Sharper's line on Walker: He wants out

[DukeWoody]

Sharper's line on Walker: He wants out
By Bill Williamson
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 01/13/2008 11:38:48 PM MST

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_7963288

INDIANAPOLIS — Darren Sharper talks to Javon Walker almost daily.

He said he knows exactly what the Broncos wide receiver is feeling.

"He wants to get out of there," Sharper said Sunday during the Colts-Chargers AFC divisional playoff game, where the Minnesota Vikings safety was doing television work. "I know all about it, and he wants out. He's not happy. He wants the ball. He doesn't feel like he's part of the offense."

On Dec. 31, Walker said he didn't fit in anymore. Last week, on the Lewis and Floorwax radio show, Walker backtracked some. But Sharper said Walker's true feelings are to leave.

Still, Sharper said it's his advice for Walker to stay in Denver.

"He has a young quarterback who is good in (Jay) Cutler and has another great receiver in Brandon Marshall," Sharper said.

Walker has $5.4 million in option bonus money coming his way, and it appears the only way he will remain in Denver is by taking a major pay cut.

[Northman]

We shall see.

[Ratboy]

Yeah, Walker is a retard.

I rather sign someone who is not jealous of a better receiver and instead brace it.

[chrisp]

If walker is healthy and gets the ball next season then he'll be alright - the only thing that worries me is the need to restructure. If Shanny is prepared to keep him without a restructure then we're OK, as we are if Walker agrees to restructure, however both of those things seem unlikely right now.

If Javon's still on the team come training camp it would be madness not to get the ball to him.

(as long as he's healthy!)

[orangenblue]

His knees are trashed and he's made out of glass. He needs to take a fat paycut if he's going to be injured all the time.

[bronco_diesel]

kind of hard to get the ball when you're injured.

[Broncoman13]

Damn this is frustrating. I wish JWalk would just STFU, turn his roster bonus into a performance bonus w/playing time milestones rather than production milestones. If he's afraid that he's not going to get the ball that would be the right direction. Tell Shanny that he'll turn his roster bonus into an incentive laden contract, but based on the time he's on the field... b/c he's concerned he won't get his # called enough. If Shanny can't deal with that then Javon should leave b/c that would be in his best interest.

[BroncoBuff]

We don't know what's said behind closed doors between Shanahan and Walker ... but we know Shanhan is very calculating in press conferences, and he chooses his words very carefully. That's why I'm theorizing this:In his press conference, Mike Shanahan took the unusual step of predicting that Javon Walker might - might - need microfracture surgery in two years. Or maybe three. Actually ... maybe four years. That is a VERY unusual statement - for a conservative coach to discuss in Swami-like, highly speculative terms, a serious and scary potential surgery looming FOUR YEARS in the future?! I can't recall ever hearing such a thing really, and I'm thinking Shanahan might've been intentionaly souring Walker's free agent value to a) force a restructure, and b) punish him a bit.


Look at it this way:1. We traded for and paid him when he was hurt and nobody else would,
2. His trade value to the Broncos is shot after injuries and whining,
3. but he can still contribute mightily if he acts right.

So - faced with maybe having to release him if he won't restructure and because nobody will give us anything in a trade - Mike might've thrown out the "microfracture bomb" to further pollute the waters and limit Javon's options. It's Machiavellian as hell, but I wouldn't put it past him.

[bpc]

This act is getting old real quick.

[broncosteven]

I was big on Walker 2 years ago and Bates last year.

I hearby retire as GM for the Broncos.

[ColoradoBuff]

Maybe Sharper can get his boy to be traded to Minny and we can get our 3rd round pick back.

[rbackfactory80]

Get this guy out of here. I am so sick of hearing his name.

[Beantown Bronco]

Maybe Sharper can get his boy to be traded to Minny and we can get our 3rd round pick back.

Sharper obviously has ulterior motives. He saw the ridiculous reports about the Broncos possibly being interested in Troy Williamson and figures he'd fan the flames for a Walker for Williamson trade.

Sorry Darren. Not gonna happen.

[Ratboy]

Maybe Sharper can get his boy to be traded to Minny and we can get our 3rd round pick back.

