Raiders give Walker huge deal

yupchagee · Post by **yupchagee** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:56 pm

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency/story?id= ... nfirm=true

Raiders give receiver Walker six-year, $55 million deal
NFL.com Wire Reports

The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent wide receiver Javon Walker to a stunning six-year, $55 million deal that includes $27 million in the first three years and $16 million guaranteed, reports NFL Network's Adam Schefter.

Javon Walker, WR

Career Statistics:
Receptions: 252
Yards: 3,815
Average: 15.1
Touchdowns: 30
The deal is staggering when you consider the contract the record-setting Randy Moss received from the New England Patriots on Monday: $27 million over three years.

Since last Thursday, the Raiders have doled out more than $144 million in contracts to defensive tackle Tommy Kelly ($50.1 million), safety Gibril Wilson ($39 million), and Walker ($55 million).

The final one came Tuesday night, when the Raiders and Walker's agent, Kennard McGuire, agreed to a deal that instantly became the talk of the league as the single-most stunning free-agent contract this off-season -- maybe ever.

Denver severed ties with Walker late last week. The Broncos tried to trade Walker, but couldn't find any takers and released him to avoid having to pay him a $5.4 million option bonus on Tuesday.

Upset with his contract in Green Bay and Brett Favre's public criticism of his threatened holdout, Walker came to Denver from the Packers in a draft day trade in 2006.

Walker bounced back from a torn knee ligament that wiped out most of his 2005 season, piling up 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns on 69 catches in 2006. But hours after the season ended, teammate Darrent Williams was slain in a drive-by shooting and slumped into Walker's arms in the back of a stretch Hummer.

Walker started out last season with two 100-yard games but missed two months after a third operation on his right knee. He was supplanted by Brandon Marshall as the team's top receiver.

Also on Tuesday, the Raiders reached agreement with former San Francisco offensive tackle Kwame Harris on a three-year, $16 million deal.

This sets a bad precedent for other WR signings.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:12 am

RAIDERS GET DEFENSIVE ABOUT SPENDING

There's a perception in league circles that the Raiders are overpaying free agents in order to lure players who might not otherwise be inclined to play football for a team with a well-greased revolving door at the head coaching position.

And so the Raiders are putting the word out that the deals signed by some of the team's new free agents aren't as strong as advertised.

As Jerry McDonald of the Contra Costa Times points out, it's virtually unprecedented for an NFL team to correct the record regarding the published details for player contract -- but not for the reason McDonald articulates. Though we agree with McDonald's assessment that the perception of big spending could help the Raiders lure other players, teams typically are reluctant to throw water on the numbers that make it to the press because they're happy to let the player think he got a better deal than he really has. If the team publicly undermines the player's contract, the player might acquire a chronic case of stick-in-butt disease early in the relationship.

As to receiver Javon Walker, the Raiders contend that his reported $16 million guarantee is made up of a $6 million signing bonus, a $5 million base salary in 2008, and a $5 million base salary in 2008. Some agents would argue that this money is as a practical matter guaranteed because the Raiders aren't likely to cut Walker after only one season.

But we disagree with that. Avoiding $5 million in base salary and carrying $5 million in dead money next year is, in our view, a wash. If Walker doesn't work out this year, we think the Raiders wouldn't hesitate to cut him.

So the actual guarantee for Walker is $6 million and the practical guarantee is $11 million.

Also, the Raiders contend that the deal given to tackle Kwame Harris, reported as three years and $16 million, is actually a one-year, $3 million deal.

Meanwhile, McDonald suggests that the status of head coach Lane Kiffin is still up in the air. Kiffin quotes appear in none of the team releases regarding the new signings, and there was no expression of thanks for him when the team parted ways with nine-year veteran Barry Sims.

Do they have a coach?

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:04 pm

Yeah, whatever happened there. I thought Davis asked what's-his-face to resign and he refused.

I notice the media didn't make nearly as big a deal out of that fiasco as they did about the Redskins taking 30 days to hire their head coach.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:24 am

Yes, well. Al Davis is judged by entirely different standards to other owners. He's everybody's favourite nutter, and people actually expect him to do crazy stuff. I just chuckle - that whole "just win baby" nonsense is very old now.

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:01 am

Isn't he the guy that won't hire coaches for more than 5 years so he can contiue to low ball?

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:05 am

Walker - what this guy is going to need if he has another knee injury. What a waste of precious salary.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:02 pm

GSPODS wrote:Walker - what this guy is going to need if he has another knee injury. What a waste of precious salary.

As long as the money comes out of Al Davis' pocket, who cares? I don't see this having much effect on league payouts to Wideouts... it's Davis... he's nuts.