This is why players hold out.

[earthsci]

Javon Walker's future with the Packers, healthy or not, could be in jeopardy. If Walker had gone through this season matching the numbers he produced during his breakout 2004 season, there's a very good chance the Green Bay Packers would have rewarded him with a lucrative contract extension before the season ended. But when Walker suffered a torn ACL in his right knee Sunday against Detroit, circumstances changed dramatically.
-- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Link

 

[Pariah]

This might also be a reason that teams don't want to invest too much money in a single player.

:devilsadvocate:

 

[earthsci]

This might also be a reason that teams don't want to invest too much money in a single player.

:devilsadvocate:

If the Packers want to sign someone of Walker's caliber in FA they will anyway. I get your point though.

 

[CardinalChris]

It is both parties looking out for their own interest. I have no problem holding out. I do have problems with TO holding out, but feel for players young than 4 years in the league. They are basically stuck with their team at a basement price while top picks in the first round get a mint in money and half of them bust.

 

[BigRedMO]

Do you think big mouth Favre will be willing to pay Walker if his career is ended? Favre is a not a team player. His economic future was set and all he cared about was to go out with a Super Bowl win. He did not give a damn about Walker as a person. If he did he would at the very least had gone to Walker with his comments instead of going to the press. The press painted Favre as some kind of saint worrying about the team. Favre wanted to win the Super Bowl for himself. At least lets get the motives right.

 

[Pariah]

Favre wanted to win the Super Bowl for himself.

So, he wanted to win a superbowl (which everyone on the team wins), but is not a team player?

Eh, I don't buy it. Yeah, Favre is set financially, but telling a player to "sacrifice" for the good of the team is the very definition of a team player.

 

[Russ Smith]

Of course the obvious counter is maybe if Walker was in camp practicing and getting in shape, he might not get hurt? Not that I'm saying that's why he tore his ACL but that's the standard reply you'll get from teams and GM's, players that hold out get hurt more often.

Sucks for Walker for sure although ACL is not exactly career ending anymore, most guys make it back. Just the timing sucks for him.

 

[Pariah]

Of course the obvious counter is maybe if Walker was in camp practicing and getting in shape, he might not get hurt?

Didn't he report on-time (or reasonable close to it) disptie all of his pre-season bluster?

 

[Stout]

The whole situation is crap. Walker had outperformed his contract, and in today's NFL, that means you renegotiate. He without a doubt should have held out (I thought so before he reported), and this is exactly why. Favre is a jackass for calling him out like he did. Not his job. Someone mentioned it being a thing a team player would do? Well, team players don't try to make another person a public enemy through the media. It was a crap thing to do, and now I'm quite positive, like another poster said, Favre isn't willing to pay Walker if his career is over.

The negative for the team? The argument this is exactly why you don't give the player too much money? Fine. Just don't cry like you're bit when the player won't play, because it's a two-way street.

The mention that maybe if he was in shape it wouldn't have happened? C'mon, Russ. I wouldn't even expect this kind of silly coulda-woulda-shoulda idea out of you. It's crap, and you know it.

Walker got screwed, and his future is now in jeopardy. But hey, it's only a business, right?

 

[Russ Smith]

Didn't he report on-time (or reasonable close to it) disptie all of his pre-season bluster?

Probably but was he in shape after skipping voluntary workouts and minicamp would be the argument.

I'm not saying that's why he got hurt, just that it does seem to happen a lot with holdout players.

I was actually of the opinion Walker was right about his contract, I just didn't feel Favre had any business speaking up.

 

[earthsci]

Eh, I don't buy it. Yeah, Favre is set financially, but telling a player to "sacrifice" for the good of the team is the very definition of a team player.

Sacrificing for the good of the team is the very definition of a team player. Telling a player to "sacrifice" for the good of the team is the very definition of hot air.

 

[Russ Smith]

Sacrificing for the good of the team is the very definition of a team player. Telling a player to "sacrifice" for the good of the team is the very definition of hot air.

Yep, off on a tangent but my biggest problem with Favre in the Walker situation was he's a hypocrite. First off he's never really had Walker's situation Green Bay has essentially always taken care of him financially.

And second, talk about good of the team, was it good for the Packers for Favre to waffle all offseason about whether he was going to retire or not? Was it good for the Packers that Favre says it's not his job to train Rodgers to replace him? Wouldn't a true team player realize that his decision on retirement is HUGE for the future of the Packers and that he needs to give them as much time as possible so they can plan for the future?

The Pack took Rodgers largely because they were afraid Favre might retire after this season, they have no idea if he will. Now yes I realize Favre has many personal issues and he probably doesn't know himself when he wants to retire, I'm just pointing out that Favre is just as guilty as Walker of not being a team player. If he walks away after this season and Rodgers isn't ready and the team falls flat, will Favre say gee that's my fault I should have handled my retirement in a manner that allowed the team to prepare better?
I doubt it.

