Frank Walker Signs a 1 yr deal with US!!

[HarveyWallbangers]

It was on rotoworld.com earlier. I think it's starting to hit other outlets:

http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070313/PKR01/70313119/1989

[OS PA]

I really like this signing, and no, I don't care if it's our first signing. Anything to build depth and create competition is perfectly fine with me. Walker has that dreaded word of potential and with right coaching, not from Shitty Schotty, he could turn out to be a very solid #2 CB. Does anybody know of his history with penalties? I saw that alot of you were comparing him to Carrol, but everything i've read says that he plays strong and could turn out to be good in man-on. Carrol was way too small to man up on any reciever in this league. I, for one, am excited to see what Walker has to offer.

Plus, look at this off-field involvement. Packer-People!


Off The Field: An extremely active participant in all community events, Frank has touched the lives of many people during his NFL career…He hosts an annual football camp, free of charge, for children in his hometown of Tuskegee, Ala…In 2005, Frank attended the Giants 2005 Draft Day Party, arranged a trip for all Giants Academy students to see UniverSoul Circus in Newark, N.J…Attended fundraiser for Institute for Student Achievement…Visited donors at the Giants Blood Drive…Attended the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund’s “Pigskin Ball” fundraiser…Served as guest speaker at ADP’s United Way campaign kickoff…Constructed homes for Katrina Relief with Habitat for Humanity at Rockefeller Plaza…Attended the Giants’ Ronald McDonald House fundraiser dinner… Regularly serves as a professor at the Giants Football 101 and 201 programs for women...Participated in the Giants Player Development cooking competition at ESPN Zone...Also participated in the Giants Player Development's Continuing Education Program...Spoke about importance of community involvement for the Rotary Club of Ridgewood…Served as a guest speaker at Pitney Bowes’ United Way Campaign Kickoff…Donated 35,000 pounds of chicken to local community organizations during the holidays with Lift Up America…Played Santa at Giants Jingle Jam, handing out new coats, backpacks, and toys to 750 New Jersey foster kids…Member of the MDA’s 2006 Muscle Team…Made a financial contribution to Habitat for Humanity International’s Katrina Relief Fund.

*Thanks for the links*

[woodbuck27]

It was on rotoworld.com earlier. I think it's starting to hit other outlets:

http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.../70313119/1989

Packers sign ex-Giants CB Walker to 1-year deal


Free-agent cornerback Frank Walker has agreed to a contract with the Green Bay Packers, an NFL source confirmed today.

Harold Lewis, who represents Walker, said the deal was for one year and was completed early this morning.

A former sixth-round draft pick from Tuskegee, he spent four seasons with the New York Giants, making five starts. He visited the Packers on Sunday and Monday and was to visit Seattle today. He previously met with New Orleans.

The Packers view the 5-foot-10, 197-pound Walker, 25, as a potential No. 3 cornerback who could play in the nickel and/or dime defensive packages and be a backup to starters Al Harris and Charles Woodson.

Walker is the first player to sign with the Packers during this year’s free-agent period, which began March 2.

— Rob Demovsky, rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com

[HarveyWallbangers]

Packers, CB Walker agree on one-year deal

Green Bay - Cornerback Frank Walker, who played the last four seasons with the New York Giants, this afternoon agreed to a one-year contract worth slightly in excess of $1 million to join the Green Bay Packers.

Walker, 5 feet 10 inches and 196 pounds, is the first unrestricted free agent to cast his lot with the Packers since the start of the signing period March 2.

On Monday, the 25-year-old Walker worked out for the Packers in the Hutson Center and ran 40 yards in 4.40 and 4.43 seconds. He also had a 33 1 /2-inch vertical jump and a 10-0 broad jump.

On Monday night, the Packers commenced negotiations with his agent until agreement was reached Tuesday. He canceled his visit to Seattle and, in the end, picked the Packers over the New Orleans Saints.

Walker played just 8% of the defensive snaps for the Giants in 2006, playing in 12 games. In four seasons, he started 5 of 42 games and intercepted five passes.

