http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=419641
Packers could trade wide receiver today
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 28, 2006
At some point today, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson will have a decision to make.
Take the best offer and trade Javon Walker or dig in and prepare for a long, drawn-out battle with the fifth-year receiver.
Walker was in Denver Friday to undergo an exam on the anterior cruciate ligament he tore in his right knee last September and, according to a source close to him, was expected to make other visits before the draft starts today. The NFL Network reported the additional visits were the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, who met with Walker in the Boston area late Friday, raising the number of teams that have examined Walker to four.
The Patriots and Eagles join the Broncos and New Orleans Saints as the teams most interested in Walker.
As of late Friday night, the source close to Walker said no deal had been made.
Thompson has stood firm in his desire to receive at least a first-round pick for the disgruntled receiver, who has vowed never to play for the Packers again. But a combination of picks - current and perhaps future - or picks and a player are in play, and it's possible the Packers' GM could deem that enough compensation to trade Walker.
The big question is with so little time left before the draft starts, can Walker and his agent, Kennard McGuire, hammer out a contract extension that would guarantee the team that acquires him he would be around for more than just one year? Walker has one year left on his contract at a base salary of $1.125 million and wants an extension that would make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league.
The Packers have had extensive discussions with the Broncos and Saints, who both have high second-round picks, but the Packers have been firm about wanting a first. When the Packers tried to push for the Saints to include receiver Donte' Stallworth in the compensation package, the Saints balked, a National Football League source said.
The Broncos might be the most interested team, but they appear to be willing to give up only one of their second-round picks and receiver Ashley Lelie. The Packers are not interested in Lelie and are apparently waiting for a better offer.
A prominent agent who has dealt with the Packers on deals in the past couple of years said Thompson wouldn't let Walker get away for less than what he really wanted. He said perception would be a big part of his consideration.
"I can see a second or third this year and another pick next year depending on how much he plays," the agent said. "But in the NFL, these guys are not trying to do deals that are fair for both sides. Teams want to win."
If the Packers don't trade Walker, they are in for a protracted dispute that could last all the way into the second half of the season. Walker needs only to play the final six games of the season to earn his year of credit and become a free agent after the season, so he could possibly sit out the first 10 games.
However, he would be in breach of his contract and the Packers could fine him $6,000 a day and force him to repay a quarter of his $1.3 million option bonus paid in 2003. They also could label him the franchise player at a cost of about $7 million after the season to prevent him from signing with another team in free agency.
Javon given permission to seek trade
They won't do that though.
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