_2.gif "Time.com 50 Best Websites 2008")
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Raiders receiver Javon Walker told the team on Thursday that he plans to retire. He also was prepared to return his $11 million signing bonus.
Per Mort, owner Al Davis persuaded Walker to stay with the team.
Walker reportedly has been frustrated with his performance during training camp. We previously heard that Davis regards Walker as the key to the team’s fortunes in 2008.
His career has been bizarre, to say the least. After a few so-so seasons upon entering the league as a first-round pick of the Packers, he had a breakout year in 2004. And then he wanted to be paid like an elite wideout, threatened a holdout, caved under pressure from quarterback Brett Favre, tore an ACL in Week One of the 2005 season, was traded to the Broncos in April 2006, had a solid initial season in Denver, witnessed on the night after the finale the shooting death of Darrent Williams from sufficiently close range to have possibly been hit by the bullets, missed significant chunks of 2007 with ongoing knee problems, somehow landed a huge deal with the Raiders in the offseason, and then was abducted and beaten up after a weekend of champagne-spraying in Vegas.
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
If he does retire, he can go down to Hattiesburg and give Favre an ex-teammate to play catch with. . .
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.85 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Another WR who has faltered without the benefit of Favre’s arm.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.65 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
That may be longest sentence Florio has typed in the past 4 weeks without the word Favre in it.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Other than that, not much going on.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
“We previously heard that Al Davis regards Walker as the key to the teams fortunes in 2008″
Where did you hear that Florio?!?!
Your so full of crap your breath stinks!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 9 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
@fanoffootball,another WR who has faltered without the benefit of Favre’s arm.
One Superbowl Ring, The most interceptions in the NFL,John Madden in his corner who also needs to retire.And ALOT of HYPE.
Just my opinion.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
The fact that he’d offer to give back 11 million dollars and not just half ass it for the paycheck goes to show Javon is really struggling with life right now and the offer probably warmed old man Al’s heart.
I hope Javon plays football so he can fight through his problems and not run away from them and really spiral out of control. If thats what Al wants too, I really respect what he’s trying to do acting like a human being and all.
Terrible signing by oakland and the fact that Al had a chance to get out from under the money and DIDNT goes to show that Al is either dilusional and thinks walker will make an impact this year or that he really wants to help Javon out. Probably a little of both
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Now… if somebody was working out and really trying to prepare for the season insted of partying up and getting whacked in the melon in Vegas…. maybe… just maybe…. he would be performing better in practice… but what do I know right?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Spank: That may be longest sentence Florio has typed in the past 4 weeks without the word Favre in it.
…Except that the word Favre is in it…though he hasn’t decided yet if he wants his name to appear in that sentence, or would rather accept $1.75 to not have his name in it.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
entire Raider Nation: WTF
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.85 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
i don’t know who’s dumber, Walker for wanting to give away 11 mil, or Al Davis for wanting to pay 11 mil to a guy who’s heart’s not in it.
then again, this is the Raiders, nothing to see here.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
….in related news, Al Davis reportedly has offered Walker a marketing deal to still represent the team…
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
While it is easy to make light of all the weirdness that has taken place around Javon Walker in the past year, you have to at least appreciate the integrity of what he was trying to do. He recognized he was playing poorly in camp and tried to quit and offered to give back his signing bonus. I know a lot of guys would have let it go to a grievance process to try and keep some of that bonus. I think he has integrity, but hope they can get him going in the right direction again. He seems like a decent human being who has just been beset by all sorts of unfortunate happenings that have brought him down.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Thank you Al Davis for keeping us entertained between seasons. Every few weeks the team or one of your players does something that keeps us amused.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
im gonna say it right now——–AL DAVIS is MENTALLY RETARDED, wtf is davis thinking? walker was willing to return his 11 million signing bonus, and davis could have used that bonus money to sign nnamdi asoumougha, who i recall isn’t even in camp yet, F-YOU AL DAVIS, you old crypt keeper, go drink your prune juice and retire far away from NAPA. The raiders are a mess, the ship is sinking, its time for the media to call out al davis and stop being intimidated by the raiders and their handicapped tactics. Also Javon Walker is a retarded mess, he should join shawn andrews and go on some far retreat somewhere. The NFL should drug test Al Davis and every owner who doesn’t allow players to retire and recoup bonus money.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Spank’s comment = TEH @WE$0ME!!~!!~!!!!!~~~~!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
jeezy, you don’t recall correctly, Nnamdi has been in camp since it started last week. get your facts straight before spewing from the mouth.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Little hostile aren’t you, Jeezy?
Nnamdi signed his tender and was in training camp on time. I have a hard time taking your rant seriously if you haven’t kept up with the news any closer than that. Personally, I think several of the holes have been plugged and the ship is no longer sinking. It might not be turned in the right direction yet, but I don’t think anyone is drowning.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Little hostile aren’t you, Jeezy?
Actually, Nnamdi signed his tender and was at training camp on time. I have a hard time taking your rant seriously when you don’t keep up with the news any closer than that. Personally, I think a lot of the holes have been plugged and the ship is no longer sinking. It might not be sailing in the right direction yet, but no one is drowning.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
i made a huge mistake in my earlier comment. The line about Al Davis “wanting to pay 11 mil to a guy who’s heart’s not in it” should read “wanting to pay 55 mil to a guy who’s heart’s not in it.” I was way off! Once I looked up the full contract, I just can’t stop laughing.
Go Raiders!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
rogue raider, stop being a retard and don’t repeat your post twice, and when i was referring to nnamdi’s money , i meant that al davis could have used the 11 million towards a long-term contract for nnamdi, not the franchise tender. as for crypt keeper al davis, the guy is a straight up mess, the only thing missing from raiders camp, is a barrett robbins sighting, bill romanowski punching a teammate, and jamarcus russell getting gastric bypass surgery.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
retire? no. go to jail for attempted fraud. more like it.
but… if he is in legal trouble, i can see al letting him play anyway… if productive.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
jeesy…
Asomugha (Although I liked your spelling.) IS in camp and did’nt
miss a day….
They also cannot sign him to a long term deal because he did sign his tender..
Talk about retarded…Look up your facts, spelling and NFL rule book..
Then comeback to wow us…
GFY…Dump.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
when will those drunk welfare riader fans stop painting their faces, wearing those ridiculous shoudler pads, and stop wearing pantyhose on their heads, also when are the raiders gonna finally move to los angeles.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
favre;
Its not quite as bad as it sounds. Walker actually got $11 million to sign and has salaries of $1 million in 2008, $4 million in 2009, $6 million in 2010, $8 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012 and 2013.
There is also a $5 million roster bonus which at the Raiders option to be picked up in 2009. It is in essence a three-year, $27 million contract, or a four-year, $35 million deal.
True the figure reads high but if you follow how contracts are usually done in the NFL, the last 3-4 years on that contract wouldn’t be seen unless Walker performed at pro bowl levels.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)