Javon Walker was an unhappy receiver in Green Bay and wound up getting his wish for a trade and a new contract.
Ashley Lelie is an unhappy receiver in Denver but is unlikely to get anything more than the undesirable options of an awkward return or a costly holdout.
The difference between the talents is perceived value. Green Bay traded Walker to the Broncos only after it got a second-round pick in return. The Broncos appear set on keeping Lelie only after attempts to trade him failed to net as little as a fourth-round draft pick.
“I think you’re always disappointed when any player comes out and says he no longer wants to play for your organization,” Packers president Bob Harlan said during this week’s owners meetings in Denver. “I think the feeling was he was going to be so unhappy that it was probably not going to be the best situation for your locker room and you’re better to make a change. And we were able to pick up some people.”
In all, the Packers were able to package the 37th pick they got for Walker, plus the 139th choice, in exchange for five other draft picks. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan gave Lelie and his agents a draft-day deadline to find a trade for a second-round pick. When no suitor was found, the Broncos went to former offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, now coach of the Houston Texans, and asked for a fourth-round pick. Kubiak said no, effectively leaving Lelie nowhere to go. Shanahan’s history suggests that once the draft-day resource expires, he no longer caves in to a holdout’s trade request for fear of sending a detrimental message to other players.
Lelie has forfeited a significant portion of a $100,000 workout bonus by not attending the Broncos’ two-week quarterback camp, which ended Thursday. If he wants to collect the remaining $1.3 million he has coming to him in salary and bonuses, he probably will have to report for the start of training camp July 28.
Walker, meanwhile, continues to make progress from reconstructive knee surgery. He has been running straight-ahead sprints and, for the first time, participated in warm-up pass routes Thursday.
“Kind of snuck that in on my own,” said Walker, who is planning on a return to full strength for the start of training camp. “But obviously since I’m sprinting, I can do that.”
Footnotes
Brandon Marshall, a receiver selected by the Broncos in the fourth round, said he recently worked out with former Minnesota receiving great Cris Carter. … The Broncos are making upscale renovations to their club suites at Invesco Field at Mile High. The first phase of the two-step project should be completed by the first home preseason game, Aug. 19 against Tennessee.
