BATW20

Bills trade holdout Walker to Bears in exchange for draft pick
By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
July 29, 2007

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Bills ended Darwin Walker's holdout Sunday by trading the disgruntled veteran defensive tackle to Chicago.

In exchange, the Bills received an undisclosed pick in next year's draft.

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The deal marks the second time the seven-year veteran has been traded since March, when Buffalo acquired him in a deal that sent linebacker Takeo Spikes to Philadelphia. Walker, however, had refused to report to Buffalo until the team renegotiated the remaining two years on his contract. He was scheduled to make $1.3 million this year and $1.4 million next season.

The two sides were at a deadlock in negotiations, and the Bills would have been forced to return Walker to Philadelphia if he failed to report by Aug. 5. In return, the Bills would have received a sixth-round pick from the Eagles.

Bills general manager Marv Levy was scheduled to speak to discuss the trade later in the day. Walker's agent, Albert Irby, was not immediately available.

Irby had been upset with the Bills because they were made aware Walker wanted a new contract before Buffalo completed the deal, which also sent backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb to Philadelphia.

Walker faced being fined by the Bills for missing the first three days of training camp, which opened Thursday in suburban Rochester. He also faced potential fines for missing Buffalo's three-day mandatory minicamp in June.

Walker has 26 1/2 sacks over the past five years, making him the fourth-most productive defensive tackle during that span. He's also an agile and penetrating tackle who was considered a solid fit in the Bills' defensive scheme.

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DawkinsINT

D'oh! No draft pick trade for the Eagles.

BATW20

5th round pick. Glad we moved up a round from the 6th we would have gotten from the Eagles...

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lostfan

I like it. Need another solid vet after Tank Johnson.

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krzyroone

Good move by the Bears IMO

BATW20

It works out for both teams.

The Bills weren't going to be able to get a contract done with him so instead of shipping him back to philly for a 6th rounder, we got a 5th round instead.

and the Bears pick up a solid #2 or 3 DT.

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lostfan

There's a good chance he starts actually.

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BATW20

I know. A #2 DT starts.

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lostfan

Oh, I was thinking you meant like 2nd on the depth chart behind the starting NT. My bad.

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BATW20

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