Walker Could Be Headed Back To Philly

Darwin Walker is a man without a football team.

It's looking more and more like Walker, traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Buffalo Bills for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb in March, will not be going to Buffalo after all.

Walker is holding out for an extension on the two years he has remaining on the contract and it appears his money demands are more than the Bills are willing to fork over.

Talks continue but general manager Marv Levy said the ultimate decision to report to the team rests with Walker, who is under contract, and has been advised he's subject to being fined.

"We'd like to have him," Levy said. "But if he's not going to be here, we'll go on without him. That's all it amounts to."

The team minicamp begins today and Levy has stated that Walker will be fined everyday he's a no-show. Doesn't sound like a budding relationship is happening between the two does it?

Negotiating a new deal was a condition the seven-year NFL veteran placed on the Bills when the trade was made.

The Bills can return Walker to Philadelphia if he doesn't report by Aug. 5. Buffalo would receive a sixth-round pick in next year's draft as compensation. The Bills would keep the fifth-round selection that the Eagles gave them in March.

If that happens, it would be a huge loss for the Bills, who are trying to rebuild the interior of the defensive line. Last years number one selection, John McCargo, is recovering from a broken foot that cost him most of last season. That leaves Larry Tripplett, Tim Anderson and solid second-year pro Kyle Williams manning the DT spots.

Walker not signing with Buffalo would leave them with two lower draft picks for 2008, while losing an All-Pro performer like Spikes and a solid veteran in Holcomb. Not something to smile about if you're a Bills fan.

Walker is a penetrating tackle who can pressure the quarterback and is a good fit in the Bills defensive scheme.

He had eight sacks in 17 games -- including playoffs -- last season, and has 26½ sacks over the past five years, fourth best among defensive tackles during that span.