Walker sees demotion as a challenge

Offensive tackle replaced by Cornell Green says he understands decision and will take it like a man.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 3, 2002

TAMPA -- The Bucs took away his job, but they gained Kenyatta Walker's attention.

Walker, the team's first-round pick in 2001, said Monday he plans to respond to the challenge of his benching by reclaiming his spot at right tackle.

After being penalized five times in his past four quarters of play, Walker was replaced in the No. 1 offense by Cornell Green, who will make his first NFL start Sunday against the Saints.

"Like I said, it isn't like I haven't been here before," Walker said. "I know I can play right tackle. I'm at my position now. Now it's just a matter of being a man and stepping up to the challenge.

"It's not my decision, it's a part of the game. They thought they were dissatisfied with my play, so they're going to get somebody else in there to play. It's a part of the business."

Asked if he agreed with the decision, Walker said tersely: "I'm not answering that."

Green, a St. Petersburg native who played at Central Florida, has been with Tampa Bay since Aug. 20, when the Bucs traded a seventh-round pick to Miami for him.

Monday, all the repetitions he took in practice were with the No. 1 offense.

"It's the first two bonus days that we've had. We haven't been out here very long," coach Jon Gruden said. "Cornell is a new player here. It's not like he's been here for very long. So he's taking the majority of the reps at right tackle and we're going to continue to try and bring Kenyatta along. Get his timing back, his sets, his recognition; all those things are going to be something we try to improve upon throughout this season. When he's ready and if he gets ready and takes that position over like we think he's capable of, he will."

It is not the first time Walker has been in the doghouse. During his rookie season, he struggled making the transition to left tackle and lashed back at teammates and coaches during a well-publicized outburst.

"You've got to take it," Walker said of the demotion. "It's not that I lost it. You know what I'm saying? It wasn't that somebody beat me.

"Like I said, you're a starter, you can't make penalties. You can't make mistakes. And right now they feel I'm not ready, so you've got let them get somebody else in there."

Gruden has stopped short of saying Walker won't start or play in Sunday's opener. But there are no indications he will.

"Shoot. Y'all will know before I do," Walker said.

"Right now, it's not my decision. They're going on what's going to help this team win and that's what they want.

"It's no meat off my back. It's a business. I'm learning how that is. However young I am, the second year or whatever, we're trying to win something big and that's how it's going to be."

With Green starting at right tackle and Todd Washington likely replacing injured guard Cosey Coleman, the Bucs will have four players on the offensive line who didn't begin the 2001 season there. The exception is center Jeff Christy.

"I haven't really sat down and spoken to (Kenyatta) today," Gruden said. "I did yesterday and I believe he's going to meet this challenge head on. I expect him to. I think he understands the decision we made and why we made the decision. I'm not going to speak for him. But we did what we feel we had to do to get ourselves going a little bit."

Walker was asked Monday if he thought he would grow from the experience.

"I grew from some s--- last year," he said, walking away.