Sports

NFL

Packers told to stand firm on WR

By wire services
Published July 28, 2005

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GREEN BAY, Wis. - Packers shareholders had a message for the team's top brass at their annual meeting Wednesday: Don't give any of that record revenue to Javon Walker.

At least a dozen shareholders told general manager Ted Thompson to hold the line on the wide receiver, who had planned to stay away from training camp because the Packers were refusing to renegotiate his contract.

But Walker was spotted later Wednesday at the Green Bay airport, where he told a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tell everyone I'm coming in," the newspaper reported online. The Associated Press confirmed that Walker reported.

Not one of the shareholders at Wednesday's meeting told Thompson to give in to Walker's demands for a hefty pay raise from the $515,000 he's scheduled to make this season. Team president Bob Harlan, who greeted stockholders after the packed meeting at the Resch Center, said he got the same one-sided advice.

PANTHERS ACQUIRE RECEIVER: The Panthers may have found a replacement for Muhsin Muhammad, acquiring wide receiver Rod Gardner from the Redskins.

The deal is contingent upon Gardner passing a physical today in Charlotte, Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. Carolina did not say what it traded.

Gardner, 27, started all 16 games in each of his four seasons in Washington, making 227 receptions for 2,997 yards and 22 touchdowns. But his career has been marked by inconsistency.

ROOKIE TRAUMA: Dolphins rookie Manuel Wright, who broke down in tears after he was chewed out by coach Nick Saban on Tuesday, missed both practices the next day to have his ailing back examined.

"The guy went to the doctor today. They wanted to check his back out," Saban said. "That's part of the issue. We have a protocol and procedure for how we do things around here, and sometimes young players don't understand that."

Dolphins guard Jeno James was taken to a South Florida hospital after practice with an undisclosed ailment. James took part in the two-hour workout and didn't appear to be injured.

BENGALS: Third-round pick Tab Perry, a receiver from UCLA, signed a three-year deal.

BRONCOS: Fourth-round draft pick Karl Paymah, a cornerback from Washington State, signed.

BROWNS: Charlie Frye of Akron, the fourth quarterback selected in the draft, agreed to a four-year, $5-million contract.

CHIEFS: Three draft picks agreed to terms: third-rounder Dustin Colquitt, a punter from Tennessee; fifth-rounder Alphonso Hodge, a cornerback from Miami (Ohio); and seventh-rounder James Kilian, a quarterback from Tulsa.

COLTS: Second-round pick Kelvin Hayden, a cornerback from Illinois, signed a four-year contract, the final rookie to agree to terms.

EAGLES: Second-round pick Reggie Brown of Georgia agreed to terms. He's expected to challenge for the No. 4 wide receiver role.

JETS: Clemson cornerback Justin Miller, one of the team's two second-round picks, signed, leaving New York with only one unsigned pick, second-round kicker Mike Nugent from Ohio State.

RAMS: Third-round pick Oshiomogho Atogwe, a safety from Stanford, signed a three-year contract.

REDSKINS: The NFL fined the team $45,000 for violating practice squad rules in 2004. During a Nov. 12 practice, Washington used one more practice squad player than it is allowed. ... Fourth-round pick Manuel White, a running back from UCLA, agreed to a four-year, $1.81-million contract.

SAINTS: Second-round pick Josh Bullocks, a safety from Nebraska, agreed to a four-year contract, and third-round pick Alfred Fincher, a linebacker from Connecticut, agreed to a three-year deal.

STEELERS: First-round pick Heath Miller, a tight end from Virginia, agreed to terms.

TITANS: Third-round pick Courtney Roby, a wide receiver from Indiana, agreed to terms.

[Last modified July 28, 2005, 01:10:15]

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