Wide receiver says he will play for the minimum in '10 Brad Biggs
The Oakland Raiders have made plenty of head-scratching moves since appearing in Super Bowl XXXVII. Too many to count. But it’s difficult to come up with one that bombed more than the addition of wide receiver Javon Walker, who pocketed $17 million for 15 receptions over the course of two seasons.
Walker batted around his two seasons in Silver and Black and more with thefootballgirl.com in an interview in which he said he’s been paid and he’s willing to play for the minimum. It’s an interview worth checking out.
“I was in an unfortunate situation in Oakland where I got put on the backburner,” Walker told the Web site. “A lot of people know that situation when you go to Oakland so it’s not to no surprise. It wasn’t the right situation for me. When I was in Denver I performed. I was in Green Bay I performed, so now you’re trying to tell me that now I’m in Oakland I can’t perform?
“I never really got a fair chance. I’m not the first athlete who went into Oakland and all of a sudden it looked like his talents have disappeared. We can all remember, you know I’m a huge fan, with Randy Moss. People thought Randy Moss was done and look what happens when he decides to leave.”
He’s right about Moss. But the problem for Walker is he hasn’t performed since 2006 in Denver when he had 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. Nice numbers. Nothing earth shattering. He was seemingly upset about his pay forever too. And then Walker drops this bombshell: He offered to repay Al Davis. Say what?
“ It wasn’t my fault because obviously the Raiders gave (the contract) to me,” Walker said. “Everybody knows how Al Davis is. What fans don’t realize is when I signed that contract I offered to give it back. I don’t take money just to take it. They said no.
“I didn’t go into Oakland like (Bernie) Madoff. Somebody has got to give it to you, and they gave it to me. Last year, they didn’t put me on the field so if anybody “made-off” it was Oakland. People were wondering why I wasn’t dressing, well you know what, I couldn’t tell you. They just decided not to utilize my talent the way it needed to be utilized.”
Walker, who was released earlier this month, said he would take a minimum contract to go out and prove he’s still got it at 31. We don’t see any takers lining up for those services at this point, and he has durability issues as well.
“Come the 2010 season people are going to say ‘Wow, this is the kid we remember,’ and I’m going to sit back and say, ‘Hey, this was always here.’”
We’ll be the first to credit him if that happens. Seems like wishful thinking. Stay tuned.
Follow me on Twitter: BradBiggs
Al made the mistake in not letting this guy walk, got paid to ride the pine.....
Old man and his EGO, wanted to watch him rot. But would play a bum like Jamarcus? LMFAO
This typifies what is wrong in Oakland. Al , living in the past as he is wont to do, saw the speed that JW had years ago, disregarded the fact that he was coming off multiple knee surgeries, and paid him an ungodly sum of money with dreams of the long ball dancing in his head.
If your grandpa made decisions 1% as bad as Al, you would take away the car keys and put him in a home, but Al is still driving a billion dollar franchise, and right into the ground. I love him because he is one of the all time NFL greats: hired the first Black head coach, hired the first Latino head coach, and was instrumental in hooking up the AFL and NFL into the league we know today, but I have to say, it's time for someone to take away the keys. Sorry Al.
Give me a break, I go to all the Home Games and this guy could not catch a cold. Do you really beleive with all the guff Al Davis took for signing this Head Case that if he could play Al Davis would not have played him.
The dude could not beat out rookies on the team. As my Father use to tell me, It takes money to buy whiskey. The dude may have had the talent but his Heart, courage and mind are the size of a pea. You should have posted the pic of the clown in front of the Tyrist Club in Vegas with his Hat turned sideways with that goofy looking grin on his face,
Many of the players today may have the talent but do not have the Heart, courage and mind to go along with it. Just look around at all the PUNKS the country is turning out today, nothing but Boys in Mens Bodies, and this cat is pure punk.
Recap:
1) "Nothing was wrongdoing on my part." What??? You're kidding right? You weren't just walking down the street and stumbled upon a bad/risky situation, you put yourself there by choice. Time after time. It's not pure coinsidence it has happened to you more than other players. It's called judgment Javon and you have none.