Javon Walker for Troy Williamson

Williamson has had dropsies, but atleast he's staying healthy and is a deep threat, maybe it's just Minnesota? I'd give him a shot.

[BroncoInferno]

I don't see how he can complain about not getting the ball enough when he was hurt for the bulk of the the season. After the first two games--the only two games for which he was healthy--he near the top of the list in receptions. Get healthy and come back next season, and there will be plenty of balls to go around. Back in 2000 we had two WRs with 100+ catches AND a 1500 yard rusher--and this with Brain Griese and Frerotte at QB!

[Beantown Bronco]

Javon Walker for Troy Williamson

Williamson has had dropsies, but atleast he's staying healthy and is a deep threat, maybe it's just Minnesota? I'd give him a shot.

I just threw up all over my desk.

[HEAV]

Javon is about Javon.

No matter where he goes. He could car less about winning games or a championship.

He wants his stat's, his name, his face in the paper.

He's not about the team, he's about him.

[2KBack]

I just threw up all over my desk.

you should go to the doctor or something, that sounds serious

[bronco militia]

Still, Sharper said it's his advice for Walker to stay in Denver.

It sounds like Walker has a good friend

[Phantom]

Funny how it's the TEAM's fault he got hurt and had to move on. Then he comes back 80% and wants all the looks.

[Popcorn Sutton]

I'm no capologist but it seems to me that if Walker wants to be traded he could walk right into Shanahan's office and say I will restructure to a more cap friendly contract if you agree to trade me.

Eddie, anybody, am I wrong?

[cutthemdown]

Walker is a dumb SOB. I mean cmon you were hurt all year how can we get you the friggin ball? You had back to back 100 yrd games to start the yr then your knee let you down. It was Walkers body who betrayed him not the Broncos. These players crack me up. They think they can take a huge bonus then just say trade me. Broncos need to make an example of Walker. He stays, he plays and if it means he toasts his knee and is done then so be it. You don't get to fly out of town with Bowlens money and your bad knee. You have to be a man and rehab it and get on the field and earn your money.

[Dead Head]

"He wants to get out of there," Sharper said Sunday during the Colts-Chargers AFC divisional playoff game, where the Minnesota Vikings safety was doing television work. "I know all about it, and he wants out. He's not happy. He wants the ball. He doesn't feel like he's part of the offense."

If this really is true, then Walker is a hopeless idiot that will never amount to anything. He's been injured. He can't effing run, and he doesn't feel like he's a part of the offense? If true, he's a clown.

[HEAV]

I'm no capologist but it seems to me that if Walker wants to be traded he could walk right into Shanahan's office and say I will restructure to a more cap friendly contract if you agree to trade me.

Eddie, anybody, am I wrong?

I'm sure teams would line-up for a malcontant, injury prone, loud mouth...

[TheDave]

This act is getting old real quick.

I couldn't agree more...

[oubronco]

Javon Needs To Stfu And Look At Plaxico Burris Dude Played With A torn Tendon In His Ankle !!!

[i4jelway7]

Javon Walker for Troy Williamson

Williamson has had dropsies, but atleast he's staying healthy and is a deep threat, maybe it's just Minnesota? I'd give him a shot.

2 words for you Darius Watts

[BroncoBuff]

I'm sure teams would line-up for a malcontant, injury prone, loud mouth...
Exactly. A healthy, younger Ashley Lelie brought minimal trade value even after we bent over ten ways to Sunday to make a deal. Shanahan has given up on trading Javon, so he dropped the "microfracture surgery" bomb last week to salt the earth of Javon's free agency hopes.

He restructures, stays and acts right ... or he'll bounce around like Lelie has. At best.

[oubronco]

maybe he needs to go out in the real world and get a FUGGIN job so he can see there's nuthin going to be givin to you STFU and get your ASSSSSS to work or hit the fuggin road

[OABB]

He is an nfl wide receiver...not a monk. I expect they are all like this to some degree. my step mother is good friends with mike sherard(remember him?) and he would always complain to her about Jerry Rice and his contract stipulations. Rice demanded a certain number of balls thrown his way each game....