In Green Bay, Walker is expected to compete for the No. 3 job behind Al Harris and Charles Woodson. The Packers also have interest in Cincinnati's Tory James, who visited with them last week.

Walker was the Giants' sixth-round draft choice out of Tuskegee in 2003.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Frank Walker signed a one-year contract with the Green Bay Packers this morning, PackerReport.com has learned. Walker, a backup cornerback with the New York Giants the past four seasons, is the Packers’ first signing in free agency.

The amount of the contract was not disclosed, but it includes incentives and a signing bonus, according to Walker's agent Harold Lewis.

“It’s a great one-year deal for him to do what he has to do, and we believe it’s a great place for him to do it," Lewis said. "We believe that they will sign him long-term at some point this year.”

Walker, who turns 26 on Aug. 6, started one game in 2006 and five games overall with the Giants since he was selected with the second of two sixth round picks by the Giants in the 2003 NFL draft out of Tuskegee (Ala.). Last year, he found himself buried on the depth chart behind starters Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters, and fighting for playing time in passing defenses against Corey Webster (a second round draft pick by the Giants in 2005) and rookie free agent Kevin Dockery.

Walker (5-foot-10, 197) played in 10 games for the Giants last season and finished with nine tackles, no interceptions and no sacks. In four seasons in New York, he had 53 tackles, five interceptions, and nine passes defensed.

Walker met with the New Orleans Saints over the weekend, and worked out for the Packers on Monday. Both sides agreed to the deal while Walker was literally on the plane in Green Bay for Seattle to meet with the Seahawks this morning.

"With seven minutes to takeoff time, we agreed to a contract," Lewis explained. "They had to open up the doors and try to get his luggage, which they couldn’t get, it was shipped off to Seattle. Security came because they didn’t want him to get off the plane and leave luggage on. It was just a frickin’ mess.”

Walker presumably will be playing for the No. 3 or No. 4 positions behind starters Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Current Packers backup cornerbacks include Patrick Dendy, who finished the 2006 season as the team's nickel back; Jarrett Bush, who played some as a dime back; and Will Blackmon, who was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft last season, but missed most of the year with injuries.

The Packers are also expected to select a cornerback in the upcoming NFL draft.

[woodbuck27]

Reader Comment Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:35 pm

They obviously were impressed with the way he has carried himself off the field. I know we need on the field help, but it is good to see a high character guy vs. the drama we saw with Carroll and Thomas.

Off The Field:

An extremely active participant in all community events, Frank has touched the lives of many people during his NFL career…

He hosts an annual football camp, free of charge, for children in his hometown of Tuskegee, Ala…

In 2005, Frank attended the Giants 2005 Draft Day Party, arranged a trip for all Giants Academy students to see UniverSoul Circus in Newark, N.J…

Attended fundraiser for Institute for Student Achievement…Visited donors at the Giants Blood Drive…

Attended the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund’s “Pigskin Ball” fundraiser…

Served as guest speaker at ADP’s United Way campaign kickoff…Constructed homes for Katrina Relief with Habitat for Humanity at Rockefeller Plaza…

Attended the Giants’ Ronald McDonald House fundraiser dinner…

Regularly serves as a professor at the Giants Football 101 and 201 programs for women...

Participated in the Giants Player Development cooking competition at ESPN Zone...

Also participated in the Giants Player Development's Continuing Education Program...

Spoke about importance of community involvement for the Rotary Club of Ridgewood…

Served as a guest speaker at Pitney Bowes’ United Way Campaign Kickoff…

Donated 35,000 pounds of chicken to local community organizations during the holidays with Lift Up America…

Played Santa at Giants Jingle Jam, handing out new coats, backpacks, and toys to 750 New Jersey foster kids…

Member of the MDA’s 2006 Muscle Team…Made a financial contribution to Habitat for Humanity International’s Katrina Relief Fund.

http://www.giants.com/team/player.asp?player_id=62

Anybody that ever was Santa Claus is my kinda guy.

