[CBFF] Bears land veteran defensive tackle Walker

[Steve Behrens]

(((A somewhat more complete article regarding the trade)))
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*Bears land veteran defensive tackle Walker*
   By Larry Mayer
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Bears on Sunday bolstered their defensive line by
acquiring veteran tackle Darwin Walker from the Buffalo Bills in exchange
for an undisclosed pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Walker appeared in 87 games with 75 starts the past six seasons with the
Philadelphia Eagles, recording 264 tackles, 27½ sacks, five forced fumbles
and five fumble recoveries.

"I'm extremely happy," Walker said. "They've had a lot of success and I just
want to try to be a part of that; help in whatever way I can. As always, we
all want to win a Super Bowl. That's my goal and that's our team's goal."

Walker will help fill the void created by the release of Tank Johnson.

"We had been talking on and off with Buffalo for some time and things
aligned for us," said general manager Jerry
Angelo<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3631#>.
"We felt that maybe another good defensive lineman, in particular another
defensive tackle, would be a good thing for us."

Arriving at training camp Sunday, Walker watched part of practice and met
several of his new teammates. The Tennessee product is expected to practice
Monday.

Walker appears to be an ideal fit in the Bears defense and figures to help
limit the number of double-team blocks that Pro Bowler Tommie
Harris<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3631#>typically
attracts inside.

Last season Walker registered 56 tackles, six sacks and his first career
interception while starting 15 of 16 games played. The 6-3, 294-pounder then
tied an Eagles post-season record with two sacks in a playoff loss to the
New Orleans Saints.

With 26½ sacks since 2002, Walker is tied for fifth in the NFL among
defensive tackles.

"We talk a lot about our defensive line and how it starts up front," said
coach Lovie Smith<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3631#>.
"Adding another player like that to the mix should help a lot.

"We're pleased with what some of our guys like Dusty Dvoracek has done so
far. But to get a proven guy that can rush the passer like Darwin can help a
lot."

Walker was traded to the Bills March 26, but didn't report to training camp
because he was seeking a long-term contract extension. There was a
stipulation in the trade that stated that Walker would be returned to the
Eagles if no deal was completed by Aug. 5.

The situation is reminiscent of another trade the Bears made in 2004. In
that deal, they sent receiver Marty Booker and a conditional draft pick to
the Miami Dolphins in exchange for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, also a
training camp holdout.

Walker said that he wanted to be dealt to the Bears all along, but the
Eagles didn't accommodate his request.

"When we first went to Philadelphia [to ask for a trade], the first team I
wanted to talk to was Chicago," Walker said. "Philly had their ways of
making things happen the way they wanted to, but fortunately it turned
around and worked out for me."

Walker will practice at both defensive tackle positions but is expected to
start at nose tackle next to Harris. Like linebacker Lance
Briggs<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3631#>,
who worked out with his teammates for the first time Sunday, Walker will not
initially line up with the No. 1 defense.

"I think he has starter-type ability," Smith said. "[But] Lance Briggs
worked on the second team today, so you always start from the bottom. From
there, though, by game time the best players will play no matter when they
get here."

Walker was selected by Arizona in the third round of the 2000 draft in the
same Cardinals class that included former Bears running back Thomas Jones.
The Tennessee product appeared in one game for Arizona before being claimed
off waivers by the Eagles.

Acquiring Walker was a major coup for Angelo and Bobby
DePaul<http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3631#>,
the Bears' senior director of pro personnel.

"We know what type of players we're looking for and we've gotten those types
of athletes throughout," Smith said. "I've been around Jerry a long time.
Bobby DePaul … They did a great job to be able to get a player like Darwin
this late in the year."

A trade like the one the Bears pulled off Sunday is one that only a team on
the cusp of a championship would make.

"Our goals are high and well they should be," Angelo said. "We're not
looking at a .500 football team and we felt to get a quality player in what
we still think is in his prime was a good get for us, particularly being a
defensive tackle. We felt like it's something we needed to pursue if the
right player was out there."

While excited about the deal, Smith wants to see Walker on the practice
field before declaring him the final piece of the puzzle.

"I don't want to get too euphoric because he has to come out here and show
us what he can do," Smith said. "He's got to earn his stripes just like
everybody else, but he's got a real good history.

"His character has been very good in terms of the kind of teammate and the
kind of citizen he is. We feel like we've got a quality player, but again,
he's got to come out here and earn his stripes for the Bears."