Walker Takes Shot At Bucs
Published: Aug 15, 2007
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SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Kenyatta Walker arrived at training camp with his new team and immediately sat down for lunch with Carolina's defensive linemen.
One of them, Julius Peppers, once took a swing at him during a game. Another, Kris Jenkins, once called him a "horrible player" and "garbage."
But for Walker, who signed with the Panthers on Monday after being released by Tampa Bay in the offseason, it was no big deal. And in fact, after making peace with his new teammates, he took a swing at his old team.
"Who cares about anything like that. We had some hard-fought games," Walker said Tuesday. "I've said things and they've said things. But it was a competitive thing."
Walker signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum salary. If he makes the team, he will get to play against the Bucs twice this season.
Tampa Bay took Walker with the 14th overall pick in the 2001 draft. A year later, with Walker as the starting right tackle, the Bucs won the Super Bowl under first-year coach Jon Gruden.
But a year later, things started to turn sour. He was accused of being a dirty player who couldn't handle going against elite defensive linemen without committing penalties.
Walker, who started 73 games in six seasons with the Buccaneers, played in only three games last season because of his knee injury. He was released in the offseason.
"I have nothing bad to stay about Gruden and all of that. But the record speaks for itself," Walker said. "They only won one Super Bowl over there, and I was the starting right tackle. I don't think they're winning one anytime soon.
