Is it me or why didn’t they just franchise Walker?

[RiverDog]

I'm reminded of our last MVP running back, Shaun Alexander. He had a huge, record setting season and took us to a Super Bowl during his contract year. The following spring, we opened up the bank vault for him, made him what was at the time the highest paid running back in NFL history.

Does anyone remember how that one turned out?

 

[Trackhawk]

Walker had four years to prove that he is a franchise guy, but IMHO never did, at least for our franchise and the way we use backs.

He IS far more likely to stay healthy, and be the franchise type back for a team like KC, finding that kind of longevity and success there does not necessarily mean he would have the same longevity and success here.

If I was his agent, I would have advised him to take advantage of the unique opportunity he has as Super Bowl MVP, let the Seahawks front office know that he has no intention of remaining with the team, and find a team that will pay him handsomely, without imposing the same punishing toll on his body.

 

[jammerhawk]

Not franchised b/c while great at times a look at his 4 year performance didn’t reveal a must keep franchise player and staying young and hungry at RB generally is winning philosophy.

Overall while I was concerned about losing Walker but there were times he was so frustrating to watch that I wanted him gone.

Happy for him he got his big deal and thankful for his strong play at the end of the year. I wish him luck in KC.

Truly RBs to me are replaceable.

 

[Seahawker]

For crying out loud let him go, he didn't want to be here and got paid, we replaced him with someone likely better. For the record I was one of the biggest opponents for us drafting Price mainly because I wanted a bigger between the tackles guy who would keep us ahead of the sticks. But the more I read about Price and watch him the more I like him and I'm sure the Rams & 49ers hate that we took JP.

K9 was not on a Shaun Alexander or Marshawn Lynch level, sorry just wasn't. It's not like the Sonics if they had let Dennis Johnson leave, more like Wally Walker
John is not going to franchise a guy just because you spent $60 on his jersey.

 

[Seahawkfan80]

We dont need someone that will sit on his laurels and take the money and dont run. Multiple running backs so we can keep them fresh for the whole season is a great thought and what we do now. I think Holani and Macintosh will surprise us. And we got another one in the draft. This is gonna be an interesting year. Our method of using TEs to create holes is something other teams are copying too.

 

[evergreen]

K9 was pretty awesome his first year here. Then, meh. Until the playoff run that is. He made huge plays against the Rams. Remember guys grabbing air, and him blowing by? Remember the Boo/Cheer against LA? The 3rd and 17 against the 9ers? He's a huge reason we won the Bowl. He was so valuable. It's all about value. Top $$ isn't so valuable...

 

[Tusc2000]

After a promising rookie year he had 2 sub-par ones before finally putting together that great season we all hoped he had in him. As said above, he was kept fresh by Charbs taking part of the load for much of last season. Suffice to say, we got as much out of Walker as we could have expected. RBs just have a short shelf life and I think KC will be disappointed in the end.

The $15M price tag did not jive w K9 going forward. Aside from checkdowns, he is not a good receiver, nor is he a good pass blocker. From a value standpoint, Price offers the potential to be almost as good for the next 4 years at a far lower cost. Sorry, but in the end, the NFL is a business. And businesses tend to package out a lot of their older workers when their future value declines. Younger workers are cheaper and are usually more productive. It stinks sometimes, but that's just the way of the world.

 

[Seahawkfan80]

Seems like more and more are getting decent and then explode in their chosen position for the """MONEY""" year.

 

[Ycrew]

I said this before.

Tag Walker, and trade him for picks.


Just like Frank Clark.

 

[sutz]

I said this before.

Tag Walker, and trade him for picks.


Just like Frank Clark.

Clark was at a premium position. K9, not so much, as teams don't value RB that much.

 

[seabowl]

I think many of you are missing the point. It’s not about re-signing him to a long-term deal. It was about franchising him for one year. We all know how he did the last half of the season last year and I think part of it was because he knew he was playing for a contract. Well, why not run it back and have him have to do it again? He’s obviously going to be motivated because he’d be on a prove it deal. Again, I’m not saying Price is going to be bad at all, but I can tell you if given the choice of Price or Walker just for next year, I’d much rather have Walker and so with most.

 

[Morpheus08]

I'm reminded of our last MVP running back, Shaun Alexander. He had a huge, record setting season and took us to a Super Bowl during his contract year. The following spring, we opened up the bank vault for him, made him what was at the time the highest paid running back in NFL history.

