Walker reports to Green Bay’s camp
Javon Walker showed up at the Green Bay Packers’ training camp on Wednesday in a surprising twist to his push for a new contract.
“Tell everybody I’m coming in,” Walker told a reporter for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at Austin-Strabel airport.
Walker wouldn’t elaborate on whether there had been any change in his contract status. A team official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity confirmed Walker had reported to camp for the veterans’ 7 p.m. mandatory meeting.
Players will undergo physicals today and the first full day of training camp is Friday.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus, who said last week Walker would hold out in his effort to have his contract renegotiated, did not return phone calls from the AP.
Walker skipped all of the Packers’ off-season workouts after hiring Rosenhaus to renegotiate his contract, which has two years remaining and calls for him to make $515,000 this season.
Seahawks sign three
The Seattle Seahawks signed three more rookies, leaving them with two that are still without a contract.
Three rookies who made it to training camp in Cheney were quarterback David Greene (third round), linebacker LeRoy Hill (third round) and tackle Ray Willis (fourth round).
“In a move strange only because of the way it was confirmed, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed their first-round pick, tight end Heath Miller. While the team’s public relations department declined to acknowledge the signing, Dan Rooney, the team’s owner, did so during a conversation with The AP on other matters.
“A group of second-round picks also signed, including linebacker Barrett Ruud of Tampa Bay, cornerbacks Justin Miller of the New York Jets and Kelvin Hayden of Indianapolis, wide receiver Reggie Brown with Philadelphia and safety Josh Bullocks with New Orleans.
“Carolina signed third-round pick Atiyyah Ellison, a defensive lineman. New Orleans signed another third-rounder, linebacker Alfred Fincher, and Kansas City signed its third-rounder, punter Dustin Colquitt.
“Charlie Frye, the fourth quarterback selected in April, agreed to a four-year, $5 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. “I’m real excited,” said Frye, who played at Akron. “I can’t wait to get in there. I’ve been a Cleveland Browns fan my whole life and this is a perfect situation for me.”
“The Denver Broncos signed fourth-round draft pick cornerback Karl Paymah and waived wide receiver Grant Mattos.
Paymah, the 76th overall pick in this year’s draft, started the final 24 games of his college career at Washington State.
Gardner may find home with Panthers
The Carolina Panthers will give Rod Gardner a physical today, and if he passes, the team will complete a trade with Washington for the wide receiver.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Gardner didn’t like his role in the Washington offense after catching only 51 passes last season.