http://www.rockymountainnews.com/new...-dinner-topic/
by Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 12:02 p.m., February 22, 2008
Updated 12:07 p.m., February 22, 2008


Dinner tonight involving the Broncos' front-office folks and Javon Walker's representative likely will include appetizers, a main course and a potential resolution of the wide receiver's future in Denver.

"The goal is to see what we need to do to bring an end to the situation," agent Kennard McGuire said today during a break in meetings involving the players association.

Walker, at various points, has expressed his unhappiness within a Broncos offense that's perhaps too run-oriented to satiate his desire to catch passes and also continue featuring emerging target Brandon Marshall.

Denver has a hefty investment in a player who doesn't seem to be happy and is attempting to move him before two bonuses become due March 4.

Walker is also a candidate to be released. There's only a slim chance he'll stay in Denver and virtually no shot of an agreement to restructure his contract.

Asked about his gut feeling on his client's future, McGuire responded, "I'll know after dinner."

There's also the issue of Walker's surgically repaired right knee. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said after the season the receiver might need a microfracture procedure given the accumulated damage in Walker's knee. But Walker denied he has been told such a step is in his future and that his second procedure in October was to remove a cyst.

McGuire admitted today part of his role in Indianapolis is "to put to rest any level of concern that anybody would have about his ability to play football." McGuire would not confirm or deny any trade talks nor say that Walker has told him he wants out of Denver.

Walker, 29, is scheduled to count $7.05 million on the salary cap in 2008, and the number would rise to $8 million, plus include a "non-exercise" payout north of $2 million to get rid of him.

But if the Broncos did release him, they could potentially count him as a post-June 1 exemption under the current labor agreement, allowing the club to spread the salary-cap hit over the next two seasons.

Walker missed eight games last season and finished with 26 catches for 287 yards and no touchdowns but was the club's go-to target in his initial season with Denver in 2006.