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In 2006, Javon Walker spent his New Years eve, not celebrating, but cradling Denver Bronco DB Darrent Williams as he lay dying.
Walker was the only other Bronco in a Hummer sprayed with bullets at a Denver night club only hours after their season had ended.
Dazed, Walker showed up blood stained at the teams headquarters hours later. Though he had faced adversity before, nothing had or could, have prepared him for this.
In 2006 Walker found himself in Denver via trade for a 2nd round pick (37th overall) given to his former team, the Green Bay Packers.
But the story begins long before Green Bay.
Selected in the 8th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball draft, the talented young athlete spent 3 years with the Florida Marlins in the minor leagues.
Walker had some College experience as well and was wide receiver Deion Branch's room mate at Jones County Junior College at Ellisville Mississippi before enrolling at Florida State University where, in two years, he amassed 69 catches for 1,257 yds and 10 touch downs and averaged 19.3 yds per grab.
His potential did not go unnoticed and with the 20th pick of the 2002 NFL Draft, Walker found himself the newest member of the Green Bay Packers.
His rookie year was fairly uneventful. He saw action in 15 games, but started only 2, garnering 23 catches for 319 yds and a TD.
In 03' the 6-3, 215 lb receiver began to show he was catching on.
Playing in 16 games, including 3 starts, Walker hauled in 41 passes for 716 yds and 9 TD's, but it wasn't until 2004 Walker really began to shine.
Again, he played in all 16 games, but started 12, amassing 1,328 yds on 89 catches and scoring 12 Tds.
Walker finished 3rd over all among receivers that year and his uncanny ability to pick up crucial 3rd downs (31 overall) saw Walker make his way to Hawaii and the Pro Bowl at the end of a great season.
And thats where the trouble began.
After the 2004 season Walker obtained a new agent, Kennard McGuire, who demanded Green Bay re work his new clients old contract even though Walker had 2 yrs remaining on the original.
The Packers refused to budge, privately or publicly.
Brett Favre didn't help matters when he complained to the press about Walker's threat to hold out of camp. The animosity continued to build with McGuire going as far as stating Walker would not play for the Packers and would retire unless traded.
Walker did show up in time for camp, but the damage had been done. Not only on the team, but in the Green Bay community, where Walker felt Favre's lack of support had helped turn public sentiment.
As fate would have it, and despite the fact Walker had appeared in 47 of 48 games his first 3 years in the League, the seemingly healthy receiver tore his anterior cruciate ligament opening day, 2005 against Detroit.
Some speculated Walker knew his knee was bad and tried to take advantage of the Packers.
Given the now unfreindly climate, even with a new Coach, Mike McCarthy, Javon and the Pack felt it was time to move on.
After a second surgery to clean up his right knee, Walker signed 5 year deal with the Broncos worth a potential $40 million dollars including roster bonuses of reportedly $15 million over 2007 and 08'.
Recovered from his injury, Walker made 69 catches for 1,084 yds and 8 Tds.
Then, after their season ending game against the San Francisco 49 ers, Walker, Williams and others decided to hit the clubs to ring in the New Year.
Instead, they became witness to murder.
Whether Walker felt others on the team were responsible (In and interview aired on HBO's , Real Sports he told reporter Andrea Kremer the shooting was likely caused by a confrontation with Bronco wide receiver Brandon Marshall and his cousin.) or not will probably never be known, but soon after the death of another Denver team mate, Damien Nash on February 24th at a charity basketball game, tension began to build between Walker and the Broncos.
Though he had a great camp and started the year with 17 catches for 220 yds, in the 3rd game against Jacksonville he managed just 2 catches for 10 yds.
He sat out the next 2 contests and appeared in only 8 of Denver's games in 2007. In 5 starts, despite his earlier production, finished the season with a mere 26 grabs for 287 yds and no touch downs.
On December 31st 2007, Walker told reporters as he cleaned out his locker, being in Denver was "Not for me."
February 29th, the Broncos agreed and released him.
Possibly bitter, Head Coach Mike Shanahan is said to have alluded to Walker's knee still being bad.
None the less, Walker was courted by 10 teams including the Eagles, the Cowboys, 49 ers, Bills, Bucs, Redskins, Vikings and the Raiders.
March 4th Walker signed with Oakland.
The final terms agreed upon translated to a 6 yr contract worth up to $55 million dollars, including $16 million guaranteed and could earn him up to $27 million his first 3 years.
For some, questions remain about Walker's readiness, not only from his 3 knee surgeries, but from the traumatic loss of a team mate and friend that awful New years night.
One has to admire the mental and physical toughness to battle through such tragedy and adversity, but as Javon Walker enters the 08' season, he and those in Oakland hope the days of tragedy are finally behind him, but to make it this far after so much can only be called a triumph.
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Banned
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