All those contractual safeguards must take longer to decipher than the Broncos and Javon Walker expected.
Having agreed in principle last week on a six-year contract worth around $43 million, the Broncos and the receiver did not finalize the deal as expected Monday as the two continued to pore over contract language that has become especially crucial considering Walker’s recovery from major knee surgery.
Once the deal is done, the Broncos could have a win-win situation.
Should Walker, 27, regain his 2004 Pro Bowl form, the Broncos would make him the third-highest paid receiver in the game. But if Walker struggles to overcome the knee injury that forced him to miss all but 2 1/2 quarters of the 2005 season, the Broncos would have a chance to minimize their financial investment.
According to a league source, Walker, acquired April 29 for a second-round draft pick, will get the $1.15 million base salary he had remaining from the contract he originally signed with the Green Bay Packers, then a five-year, $42 million extension from the Broncos. Included in the extension is a $1 million roster bonus the Broncos inherited from the Packers.
The key to the deal is the bonus payout, which according to the source is between $15 million and $16 million. Multiple websites have reported Monday the bonuses would be paid out as club options – most in 2007, the rest in 2008.
Option bonuses are usually not guaranteed, although they can trigger salary promises.
Know this: The Broncos didn’t give up a second-round pick with the idea of keeping Walker for a year.
If all goes well for both sides, Walker would be paid more than any receiver except Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison (seven years, $66 million; $22 million signing bonus) and Oakland’s Randy Moss (eight years, $75 million; $18 million bonus).
The last time Walker was healthy, he had 89 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns for Green Bay in 2004.
He never got a chance for an encore performance as his knee blew up in the Packers’ season opener at Detroit. The Broncos open the preseason Aug. 11 at Detroit.
The Broncos brought Walker in for a thorough examination on April 28 and pulled off the trade the next day.
Footnote
Not everyone in Denver will be mad at Ashley Lelie today. The Broncos’ deep-threat receiver, who has said he would sit out the season if he is not traded, will donate $18,000 today to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado. Lelie has been working out in Arizona and will have a representative present the check on his behalf.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
This story has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporter’s error, it stated that Lelie would donate $18,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Denver. The donation went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado.