Does anyone remember how that one turned out?

Ran like he had a flat tire. Nope, no thanks.

 

[Seahawker]

I think many of you are missing the point. It’s not about re-signing him to a long-term deal. It was about franchising him for one year. We all know how he did the last half of the season last year and I think part of it was because he knew he was playing for a contract. Well, why not run it back and have him have to do it again? He’s obviously going to be motivated because he’d be on a prove it deal. Again, I’m not saying Price is going to be bad at all, but I can tell you if given the choice of Price or Walker just for next year, I’d much rather have Walker and so with most.

Boy, you're really on K9's jock aren't ya seabowl?
Here's your answer, take it or leave it.

Walker was injury prone, not happy sharing carries and wanted a new contract, His talent level could be debated, but safe to say not elite.
JS, MM and everyone in the building have been hitting on all cylinders and in the midst of building a dynasty. John just got us out of cap hell and has been nailing his drafts and FA acquisitions, our success isn't just about talent, it's about mindset & chemistry.
Why would John pay that much more $ to a guy who is a risk, not elite and is so ready to move on?
He wouldn't and didn't. He bird dogged out a younger, cheaper and maybe more productive RB that wants to play for the world champs.
All that and he preserved the driving chemistry of this team by adding some hungry dogs.

Now KWlll is happy, the Chiefs are pumped, John's happy, most of the 12's are ecstatic but you are not. Buy another jersey or root for the Chiefs.

 

[Jville]

I think many of you are missing the point. It’s not about re-signing him to a long-term deal. It was about franchising him for one year. We all know how he did the last half of the season last year and I think part of it was because he knew he was playing for a contract. Well, why not run it back and have him have to do it again? He’s obviously going to be motivated because he’d be on a prove it deal. Again, I’m not saying Price is going to be bad at all, but I can tell you if given the choice of Price or Walker just for next year, I’d much rather have Walker and so with most.

Holding a player hostage via some NFL/Union convention doesn't underwrite the Seahawks "12 as one" mandate.

It's just that simple.

 

[hawks85]

It doesn't sound like he wanted to be here spliting carries, he may have wanted to be the lead dog. Plus its not best to keep a disgruntled player on the team and he has been injury prone.

With hindsight, it's best that we didn't keep K9. The way the draft played out in the 1st round, our prospect fits were pretty much wiped out; (CB) Chris Johnson, (OG) Keylan Rutledge, (DE) Keldric Faulk, and (DE) Malachi Lawrence were all gone.

We got Bud Clark a ballhawking (S/CB) in the 2nd round, Julian Neal a big physical CB in the 3rd round, and (OG) Beau Stevens a starting calibre physical run blocking stud in the 5th round.

It's no surprise that the Rams lit us up last year. Clark and Neal, hopefully fix that. As a former DB myself, I like both picks.

 

[chrispy]

Once a player says he's unhappy, it's not going to change. It just festers and gets worse. I like K9. He's not like RCW. He was more like DK...just wanted to play a role that the coaching staff saw different. Tagging him or overpaying him wouldn't fix that. In hindsight, does DK regret forcing his way out? He got paid, but no ring. K9 got paid but won't be part of '26 team. Time will tell the repercussions.

No ill will toward him but keeping him when he was unhappy would have been a bad decision.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

It's no surprise that the Rams lit us up last year. Clark and Neal, hopefully fix that. As a former DB myself, I like both picks.

Scoreboard

 

[GemCity]

As already mentioned, he didn’t like splitting carries.

Prediction: Price’s production eclipses Walkers by year 3.

 

[Aircrew]

It was time. Ken did some good things for the Hawks, but let's be honest, he was often injured. In his first 3 seasons, Ken missed 9 games. That's an 18% rate. We went to a running back by committee because of his injuries. In 4 seasons, only in this last year was he available for 17 games. Letting him walk for what KC paid him was the right thing to do.

 

[CalgaryFan05]

This. Remember mid-season when half the fans wanted to bench K9 for Charbs? If it wasn't for the playoff run, when Charbs was on IR, noone would raise the issue.

This. He's not made of glass - but despite his desire to carry the full load - he doesn't have the durability for it.

Plus he sucked at blocking. Plus he was always too much of a scat back for my liking. 50 yards east and west to get 2 yards north.

I agree with JS on this one.