It's a business, and it is a performance based one. The days of a loyal athlete playing for the pure love of the game are almost gone. It is sad, but that's todays NFL.


Javon does play with passion, and he does work his but off, so at least you can get a return on the investment. and when healthy he is a bonafide top ten receiver in this league.

I believe he is playing it this way because he knows that restructure talks are in the works and he wants a payday.

his problem is, he is not being smart about it. He should restructure with a performance based contract if he wanted to get paid....that way if he is healthy he will be worth every penny, and if unable to perform, he will still have a job.

I think it will all work out...but make no mistake, we are a MUCH better team with him in the lineup. so I am praying it does.

[Dead Head]

He is an nfl wide receiver...not a monk. I expect they are all like this to some degree. my step mother is good friends with mike sherard(remember him?) and he would always complain to her about Jerry Rice and his contract stipulations. Rice demanded a certain number of balls thrown his way each game....

It's a business, and it is a performance based one. The days of a loyal athlete playing for the pure love of the game are almost gone. It is sad, but that's todays NFL.


Javon does play with passion, and he does work his but off, so at least you can get a return on the investment. and when healthy he is a bonafide top ten receiver in this league.

I believe he is playing it this way because he knows that restructure talks are in the works and he wants a payday.

his problem is, he is not being smart about it. He should restructure with a performance based contract if he wanted to get paid....that way if he is healthy he will be worth every penny, and if unable to perform, he will still have a job.

I think it will all work out...but make no mistake, we are a MUCH better team with him in the lineup. so I am praying it does.


If I were him I wouldn't move off the money either. But I wouldn't run my mouth either.

[Doggcow]

I hope he stays. He's pretty good in Madden.

[Popps]

This act is getting old real quick.

Get used to it, bro. It'll be this way until the season starts if we don't trade him. Constant speculation, constant stories that conflict each other.

This is another situation where Shanahan could come out and make some kind of statement of support, but he won't. Javon opened his mouth and even though he apologized, we all know Shanahan won't accept it. He's on Mike's ****-list and probably on his way out of town for very low value.

I hope I'm wrong. While Shanahan handles these personnel flare-ups poorly, he DOES tend to get value in trades. Maybe he'll work something out.

Again, I would prefer that our coach got a handle on this and tried to find a way to get this guy back in the fold. I'll take the risk on his injury, provided the contract is reworked.

[Orange_Beard]

What a ****ING a$$hole. **** you. You were hurt, you missed half the year.
Is Cutler supposed to throw you the ball while your on the bench?

What the **** is wrong with you?

Here is my total guess, the Bronco Doctors told him it was over for him. He does not to hear it, he is not ready to walk away...

[Beantown Bronco]

Here is my total guess, the Bronco Doctors told him it was over for him. He does not to hear it, he is not ready to walk away...

He saw significant playing time the last few weeks. He obviously wasn't in 100% game shape, but he wasn't exactly hobbling around the field. I think he'll bounce back fine from this 2nd, unrelated, issue. Whether he does that for the Broncos or not remains to be seen.

And for everyone else piling on.....let's consider the source here. This is all third party info right now....from a guy hoping to get a gig from the NFL Network or one of the other networks in the near future. He could be simply pulling a Tiki Barber trying to make a name for himself for his potential off-the-field career.

I'll wait to see if Javon has any response to this.

[Dead Head]

Also, Walker didn't say these things. Darren Sharper did.

[Los Broncos]

The writing is on the wall, he doesn't seem happy, time to cut our losses.

[2KBack]

Honestly, if this is 100% accurate, some friend Sharper is. If Walker wanted media drama surrounding his situation, he wouldn't have apologised for his earlier comments. Sharper just blew his position out of the water by making Walker out as a malcontent. Weak move Darren, Javon probably told you stuff like that in confidence.

[Dead Head]

Honestly, if this is 100% accurate, some friend Sharper is. If Walker wanted media drama surrounding his situation, he wouldn't have apologised for his earlier comments. Sharper just blew his position out of the water by making Walker out as a malcontent. Weak move Darren, Javon probably told you stuff like that in confidence.

