Five years 25 Million! Wow that seems like a lot for him. Walker is a good pass rusher, especially thriving against weaker offensive lines, but can struggle against premiere guards. Darwin has always been a huge liability against the run, and I think that is why he is better suited to be a situational pass rusher, and not a starter.
Knowing the Eagles luck, he will have three sacks when they play the Bears.
I wonder what Marv Levy thinks about this.
According to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, the Bills are ready to "throw in the towel" on negotiations with Walker, who is scheduled to head back to Philadelphia on August 5.
Buffalo officials are about ready to throw in the towel on negotiations with Darwin Walker, the veteran defensive tackle acquired in the trade that sent linebacker Takeo Spikes to the Philadelphia Eagles in March. According to the trade agreement, the Bills can return Walker to the Eagles, provided he doesn't report to camp by Aug. 5, and take a sixth-round draft pick in lieu of the tackle. Walker has no intention of reporting until he receives a long-term extension, and the two sides aren't close on the numbers. Walker has two years left on his Philadelphia contract, at base salaries of $1.3 million for 2007 and $1.4 million for 2008. The Bills have offered to nullify the 2008 portion of the contract, but that hasn't swayed Walker, a penetrating-type tackle the Bills could really use.Looks like Walker is coming back. I doubt he will be any happier here, but I think they should try to keep him, and release Ian Scott. That would be in a perfect world of course, and we all know that this world is far from that.
Report: Bills Could Lose Walker Back To Eagles
Dave Buchanan - Friday, May 25, 2007 - 7:51 PM
Adam Schefter with Corey Griswold on Darwin Walker Exclusive WGR 550 Windows Media Audio
Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting that Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Darwin Walker can become property of the Philadelphia Eagles if he does not report to Bills training camp by August 5.If Walker does go back to Philadelphia the Bills would get the Eagles' sixth round pick in 2008. The Bills acquired Walker from Philadelphia back in March for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb. Walker is holding out in hopes of getting a new contract. His current deal has two years left on it.
This is unbelievable. I'm not sure if the Eagles would want Walker back. Maybe they can move him again to another team, willing to pay his salary demands. Either way the Bills seem to be getting screwed in this deal. As long as the Birds got TKO, I don't care where Walker ends up.
Walker wants new contract
By Allen Wilson
Updated: 05/11/07 7:47 AM
http://www.buffalonews.com/213/story/73300.html
The Buffalo Bills could be facing a holdout from recently acquired defensive tackle Darwin Walker.
Walker wants a new contract, and he won’t report to the club until he gets it, his New Jersey-based agent, Albert Irby, said Thursday.
Walker has two years left on his current contract he signed with Philadelphia, which granted his request for a trade after contract talks reached an impasse. In late March, the Bills sent linebacker Takeo Spikes and quarterback Kelly Holcomb to the Eagles in exchange for Walker and a conditional 2008 draft pick.
Irby said the Bills knew his client wanted a new contract when they traded for him.
“They understood the conditions of the trade,” Irby said. “We spoke to the Bills prior to the trade, explained what we were looking for and it was their decision to make the trade or not make the trade. They decided to make the trade, so I can only assume they are going to give Darwin a new deal.
“They don’t have to do it. But if they don’t, they probably won’t see Darwin around there.”
There is no immediate urgency for Walker to be in Buffalo. The Bills are in the midst of their offseason conditioning program, which is voluntary. Besides this weekend’s rookie orientation, the team will have three minicamps (also known as organized team activities), but only the June 11-13 session is mandatory. The Bills open training camp in late July.
“Obviously, Darwin is the property of the Buffalo Bills due to the trade,” said Scott Berchtold, the team’s vice president/communications. “We have been in contact with the agent and we look forward to Darwin’s participation in the mandatory camp in June.”
Irby is hopeful an agreement will be reached soon, but added Walker is prepared to sit out the June minicamp if a new deal isn’t in place.
The Bills obtained Walker to add experienced depth at defensive tackle. The seven-year veteran started the last five seasons in Philadelphia and is a good fit in the Bills’ defensive scheme because of his quickness and ability to disrupt plays in the backfield.
Walker made 36 tackles in 15 starts last season, and he had more sacks (six) than all of the Bills’ defensive tackles combined. He added two more sacks in an NFC second-round playoff loss at New Orleans.
“He brings so much to the table for the Bills in terms of his production, experience and leadership,” Irby said. “For them to not do this deal does not make much sense to me. The trade was made because of need. They got what they wanted. I’m assuming they are going to do the deal, but they are dragging their feet a little bit.”
awilson@buffnews.com
No wonder the Birds traded this clown. Not only can he not stop the run if his life depended on it, but he thinks he should be paid more for the crappy job he does. Good riddance. I hope Buffalo takes a hard line approach with him, and fines him every day he does not show up. I'm sick of players holding out. You signed the contract, now be a man, and honor it!
