Broncos have tough decision to make about Walker
ENGLEWOOD - Receiver Javon Walker said Monday he doubted he will be back with the Denver Broncos in 2008.
The Broncos still have the final say. Walker is under contract with the team until 2011. If the Broncos decide to pay him a pair of option bonuses this offseason that total $4.4 million, he doesn’t have much choice.
“It depends on them,” Walker said. “Whatever helps them out.”
Walker made some inflammatory comments Monday, saying he doesn’t fit in Denver’s offense. He never demanded to be traded or let go and avoided a question about whether he would do that.
Because Walker’s first bonus this offseason isn’t due until March 31, the Broncos can spend some time weighing their options. Walker has a $2 million option bonus due at the end of March. He has a $2.4 million option bonus due on June 15. Walker has another $1 million option bonus due on Dec. 15.
His base salary will be $2.1 million in 2008. In 2009 his salary rises to $5.6 million. Walker is due $5.85 million in 2010 and $6.7 million in 2011.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is scheduled to meet with the media Monday. Walker’s agent, Kennard McGuire, didn’t return messages.
Trading Walker won’t be easy. He missed most of the 2005 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his his right knee, an injury that required surgery. He had problems with the same knee this year and had minor surgery Oct. 19.
Although Walker insisted that the problems in his knee this year were not related to his ACL surgery, he has missed 23 games over the past three seasons with knee problems. He has $5.4 million in pending bonuses this year and more than $20 million in base salary remaining on his contract, and many teams would probably be wary of taking that on considering Walker’s knee problems.
There would be a significant cap hit for releasing Walker. He has about $8 million in prorated amounts remaining on his deal, which would be added to Denver’s salary cap total if he is cut.
The Broncos have to decide whether to pay Walker $7.5 million in bonuses and salary next season after he had 67 yards in the season’s final 14 weeks. Walker has said he doesn’t want to take a pay cut.
Denver’s offense would benefit from a healthy Walker. Brandon Stokley could start opposite Brandon Marshall, but Stokley is at his best as a third receiver. A trio of Marshall, Walker and Stokley would give Denver three receivers who have a 1,000-yard season in their career.
Last month, Shanahan acknowledged that Walker’s 2007 struggles were because of his midseason knee surgery.
“Any time you’re gone after surgery as long as he’s been, six weeks, and try to come back, it’s tough,” Shanahan said Dec. 10.
Walker has said he is confident he will put up big numbers next season, after he has a chance to rest his knee for a while.
“Regardless of whether I’m included here or somewhere else, I’ll be included somewhere,” Walker said. “I know what I can do.”
