Walker wants out of Denver for a lot of reasons

By Chris Cluff  |   Tuesday, January 01, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

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Javon Walker said he doesn't think the Denver offense is a good fit for him, and he predicted that he would not be a part of the Broncos' plans in 2008. "It's not that they don't want me here, but I just don't think it's the best fit for me," Walker told reporters, adding that he would not seek a trade but also didn't think he should come back.

The Broncos obtained Walker in a trade with Green Bay in 2006, and he played well that season even though he was coming off reconstructive knee surgery. He had a third knee surgery this season and missed, in effect, nine games. During that time, second-year receiver Brandon Marshall turned into Denver's top pass catcher, finishing with 102 catches for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns.

Walker is scheduled to be paid about $7.5 million in 2008, and he said he would not take a pay cut because he feels he can return to Pro Bowl form next year and erase memories of this injury-plagued season that saw him catch just 26 passes for 287 yards and no touchdowns.

Commentary: Walker obviously can see himself becoming second fiddle in Denver; but, more than that, he probably wants to get away from Denver so he can move on from the traumatic events of last New Year's Eve, when teammate Darrent Williams was shot and died in Walker's arms.

Fantasy Football Impact: If Walker returns, the Broncos would have a stellar trio, including No. 3 WR Brandon Stokley. Other teams have done well with two No. 1 fantasy options -- Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and Cincinnati's Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- so there is no reason Walker can't coexist with Marshall. We'll see whether the Broncos agree or whether they will accommodate Walker by trading or releasing him.
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About Chris Cluff

Chris Cluff spent 10 years as an editor and sportswriter for The Seattle Times. He was a key figure in the newspaper's coverage of the Seahawks, particularly during their Super Bowl run in 2005. He also has written two books on the Seahawks: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding, ...
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