Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Raiders' bottom FA signings: Javon Walker

We conclude our list of the bottom 5 Oakland Raiders free-agent signings in franchise history with receiver Javon Walker checking in at No. 1…

Perhaps the only thing more strange or star-crossed than Walker’s NFL career was Walker himself.

Or perhaps that ungodly six-year, $55 million contract with $16 million guaranteed Walker was feted with by the Raiders and Al Davis in 2008. (And before you start screaming and wondering where cornerback DeAngelo Hall is on this list, he was acquired in a trade.)

Walker delivered more strange moments in two years in Silver and Blackdom than highlight-reel catches.

There was the beating he endured in Las Vegas. The non-stop knee injury he claimed was healed by a mystery doctor whose identity he refused to divulge. The rumor that Davis talked him out of retirement to sign with the Raiders.

“I don’t know,” Davis said in 2008 when asked if he had, indeed, convinced Walker to keep playing, after the infamous Lane Kiffin/overhead projector media conference.

“See, that’s the problem. I’m pretty close to some of the players and I try to stay away from them. I stay away from them. I stay away because I don’t want the head coach to be upset. Javon can play. He can play.”

Well, he could play. At one time, anyway.

In 2004, he caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers and went to the Pro Bowl.

In 2006, his first season in Denver, Walker had 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight TDs.

But after being limited to just eight games and 26 catches in 2007, the Broncos cut him and the Raiders swooped in.

His, ahem, production in two years with the Raiders? Try 15 receptions (or, more than $1 million per catch), one touchdown ($16 million for that TD) and 196 receiving yards. And all of that came in eight games in 2008.

In 2009, he appeared in three games and the only stat he had was a fumble.

You could say the Raiders fumbled big time with the Walker signing. But that would be too easy.

Previous lists

Top 5 free-agent signings

5. Jerry Rice

4. John Matuszak

3. Rich Gannon

2. George Blanda

1. Jim Plunkett

Bottom 5 free-agent signings

5. Mike Brisiel

4. Aaron Brooks

3. Desmond Howard

2. Larry Brown

1. Javon Walker

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