That would be twisted if that were the case. Walker might have many doubts. there is nothing wrong with that.

[Broncos4Life]

He is an nfl wide receiver...not a monk. I expect they are all like this to some degree. my step mother is good friends with mike sherard(remember him?) and he would always complain to her about Jerry Rice and his contract stipulations. Rice demanded a certain number of balls thrown his way each game....

It's a business, and it is a performance based one. The days of a loyal athlete playing for the pure love of the game are almost gone. It is sad, but that's todays NFL.


Javon does play with passion, and he does work his but off, so at least you can get a return on the investment. and when healthy he is a bonafide top ten receiver in this league.

I believe he is playing it this way because he knows that restructure talks are in the works and he wants a payday.

his problem is, he is not being smart about it. He should restructure with a performance based contract if he wanted to get paid....that way if he is healthy he will be worth every penny, and if unable to perform, he will still have a job.

I think it will all work out...but make no mistake, we are a MUCH better team with him in the lineup. so I am praying it does.

His problem is that he spent way too much time with Lelie during that offseason. Hes being Lelie about it. Perform and get paid. Pretty simple to me. Don't perform and sit around and whine for weeks and weeks... Goodbye!

And what a douche of Sharper putting Javon even deeper in the hole bey making those comments. Javon probly put him up to it though. After hearing what Shanny said about the surgery he thinks Javon will eventually need.

[2KBack]

That would be twisted if that were the case. Walker might have many doubts. there is nothing wrong with that.

Exactly, if Javon actually said these things to his "friend," he was probably just venting frustration. Which is something we should all have the right to do.

[Florida_Bronco]

I refuse to let this effect my opinion of the situation because it did not come from Walker himself.

[bronco militia]

I'd like to see Darren Sharper in Orange and Blue.....this is the second time (Rivers/Cutler saga) he's stood up for the Broncos

[DenverBrit]

Honestly, if this is 100% accurate, some friend Sharper is. If Walker wanted media drama surrounding his situation, he wouldn't have apologised for his earlier comments. Sharper just blew his position out of the water by making Walker out as a malcontent. Weak move Darren, Javon probably told you stuff like that in confidence.

Makes one wonder who 'chased' this story down.
Burger Bill 'took the call' would be my guess.
If he chased anything, it would have to have a minimum 1000 calories and be surrounded by bread.
If Walker told Sharper in confidence, you're right, he did Walker no favors by announcing it to the world.

[Beantown Bronco]

I'd like to see Darren Sharper in Orange and Blue.....this is the second time (Rivers/Cutler saga) he's stood up for the Broncos

That made it even funnier when the network sent him into the SD locker room after the game to get the post game reaction. I couldn't believe they sent him of all people in there. I thought Rivers was gonna track him down and pull a Jim Harbaugh.

[cutthemdown]

The writing is on the wall, he doesn't seem happy, time to cut our losses.

seems like cutting our losses is the only thing we are good at now days. Broncos should be they cut losses every off season and now they do it during the season also. Shannahan fires a flunky, we cut a bunch of players, other players don't want to play here, the Broncos are going down hill and better figure out what going on or we will be looking up at Chargers for a long long time.

[yavoon]

seems like cutting our losses is the only thing we are good at now days. Broncos should be they cut losses every off season and now they do it during the season also. Shannahan fires a flunky, we cut a bunch of players, other players don't want to play here, the Broncos are going down hill and better figure out what going on or we will be looking up at Chargers for a long long time.

yah enough jettisoning. lets make lemonades out of lemons or some such thing.

[rbackfactory80]

You guys are ridiculous. Javon originally came out a looked like an idiot. Then he says his statements were out of frustration. His only intention was to help his image so other teams would be interested. It was another move for himself in a long line of them. He could care less about any organization or winning.

[kmartin575]

Don't back down Walker. Don't restructure your contract.

Besides, why would you want a retard like Cutler throwing you the ball?

[Requiem]

Don't back down Walker. Don't restructure your contract.

Besides, why would you want a retard like Cutler throwing you the ball?

You know what'd be awesome? If you got taped to a fence and Cutler got to throw footballs at your head from 10 yards away. Wouldn't that be awesome?

