[CBFF] CT - 5-year, $25 million deal thrills tackle

[Phil DeNomme]

Fairly good deal, IMO, considering what Redding got in Detroit.  I just hope
that JA can get something done with Tommie.  Tommie and Walker will be one
hell of a duo.

-----Original Message-----
From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
[mailto:cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Jerry Madsen
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 6:52 AM
To: CBFF
Subject: [CBFF] CT - 5-year, $25 million deal thrills tackle

Walker becomes one happy Bear
5-year, $25 million deal thrills tackle
By Vaughn McClure
Tribune staff reporter

July 31, 2007, 10:59 PM CDT

BOURBONNAIS -- The Bears made sure Darwin Walker wasn't going anywhere
any time soon.

Walker, a veteran defensive tackle acquired from Buffalo on Sunday,
agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract Tuesday that includes a
little more than $8 million in signing and roster bonuses and
escalators if certain incentives are met, according to agent Albert
Irby.

Walker originally had agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.3 million.

"All I can say right now is that it feels great," Walker said after
practice. "This is great for my family. If it wasn't for them, I don't
know what would happen.

"I'm just excited to be a Bear, and I'm looking forward to trying to
get to the Super Bowl."

Signing Walker to such a hefty deal would indicate how much faith the
Bears have in him contributing immediately. The team released troubled
defensive tackle Tank Johnson in the off-season, meaning the Bears
needed to fill the void next to Tommie Harris. Although Dusty Dvoracek
started camp with the first team, Walker received a number of reps
with the starters by the end of Tuesday's practice.

"Coming in, we knew Darwin was a good football player," Bears coach
Lovie Smith said. "It didn't take long for us to see he was someone
that we wanted to be around here for a while."

Walker, who the Bears picked up in a trade for a mid-round draft pick,
spent the last seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles after being
drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. Walker was traded to Buffalo from
Philadelphia but never reported to the Bills because they refused to
restructure his contract.

vxmcclure at tribune.com

Copyright (c) 2007, The Chicago Tribune

_______________________________________________
Check out the CBFF Blog:
blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
CBFF Homepage:
www.chicagobearsfanforum.com