[hawaii50]

i don't want to be debbie downer here, but how can everyone expect this guy to fill in as our nickel? he hasn't quite proven much in the nfl yet. he's started 5 games in his career? i know he sounds like he has the potential to improve, but putting our nickel hopes in this guy still worries me. plus, it's not like the giants have had world-beaters in their secondary the past couple years. that has actually been their problem on defense.

all that said, i am thankful that ted finally did something. it's better than nothing i guess.

[motife]

scout.com :

The news of Walker’s signing will never overshadow the talk of Moss, but it will create competition for better depth behind starters Al Harris and Charles Woodson this off-season.

The feeling from this perch near Lambeau Field is that the Packers are concerned about Will Blackmon, the second of two fourth-round selections by Green Bay last season in the NFL draft. Blackmon was slowed by a broken bone in his foot, which occurred last May, and missed all of training camp. He aggravated the injury in an attempt to come back in early September, which set him back. When he did return to action, Blackmon injured his ribs midway through the season and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Walker was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He has always been a backup in New York, and fell into coach Tom Coughlin’s dog house last season for apparently being overagressive. For most of the season, he was buried on the Giants’ depth chart behind starters Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters. Now Walker is hoping to revive his career in Green Bay.

“Frank is a great guy. He’s got a great personality,” said Walker’s agent, Harold Lewis. “He’s very aggressive, and I guess they (the Giants) like more of a laid-back kind of atmosphere from a corner. Frank, as you will find out, is the furthest thing from passive.”

Said Ken Palmer of The Giants Insider of Walker, “He's got plenty of talent, but isn't one to necessarily play within the scheme. Takes too many chances, although he had a great camp last summer to surprisingly make the team ... great locker room guy that his teammates love.

“He does have good speed and hands ... just still too raw for someone that's been around this long.”

Walker played in 10 games for the Giants last season and finished with nine tackles, no interceptions and no sacks. He has five career interceptions and 53 total tackles.

Walker met with New Orleans over the weekend, then had a “tremendous workout” with the Packers on Monday, according to Lewis. Both sides negotiated into the wee hours of today. Walker was literally on a plane headed to Seattle to meet with the Seahawks when the Packers phoned with an offer that the cornerback couldn’t refuse.

Walker’s one-year deal includes a signing bonus, but it also has built-in incentives and other bonuses, Lewis said.

The Packers, a reported $21.8 million under the salary cap, have little to lose. Walker has a chance to prove to Green Bay that he never got a decent opportunity in New York. And the Packers are not on the hook long-term if Walker doesn’t live up to expectations. If he does, all the better for the Packers’ secondary.

“When you talk about a corner being aggressive on a ‘man’ and on a ‘bump,’ you’re not going to find anybody better,” Lewis said. “When you talk about a guy who will come up and just hit you like a safety, we’ve got enough fines to prove that one. He has no problem hitting somebody, that’s for sure.”

It’s possible that a change of scenery will do Walker good. If so, the Packers will have better depth in their secondary from a player who is eager to make the most of his opportunity.

[woodbuck27]

'' Walker was literally on a plane headed to Seattle to meet with the Seahawks when the Packers phoned with an offer that the cornerback couldn’t refuse.

Walker’s one-year deal includes a signing bonus, but it also has built-in incentives and other bonuses, Lewis said.

The Packers, a reported $21.8 million under the salary cap, have little to lose. '' motife



Can we try to determine what this CB actually signed for?

Thanks.

[Packnut]

Whining

Nope- this list is from the 2007 FA list that requires ESPN Insider membership. They were done AFTER the 2006 season. I believe you are talking about the normal ESPN bios pages which are indeed outdated.

I have the same membership. Didn't realize they had two different scouting reports on the same site. The ESPN ones are always outdated until later in the offseason.

I get frustrated with Thompson's approach at times, but you take it to another level. You whine about Thompson not signing Roderick Hood and Kelly Washington, but then badmouth him for signing Frank Walker.

