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Walker pushing for a merit raise
Receiver wants top pay based on '04
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
[email protected]
Posted: May 13, 2005
According to Javon Walker, the Green Bay Packers have not budged on their refusal to renegotiate his contract, but that has not altered the Pro Bowl receiver's resolve to be one of the highest-paid players at his position.
Walker, in town to host his celebrity softball game Saturday at Miller Park, told the Journal Sentinel Friday evening that the Packers had not responded to proposals that he and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have submitted for a renegotiated contract. It has been almost three months since Rosenhaus informed the Packers that Walker wanted a new deal, but almost no progress has been made.
"There's been nothing in response," Walker said. "Their attitude is they're going to do something when they're ready."
Asked if he thought the Packers were holding firm against upgrading his contract because two years are left on it, Walker said, "Yes, I'm guessing so.
"I think it's something they're not really concerned about right now. I think it's something they want to do on their terms. I have to respect that, so I have to do what I have to do on my terms."
Walker's response to the team's refusal to address his contract has been to boycott off-season workouts, including a mandatory three-day minicamp last month. The Packers have no idea whether Walker will return without a new contract and Walker was evasive when asked several times about whether he would attend a voluntary minicamp next month or report for training camp in July.
Packers officials were not available for comment.
While back in the state, Walker has been conducting a series of interviews to get his point of view across to Packers fans, many of whom have turned against him because of his stance. Walker said he anticipated the backlash because "fans look at it from the football side."
But, he said, he and Rosenhaus have to look at it from a business side. He said his major reason for skipping the camp was to avoid an injury that would squash his chances of getting a new deal. He said careers were so tenuous in the National Football League because of the injury factor that every player has to strike when his value is the highest.
At the heart of Walker's demand for a new deal is his contention that he has established himself as an elite receiver. Walker had a breakout season last year with 89 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, good enough to earn him his first Pro Bowl selection.
Walker has a base salary of $515,000 with no other compensation due him this season as part of the six-year, $7.485 million contract he signed three years ago (the final year will be voided). In 2006, he's scheduled to receive a $650,000 base salary plus up to $1 million more in compensation from an escalator clause depending on his cumulative statistics over the first four years of the deal.
In his mind, his Pro Bowl season and near-league-leading statistics earned him elite status among NFL receivers and the right to demand a commensurate salary. He said teams had the right to cut players without pay if their performance slips and he thinks players have the right to ask for more when they have outperformed their contracts.
"It should be amongst the top five," Walker said of his salary. "That's how everyone bases it, to be at least in the tops. I don't think I'm even in the top 20."
Walker faces an uphill battle because he has two years left on his contract. There isn
Receiver wants top pay based on '04
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
[email protected]
Posted: May 13, 2005
According to Javon Walker, the Green Bay Packers have not budged on their refusal to renegotiate his contract, but that has not altered the Pro Bowl receiver's resolve to be one of the highest-paid players at his position.
Walker, in town to host his celebrity softball game Saturday at Miller Park, told the Journal Sentinel Friday evening that the Packers had not responded to proposals that he and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have submitted for a renegotiated contract. It has been almost three months since Rosenhaus informed the Packers that Walker wanted a new deal, but almost no progress has been made.
"There's been nothing in response," Walker said. "Their attitude is they're going to do something when they're ready."
Asked if he thought the Packers were holding firm against upgrading his contract because two years are left on it, Walker said, "Yes, I'm guessing so.
"I think it's something they're not really concerned about right now. I think it's something they want to do on their terms. I have to respect that, so I have to do what I have to do on my terms."
Walker's response to the team's refusal to address his contract has been to boycott off-season workouts, including a mandatory three-day minicamp last month. The Packers have no idea whether Walker will return without a new contract and Walker was evasive when asked several times about whether he would attend a voluntary minicamp next month or report for training camp in July.
Packers officials were not available for comment.
While back in the state, Walker has been conducting a series of interviews to get his point of view across to Packers fans, many of whom have turned against him because of his stance. Walker said he anticipated the backlash because "fans look at it from the football side."
But, he said, he and Rosenhaus have to look at it from a business side. He said his major reason for skipping the camp was to avoid an injury that would squash his chances of getting a new deal. He said careers were so tenuous in the National Football League because of the injury factor that every player has to strike when his value is the highest.
At the heart of Walker's demand for a new deal is his contention that he has established himself as an elite receiver. Walker had a breakout season last year with 89 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, good enough to earn him his first Pro Bowl selection.
Walker has a base salary of $515,000 with no other compensation due him this season as part of the six-year, $7.485 million contract he signed three years ago (the final year will be voided). In 2006, he's scheduled to receive a $650,000 base salary plus up to $1 million more in compensation from an escalator clause depending on his cumulative statistics over the first four years of the deal.
In his mind, his Pro Bowl season and near-league-leading statistics earned him elite status among NFL receivers and the right to demand a commensurate salary. He said teams had the right to cut players without pay if their performance slips and he thinks players have the right to ask for more when they have outperformed their contracts.
"It should be amongst the top five," Walker said of his salary. "That's how everyone bases it, to be at least in the tops. I don't think I'm even in the top 20."
Walker faces an uphill battle because he has two years left on his contract. There isn