Looks like the Vikings aren't alone

[Down to Earth]

For the second straight year, Walker is causing rifts. The players just get a huge CBA agreement and yet you hear all this dump.

Updated: March 10, 2006, 1:21 AM ET

Walker wants Pack to let him explore trade optionsBy Michael Smith

ESPN.com

Daunte Culpepper's misery in Minnesota has company in, of all places, Green Bay.

Elsa/Getty Images

Walker: "I just don't feel like this is the best place for me to be right now. I really have no interest in ... playing for Green Bay again."

While the Packers await a decision from quarterback Brett Favre about whether he intends to retire or return, wide receiver Javon Walker, who is rehabilitating the right knee he injured in last year's season opener and yet whose relationship with the organization remains fractured following the team's refusal last summer to renegotiate his contract and Favre's public criticism of Walker's holdout threat, told ESPN.com on Thursday that he has already informed the Packers of his desire to play elsewhere.

Walker said he's expressed his feelings to new Packers coach Mike McCarthy, while his agent, CSMG Sports' Kennard McGuire, has asked general manager Ted Thompson, as did former Walker agent Drew Rosenhaus, to deal Walker or allow them to pursue a trade. Thompson on Wednesday denied the requests.

"I just don't feel like this is the best place for me to be right now," said Walker, 27, preparing to enter his sixth pro season. "I really have no interest in being in a Green Bay Packers uniform or playing for Green Bay again."

Citing recent contract squabbles with running back Ahman Green, tight end Bubba Franks, defensive lineman Grady Jackson and cornerback Mike McKenzie, as well as his own, Walker added, "I just don't like the way the organization runs itself. They want players to come up there and play hard and work hard, but when it comes time to be compensated, it's like, 'We forgot what you've done.'"

The source of Walker's bitterness is the team's refusal even to discuss his contract, which at the time had two years remaining, the penultimate year of which paid him $515,000 the season after he made the Pro Bowl by catching 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. But Walker says that at this point, money is not the issue.

Favre offended Walker when he spoke out against the receiver in his contract dispute, saying he should come to training camp and not hold out. (Walker heeded the advice.) Walker believes Favre's comments made living and working in Wisconsin difficult; Walker tells of one instance when he was in a hotel and an employee announced his presence on an Internet message board for "anyone who had something to say to Javon Walker." It also angered Walker that the team allowed its iconic quarterback to interfere publicly in a teammate's business with management. He held his tongue all year.

"There's an unwritten rule that players stick together," said Walker, still biting his tongue on Favre for the most part.

While Walker is quite adamant about not sticking around in Green Bay for the final year of his contract -- whether Favre returns or not -- he promises not to be a disruption next season, because he doesn't plan to show up at all for training camp.

"If I had to go back there, I'd retire," he said. "I don't have to play."

The rift is so deep and his animosity toward Favre so great that, Walker said, he is even willing if necessary to repay the Packers the prorated portion of his signing bonus, which amounts to around $850,000.

"Why should I risk another year of getting beat up playing for a team that I don't want to play for? That's stupid," Walker said.

Walker, who underwent surgery Oct. 7 in Houston, says his rehab at Florida State (his alma mater) is going as planned. He's sprinting and should be ready to go by training camp -- for some other team, he hopes.

"I love the game," Walker said. "But I'm not going to risk what I went through this year, tearing an ACL and taking pain pills. If I'm going to go out and take hits, it's going to be for a team that I love playing for."

Walker said he told McCarthy, "It's nothing against you or your staff, but it's unfair to you to have a player in your organization that doesn't want to be there."

"I'm not going to grandstand," Walker said. "I just want the Packers to give me peace of mind."

Reached in his office, McCarthy declined comment.

Michael Smith is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[Green&Gold]

I was disappointed to say the least when I heard this dump surfacing again. I just wonder how much of it is posturing in an attempt to force TT's hand. Just like last year, if he refuses to play, the organization does not have to pay him a dime. I wish it wouldn't have to come to this though. I would like to think that if he came back full strength and put up numbers like he did a couple years ago, they would reward him with a big contract. Heck, he's by far the best long term receiver option we've got.

I am a little worried by his talk about how cheap the organization is. This isn't the first time I've heard this from players. I'm not sure if its completely true, but one thing I know is that I don't want the Packers to be labeled this way...not a good connotation to have when you are trying to bring in/retain quality players.

[buzzsaw]

Pro sports are really starting to turn me off! I really hate to say that, but it's how I'm feeling these days.... I used to watch the T'wolves, not one game this year... I watch the Gopher Hockey team as they are not a bunch of greedy millionares and just appreciate putting on the uniform... and of course drinking free on campus.

How about Walker for Duante??

[Stratosman]

I kinda with ya Buzz, except I have made the mistake of watching alot of Suckberwolves games this year.