel sorry for you guys that think everyone is like TO.

Javon Walker has always been a bitch. He didn't light the world on fire in his first two seasons with the pack, then has a career year and threatens to hold out. He is not a team player. He never will be a team player. The way he handled himself near the end in Green Bay is unforgivable as far as an organization. He had very few skins on the wall and was acting as if he was annual pro-bowler. As far as being the no.2 Walker was never the no.2 behind Rod Smith. In 06 Walker had 1000 yards compared to Rod Smith's 52 receptions for 500 yards and a few t.d.'s. I also don't believe that he was behind Driver as a no.2. I think they were an X and Z... Not a 1 and 2.

Walker has done very little to show any sort of class, outside of the Williams tragedy. He has constant diarrea of the mouth. What has he done to show you that he's anything different than TO? Other than TO being ten times the receiver Walker is.

[Chavez]

I'm still in the camp that wants to give Walker the benefit of the doubt. He's had a tough year. We've already talked about what he's had to deal with off the field, and I get the sense that he's had a very difficult time, mentally and emotionally, dealing with his knee acting up again. This is a guy that desperately wanted to have a great season this year, and I think what we're hearing in that interview is sheer frustration, not with the Broncos organization itself, but with what he's had to deal with on and off the field.

 

In that respect, is there anyone here that hasn't had a bad year and just felt like skipping town and getting a fresh start somewhere else?

 

My guess is that unless Walker has serious personal issues with Marshall, this gets worked out and he remains a Bronco next year. I'd be surprised if he didn't have to restructure his contract in order to stay though.

 

Be that as it may, there's a lack of context - granted, it says it was a "long, rambling" interview, but wouldn't an issue like this - "Hey, I am just not feeling it" - be better addressed to the coach and/or GM before airing it in public?

 

At best, it shows an amazing lack of common sense.

[Sgt. Ryan]

I seriously doubt that's the issue. It seems more likely Marshall was involved with the guys that killed Williams and that's what bothers him. He didn't mind being the #2 behind Rod Smith or Driver in GB. You have him pegged wrong. He's no TO.

 

I feel sorry for you guys that think everyone is like TO.

 

This is all about Walker, nothing else. You can twist this anyway you want, but Walker is a pompus punk Wr like the rest of them. He forced a trade out of GB, because he wanted more money, while still having a contract. Now he isnt the man in Denver, and he wants out, but not to the tune of taking a pay cut. No one will pay Walker the money he is owed in Denver, if they dont cut his ass. So a trade is the only way he can save face, but he doesnt want to force the issue and get cut, and lose what money he is due. walker is proving to be a joke.

 

Walker couldnt carry TO's jock. Dont ever compare Javon Walker to TO, that is like comparing Cedric Benson to LT.

[tosberg34]

This is all about Walker, nothing else. You can twist this anyway you want, but Walker is a pompus punk Wr like the rest of them. He forced a trade out of GB, because he wanted more money, while still having a contract. Now he isnt the man in Denver, and he wants out, but not to the tune of taking a pay cut. No one will pay Walker the money he is owed in Denver, if they dont cut his ass. So a trade is the only way he can save face, but he doesnt want to force the issue and get cut, and lose what money he is due. walker is proving to be a joke.

 

Walker couldnt carry TO's jock. Dont ever compare Javon Walker to TO, that is like comparing Cedric Benson to LT.

 

Agreed. We here in WI are glad his ass is gone. Sorry you have to go thru this in Denver.

[rajncajn]

Say what you will, but I'd love to see him lined up opposite Colston next year provided his knee holds out.

[Randall]

Say what you will, but I'd love to see him lined up opposite Colston next year provided his knee holds out.

 

 

He had a good year last year. What happened?

 

Well going back to the trade...

 

While TT did select Jennings, the trade for Walker resulted in...

 

The 37th pick. Thompson later traded the 37th pick and his fifth-round selection (No. 139) to Atlanta for second-, third- and fifth-round picks. Thompson then continued to wheel and deal and turned those picks into five total.

 

That group wound up being offensive guard Daryn Colledge in Round 2, cornerback Will Blackmon (fourth round), safety Tyrone Culver (sixth), quarterback Ingle Martin (fifth) and Johnny Jolly(sixth). Whether that group can match Walker's production from this point forward remains to be seen.

 

 

Nice job Ted.

[rajncajn]

He had a good year last year. What happened?

Colston or Walker? Colston had a great year by anyone's standards. Sure he had a slow start, but he sure did kick it up a few notches once he did get started. Walker was hurt all year...so I really don't know what you're trying to say.