Tim_VanVooren's Blog

Talk about a dichotomy.  Javon Walker has a huge new $55 million dollar contract with the Oakland Raiders, but that didn't stop him from winding up unconscious in a driveway in Las Vegas Monday morning.  There are some juicy aspects to the incident regarding how Walker spent his time and money over the weekend that have given this story a little run on the entertainment shows and websites.  But if you've known Walker, the specific whens and hows aren't as striking as the why.  Why has a guy who really was pretty humble and appreciative of his opportunities early in his career gone down such a tough road since ?  Was it agent-for-a-time Drew Rosenhaus ?  Was it his family's inner-circle ?  Was it a knee injury that robbed him of his "armor" ?  Walker always struck me as impressionable, which you could argue is more appealing than arrogant.  However, perhaps that  impressionable nature betrayed him when the influences weren't positive.  The reality is, Walker has made a series of choices regarding football and life that have left him in a worse position than he used to enjoy.  Even a $55 million dollar contract can't protect him from that reality.