[TDmvp]

you bunch of drama queens LOL

[Dead Head]

Don't back down Walker. Don't restructure your contract.

Besides, why would you want a retard like Cutler throwing you the ball?

I wouldn't back down either.

[broncolife]

Damn, I cant believe I ate crow for getting Walker with our 2nd round pick.I only thought he was worth a 3rd round pick.

[Kaylore]

It's sounding more and more like this is jealousy for Marshall. That's pretty lame.

[Drek]

Is anyone really surprised that Walker doesn't feel like part of the team at this point?

One of his best friends on the roster was shot and killed a little over a year ago. He then went through a camp and off-season where the veterans he got to know last year dropped like flies around him. Ultimately he himself got hurt. When he comes back the kids are now the backbone of the team and we're not winning football games.

Imagine your best friend and co-worker dies, you get sick for several months, and when you come back all your old friends at work are gone and a bunch of new guys are in their place.

How exactly would you respond, especially when there are implications coming from your boss that you need to take a pay cut? I really doubt it'd be positive.

I'm personally giving Javon a lot of slack until we see how all this plays out. No matter how it ends though I doubt he'll entirely culpable in any resultant fallout.

[Sassy]

Is anyone really surprised that Walker doesn't feel like part of the team at this point?

One of his best friends on the roster was shot and killed a little over a year ago. He then went through a camp and off-season where the veterans he got to know last year dropped like flies around him. Ultimately he himself got hurt. When he comes back the kids are now the backbone of the team and we're not winning football games.

Imagine your best friend and co-worker dies, you get sick for several months, and when you come back all your old friends at work are gone and a bunch of new guys are in their place.

How exactly would you respond, especially when there are implications coming from your boss that you need to take a pay cut? I really doubt it'd be positive.

I'm personally giving Javon a lot of slack until we see how all this plays out. No matter how it ends though I doubt he'll entirely culpable in any resultant fallout.

You have a good point, Drek!

[Inkana7]

It's sounding more and more like this is jealousy for Marshall. That's pretty lame.

I'm jealous too.

[Ratboy]

It's sounding more and more like this is jealousy for Marshall. That's pretty lame.

I'm jealous of you. This messageboard is for you, not me. Ratboy needs a better place for Ratboy. Kaylore and myself switched posting positions on the season finale. Ratboy doesn't feel comfortable posting on Orange Mane. I don't feel like i'm apart of this place anymore.

[Hogan11]

It's sounding more and more like this is jealousy for Marshall. That's pretty lame.

I agree. It does sound as if the nose is just a bit bent.

If he stays, he should just shut his mouth and go all out in camp to reclaim the #1 WR spot. Be the Man he feels he's still capable of being.

Actions speak much louder than words...if Javon feels like he's better than Marshall and should get the majority of the balls...then don't talk about it Javon, just f'n do it.

[lex]

I agree. It does sound as if the nose is just a bit bent.

If he stays, he should just shut his mouth and go all out in camp to reclaim the #1 WR spot. Be the Man he feels he's still capable of being.

Actions speak much louder than words...if Javon feels like he's better than Marshall and should get the majority of the balls...then don't talk about it Javon, just f'n do it.

Either that or if you really want out, offer to redo your deal to make it easier. You cant have everything.

[-Slap-]

This guy has the maturity level of a nine year old. I just hope we stop catering to his bull****. I would be more than happy to get a fourth or fifth rounder back for him in this deep draft. The draft will be weaker in 2009 and his trade value isn't going to get any higher than it is right now.

[-Slap-]

Makes one wonder who 'chased' this story down.
Burger Bill 'took the call' would be my guess.
If he chased anything, it would have to have a minimum 1000 calories and be surrounded by bread.
If Walker told Sharper in confidence, you're right, he did Walker no favors by announcing it to the world.

He said he talks about it all the time. Something tells me he talks about to people besides Darren Sharper, too. Anyway, you should always watch what you say around a member of the media. Most of these guys forget all about the code of the lockerroom as soon as they get a microphone in their hands.

You know why?

Nobody would hire them if they didn't.