Wednesday, May 4, 2005 | 9:29 a.m.
SUN WIRE SERVICES
Brett Favre said he is disappointed with teammate Javon Walker's contract holdout, and suggested the Green Bay Packers could manage without the Pro Bowl wide receiver.
"If Javon wants to know what his quarterback thinks, and I would think he might, I'd tell him he's going about this the wrong way," Favre told the Green Bay Press-Gazette in a story posted on its Web site Tuesday.
"When his agent tells him not to worry about what his teammates think and all that stuff, I'd tell him I've been around a long time and that stuff will come back to haunt you."
Walker stayed away from a mandatory minicamp that ended Sunday. The 35-year-old Favre had been excused from the minicamp by coach Mike Sherman.
Walker has two years left on the contract he signed as a first-round draft pick of the Packers in 2002. He is scheduled to make $515,000 this season and $650,000 in 2006.
He's coming off a breakout season last year when he caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. He played in his first Pro Bowl in February.
Walker's new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also represents cornerback Mike McKenzie, who held out of all the Packers' preseason training sessions a year ago. McKenzie was traded to New Orleans a few weeks into the season.
Favre said Walker might be wise to go to general manager Ted Thompson directly and try to work out a new deal.
"Javon has tremendous potential," Favre said. "We got to see some of that last year. The sky's the limit for that guy, and I'd be the first to defend him, but he's going about it the wrong way."
If Walker's position doesn't change, Favre said, he'd prefer the team to go without him.
"I sure hope the Packers don't give in to him," he said.
The Cleveland Browns could require Winslow, who lost millions last year because of a season-ending injury, to pay back a $4.4 million signing bonus he received in March.
Winslow sustained internal injuries and damage to his right shoulder and right knee in an accident that sent him flying over the handlebars of his newly purchased motorcycle.
Winslow was being treated at the Cleveland Clinic, where the team's medical staff was waiting for swelling in the shoulder and knee to subside. The team declined Tuesday to provide an update on his condition.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the standard NFL contract forbids players from taking part in any activity "which may involve a significant risk of personal injury."
He led the team in tackles with 124 in 2003, and started 14 games last season.
"Kevin's leadership abilities and his professionalism have been a huge asset to me and our football team, and this was a difficult decision to make," coach Marvin Lewis said. "However, for Kevin's ability to gain an opportunity with another team, this is the best timing."
Brandon will begin his fourth season with the Broncos. He was drafted in the fourth round in 2002 and started 10 games in 2003, making 57 tackles, 44 of them solos, intercepting a pass and breaking up six.
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