WALKER REWORKS HIS CONTRACT WITH RAIDERS
The release of Terrell Owens by the Cowboys ignited speculation about the possibility of the receiver catching passes for the Raiders this season.
That scenario became a little less likely with the news Thursday that Raiders receiver Javon Walker restructured his contract in such a way that he isn’t going anywhere this season.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Walker restructured the contract he signed with the Raiders a year ago.
“He’s coming off a year in which he was injured,” team executive John Herrera said, “but he’s been a very productive player in this league. It’s not a stretch to think that he will get back to that level.”
Walker, 30, caught 15 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown in eight games for the Raiders last season. He missed the first game with a hamstring injury and the final seven with an ankle injury.
The Raiders paid Walker $12 million last season and were faced with paying Walker a $5 million roster bonus Tuesday, as well as a $4 million base salary for 2009. Instead, he and the Raiders worked out a compromise that guarantees Walker a $2 million base salary this season and $2.6 million in 2010 in exchange for waiving the roster bonus and base salary he was scheduled to receive under terms of the original contract.
Former Bears star McAfee dies
DURHAM, N.C. — George McAfee, a college and pro football Hall of Famer who was a star for the Chicago Bears and at Duke, died Wednesday night. He was 90.
In eight seasons with Chicago, McAfee gained more than 5,000 all-purpose yards and had 21 interceptions. His 35-yard interception return for a touchdown helped Chicago to a 73-0 victory over the Redskins in the 1940 NFL championship.
Footnotes.
Receiver Greg Lewis was traded by Philadelphia to New England for a draft pick. The Eagles received a fifth-round pick from the Patriots, who also get Philadelphia’s seventh- round pick in 2010.
• Bills running back Marshawn Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in Los Angeles and was sentenced to community service and probation.
• Kicker Matt Stover said he’s no longer in the Ravens’ plans and was told by the team that it’s “going in a different direction.”
• The Redskins signed veteran punter Dirk Johnson.
• Safety Jermaine Phillips, tight end Jerramy Stevens and receiver Cortez Hankton re- signed with the Buccaneers.
• The Saints signed Heath Evans to a two-year deal and released fellow fullback Mike Karney. Denver Post wire services
