Fantasy Football Challenge - Football Fanatics Articles Archive

Enclosed in this archive is every bit of the action and updates that occurred in December 2003 within the world of fantasy football. You may want to read these articles for research on players in the coming year, or just check to see if we were way off base with our reporting. Whatever the reason, it's all here for your enjoyment.

Fantasy Football Challenge - December 2003 Fantasy Football Articles

Fantasy Football Challenge - December 2003 Article Archives

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has only 26 receptions and Walls 19.

Still, the Packers coaching staff has proven its faith in Walls route-running ability by the way its used him. Even though hes more than 10 years older than both Franks and Martin, Walls usually is the lone tight end when the Packers go with their receiving personnel on obvious passing downs.

Early in the season, head coach Mike Sherman talked openly about wanting Walls back next year, and more likely than not the Packers would want to at least bring him to training camp if he wants to play again. But theres always the chance theyd decide in the offseason that they have to turn to a younger, cheaper player.

"That will be up to him and [Sherman]," said Jeff Jagodzinski, the Packers tight ends coach. "It depends on how his body feels. I dont know if he knows."

Walls, who is 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, always has kept himself in good shape and still has the ability to get in and out of his breaks quickly even though hes lost straight-line speed. But his age has shown a couple of times in game settings when hes been unable to beat a single tackler after a catch. The most obvious was two weeks ago against Chicago, when on a third-and-5 play in the first quarter, Walls caught a 4-yard pass and was tackled by impressive rookie cornerback Charles Tillman a yard short of the first down.

Thats the kind of play that can nag at a player and raise doubts about the toll age has taken.

"That bothered him," Jagodzinski said.

Said Walls: "It sticks in your mind until you get another opportunity."

Walls, whos one of only four tight ends in NFL history to catch both 400 passes and 50 touchdowns, said he feels healthy enough to keep playing if he wants to. Last year, he had to have his post-reconstructed knee drained about every other week because of excessive swelling, but after having arthroscopic surgery in the offseason he hasnt had any swelling this year.

So it probably will come down to how well he thinks he can play in 2004 and whether he feels up to another year of pounding

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