I love Favre I just wish he'd shut up about Walker.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

telling a player to "sacrifice" for the good of the team is the very definition of a team player.

WHAT?!? no, no, no . . . sacrificing for the good of the team is being a team player, "telling a player to 'sacrifice' for the good of the team" is NOT being a team player, it's called being bossy.

 

[AZCB34]

Anyone know how much money Walker collected on his current contract including bonuses? My guess is, people will feel alot less sorry for Walker once that $$$ number is reported...and the number I have heard is about $7.5 million over the first 4 years of the contract. I am not going to verify this myself...too lazy...but I am not so sure I feel horrible for him after already making that amount.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think that he is only making another $750,000 this year.

 

[AZCB34]

I think that he is only making another $750,000 this year.

I am talking about the entire contract he signed. Unless he was wildly spending money, which is possible, he should be set for his life. Everyone is whining about him "only" making $500K this year but it is more Favre bashing than big picture thinking. Walker's career is likely not over...in fact if he comes back from this (and right now there is no reason to think he won't) his earning potentail will still be there.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Eh, I don't buy it. Yeah, Favre is set financially, but telling a player to "sacrifice" for the good of the team is the very definition of a team player.

No the very definition of sacrificing for the team is making the sacrifice yourself, not calling someone out to do it

 

[CardinalChris]

Favre could have and should have done what he did. But he shouldn't have done it to the media. He should have called Javon himself and personally ask that he report. No way he should have done it through the media.

As for the training camp thing, although it seems like the holdouts always get hurt, the ACL is a traumatic injury, not a conditioning injury. They usually happen when legs are twisted or caught in turf. Not sure being at camp helps that.

Now, if he comes down with a hammy all year that hurts him, I can blame him. But to me saying missing training camp caused his ACL is like saying his leg broke because he missed 2 a days.

 

[Lars the Red]

For what it's worth, Walker's injury appeared to be non-contact. He caught the pass, slowed a bit, looked like he was thinking of changing directions, then the leg buckled.

Any of you remember the difference in how your legs felt during early season workouts as opposed to during the season? Fatigue would make them a little noodley. Hence the horrors of noddle knee.

His lack of conditioning could have had some impact on the injury. Is it sad? Of course. Hopefully he will recover and make that cash back up. If he'd signed a big extension and this had happened, it would have been harmful to more than just Walker and the team. It would have had an effect on the organization as well. It could very well have forced them to cut other players to free up money to replace him.

Is that a little cold? Sure, but like many say, 'it's a business'. It's business when the sign a guy, give him a pile of signing bonus cash and he busts too.

 

[AnotherHOMER]

I feel horrible for Javon Walker!! He should get a great contract, but he wont. Very sad story. I thionk farve deserves to feel like a cornholio, and should come out of HIS pockets! Had to laugh at the last line!

-****

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Why would anyone feel sorry for Walker? First off, knee injuries aren't like they wer 10-15 years ago.He'll be back and be fine.Secondly,the guy has had a pretty good life so far.He got a free education at FSU,he's made alot of money to play a game, and he'll make alot more upon his return.

I have to think having blowhard Rosenhaus as his agent is one of the reasons he didn't get his contract re-done.Teams aren't going be bullied into re-doing a contract buy alot media play and hype that Rosenhaus tries to use to get his players re-signed. Look at the Quan situation.He received a nice extension without all the spewing that usually comes from Drew. It was all done quietly and professionally.

 

[duckfallas]

Only 750K? Gee, really sucks to be him.

 

[Stout]

Only 750K? Gee, really sucks to be him.

Yeah, it does. When you should have been making 10 or so + million.

Hey man, I'm paying you about a buck over minimum wage. You were doing a great job, but I wanted to wait and see if you could keep it up. If you kept it up, I'd give you twenty-five bucks an hour. Oh, but now you're hurt. So I won't give you a raise at all. But hey, you're still making above the poverty line, so I can't feel sorry for you (as I am not).

You may scoff at it, but it's not a question about, 'you should be happy with 750,000'. It should be 'you didn't get what you were worth'.

I mock you self-righteous boo-hooers, because you'd be crying just as hard if it was you.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Yeah, it does. When you should have been making 10 or so + million.

He signed a 6 year $9.5 million deal. He's already been paid a lot of that money. He'll manage...

 

[joeshmo]

I have to think having blowhard Rosenhaus as his agent is one of the reasons he didn't get his contract re-done.Teams aren't going be bullied into re-doing a contract buy alot media play and hype that Rosenhaus tries to use to get his players re-signed. Look at the Quan situation.He received a nice extension without all the spewing that usually comes from Drew. It was all done quietly and professionally.

Yet Drew also got a lot of his clients new deal this past year as well. As for all the media that Drew uses, it wouldnt have been all over the media if Farve didnt open his trap to the media instead of handling it in house, or if Owens wasnt one of his clients.