Hood got a 62 on these reports, Washington got a 54, and Walker got an 52 (got a 59 last year). None were rated more than average. In retrospect, Hood probably wasn't a candidate here because he wanted a chance to start. I'm assuming he got a much bigger deal than Walker. Let's see what Walker gets. Personally, I think Hood is better, but if it's Hood and much more money vs. Walker, I'd take Walker. I'd like to save some of our money for extending Barnett or getting Moss--not for a nickelback. Did you really want to see us give Kelly Washington a deal for 5y/$22M--knowing that he might be our 4th WR if we get Moss? Our third WR at best.

The New England Patriots have signed another free-agent wide receiver, this time former Cincinnati Bengal Kelley Washington. The Patriots gave Washington a five-year deal worth up to $22 million, including a $300,000 signing bonus.

I think Thompson can be criticized for some of his FA work, but I think it's silly to take it to the level you do. He did have a damn good draft last year, and in the end he hit on a couple of FAs last year too--which is better than a lot of teams.

Another lame attempt to distort a contract. Read the damn thing and then we'll talk. It COULD be worth up to 22 mill NOT IS! 2nd I am not complaining about signing Walker as ANYTHING is an upgrade over Dendy. As far as the Moss thing goes, last time I checked he's still a Raider is'nt he? There is no clear proof he will be a Packer. I made the comments about Washington as our #3 as it stands RIGHT NOW. If you have a magic ball that tells the future then excuse the hell out of me.

As far as the draft last year, again it's looking into the future. You cannot really evaluate a draft until at least 2-3 yrs after it, cause the rest of us don't have your future telling ability.

Yes I whine and bitch about Thompson because he's wasting Favre's last gasp and it pisses me off. There were several moves that he COULD have made to make this a better team. May-be your content with the slow methodical approach but the good GM's are the ones who can turn it around quickly. Only an idiot accepts this has to be a 4-5 year re-building project.

Some people have their head stuck so far up Thompson's ass that they are blinded to reality. Thompson mis-calculated the feeding frenzy and I think most of us here agree with that. Read his statements before the FA period started. He thought several mid-tier guys would be left. He was wrong and it cost us. This is his 3rd year and we still have SEVERAL HOLES on this team. I find that un-acceptable. Sorry, but I have no intention of becoming a blind little follower who accepts every Ted Thompson word as gospel.

[Joemailman]

Re: #84

Maybe he can wear #84 to save people some $$$?

Man, I could break my Walker jerseys out of mothballs!

So that explains your obsessive anger over TT not signing Javon! :P

[mmmdk]

Al Harris took about that long to become a starter and look at him now.

Yeah, Harris drives a red humvee. If Walker is half as good as Al Harris then it's a bargain, a big time coup. But what are the odds? You can always dig up a remote chance of finding a diamond in the rough; it happens but if you want to win championships it's hard work. The hard work is to not blowing your drafts, recognizing your own talent then sign them longterm and bringing in the right free agents. You need some luck too and Walker would be a lucky punch signing if he infact turns out to be a player.

TT has got to ask himself: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

[woodbuck27]

Alot that really piss's me off, has to do with what appears to me as obvious inactivity on behalf of Ted Thompson to gain weapons on 'O' to combine with Brett Favre's talent.

That talent will soon disappear.

Thus early in my history with all of you at JSO. I posted in respect to what appeared to me, to be an obvious effort on behalf of TT to force Brett Favre into retirement.

Death of Brett Favre . . . by ignoring Favre's need of talented weapons.

Exit Ahman Green and doesn't the same ole same ole still apply?

This constant trend to ignore acquisition of talented playmakers on 'O' is obvious and extremely frustrating to me.

Thus sometimes I get grumpy.

[Joemailman]

Al Harris took about that long to become a starter and look at him now.

Not to spoil the party or anything...but Al Harris took 4 years to be a starter because because Philly had 2 Pro Bowl CB's playing ahead of him. Not the case with the Giants. Nonetheless, Walker is likely an upgrade over Dendy, and at least provides depth at a position where the Packers desperately need it.

[falco]

walker could turn out to be a good signing...or he could be cut during preseason, depending on how everything goes.

i'm just glad TT finally caved under the fan's pressure