2)"A lot of people know that situation when you go to Oakland so it’s not to no surprise." Continues to bad mouth his former organizations. It's a pattern for him he did it to GB, Denver, now Oakland. He will do it to another organization if they're dumb enough to take a chance on him also. He's a blame placer and doesn't own up to his accountablilty.
3)"When I was in Denver I performed. I was in Green Bay I performed." 2 "decent" seasons out of 8 are nothing to brag about buddy. Whether due to injury or not the reality is you didn't perform and were an overall waste of money. You're stats are NOWHERE near that of the top receivers in the league even during your two decent years.
4)"People were wondering why I wasn’t dressing, well you know what, I couldn’t tell you. They just decided not to utilize my talent the way it needed to be utilized.” Makes no sense???
5)"That’s why if I was such a bad football player they would have let me go during training camp; they would have let me go during the season" It's called the salary cap Javon. "They didn’t because I came back 100 miles per hour, and they saw that every day." "Obviously" NOT they released you!
6)" I returned 110%." Doubt it. I can say I'm 110% too, so does it mean I am just because I said it??
7)“Yes, the thing about football right now is it’s not really about the money" That's a good one haha! I don't care if he will play for $50, I don't care if he will play for FREE I wouldn't want him as part my organization AND would never waste a roster spot for a player I can develop on him.
8)"Whatever team thinks they’re in need of a top receiver, 30 years old" Ummm who really needs a 30 year old receiver and FYI he will actually be 32 this year lol. So he said he has 5-6 years left? Hmmmm probably not going to have a 38 year old Javon on a roster, just saying.
9)"so I just want to mess up everybody’s fantasy league” What a nice thing to say! Great guy!
OVERALL INTERVIEW IMPRESSION : COCKY, EXAGGERATED, NONSENSE
If I was a GM and he would work for cheap,(remember, there is no minimum) I would bring him in.
I watched Walker for many years in Green Bay. Remember the tearful display in Oakland when Brent Gump, er, Brett Favre threw multiple touchdowns the day after his dad died? The guy making the circus catches was Javon Walker along with Donald Driver. Yup, the guy has a mouth, but take a long look at the QB's he's had at Oakland. If he'll work cheap with a good QB, I think you will find a productive receiver and well worth the risk.
OK Let's get things clear! Javon did not offer a refund to the Raiders for his poor performance over the past 2 years so stop giving him credit for being a stand up guy, he SAID he offered to refund his signing bonus at the BEGINNING of his contract because he changed his mind and wanted to retire at that time so stop giving him credit for being a martyr and nice guy what he said got misconstrued into that he offered them their money back now. NO THAT IS NOT WHAT HE DID.
OK Let's get things clear! Javon did not offer a refund to the Raiders for his poor performance over the past 2 years so stop giving him credit for being a stand up guy, he SAID he offered to refund his signing bonus at the BEGINNING of his contract because he changed his mind and wanted to retire at that time so stop giving him credit for being a martyr and nice guy what he said got misconstrued into that he offered them their money back now. NO THAT IS NOT WHAT HE DID.
Also look at the article I posted below from 08 he denied doing and saying that after it was reported he wanted to retire at the time and now he's saying he DID say it. He's a crazy that's all. See 2008 article and spread the word so sites can stop reporting inaccurate postive information about how honest and charitable he is --- http : //w w w. usatoday. c o m/sports/football/nfl/raiders/2008-08-03-javon-walker_N.htm
Don't get me wrong, I like McNabb. He's a good, mostly solid QB. But he has injury issues, unlike Marino and Manning, and he's well-known for looking pretty crappy at times, flat-out missing receivers.
so can any one tell me cause me and my husband is at disagreement about this is he gonna get paid the whole 55millions for doing nothing cause my husband said that the contract mean he still get it i think not i feel sorry for him but no one should get paid that type of money for nothing
John McNulty moved to QB coach
Schiano working to fill out staff
QB coach may leave after being...
A look at the most impressive...
Police bring him in after traffic...
Mar 31, 2010
08:10 PM
Who bites the hand that feeds him. Al Davis made a huge mistake in signing him, thinking he still had skills to perform and refused the payback cause he still believed. No wonder this fool got knocked out in Vegas. It's just flat out disrespectful!