Bills' Walker reserved about position swap
Tackle largely silent about shift to left side
By Mark Gaughan
NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Langston Walker is a smart guy.
So it's no surprise he's taking a low-key approach to stepping into the high-profile job as the new left tackle of the Buffalo Bills.
"I'm a team player," Walker said as the Bills began spring practices this week. "They asked me to do it early and I'm doing it, no arguments. End of story, really."
Is he embracing the challenge? It would be a good idea, he is told.
"I have to," he said. "Like you just said, I better. There's no secondary draft, and I don't know how many left tackles are out there in free agency, but I highly doubt that we'll pick somebody else up. So I'm what you've got."
Is he confident he can do the job?
"I'm not worried," Walker said. "I've done it before and I'll do it again. I'll do it [as long as] they continue to ask me to."
If Walker seems a bit guarded — OK, very guarded — it's easy to understand why.
Walker, who spent the past two seasons playing right tackle, knows he is stepping into the big shoes of a two-time Pro Bowler, Jason Peters. He knows he is protecting the blind side of quarterback Trent Edwards.
Walker is not going to say anything that will call extra attention to himself. He's not going to make any bold proclamations.
He's not going to come remotely close to getting on some opponent's bulletin board.
The Bills' management, conversely, gave a loud endorsement of Walker's ability April 17 when they traded Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles. You don't deal a Pro Bowler at one of the most important positions on the field unless you think you have a good alternative. They gave Walker another big vote of confidence April 25 when they passed on two chances to take a left tackle in the first round of the NFL draft — with the 11th and 28th overall picks.
Conclusion: The Bills are completely sold on Walker...
Tackle largely silent about shift to left side
By Mark Gaughan
NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Langston Walker is a smart guy.
So it's no surprise he's taking a low-key approach to stepping into the high-profile job as the new left tackle of the Buffalo Bills.
"I'm a team player," Walker said as the Bills began spring practices this week. "They asked me to do it early and I'm doing it, no arguments. End of story, really."
Is he embracing the challenge? It would be a good idea, he is told.
"I have to," he said. "Like you just said, I better. There's no secondary draft, and I don't know how many left tackles are out there in free agency, but I highly doubt that we'll pick somebody else up. So I'm what you've got."
Is he confident he can do the job?
"I'm not worried," Walker said. "I've done it before and I'll do it again. I'll do it [as long as] they continue to ask me to."
If Walker seems a bit guarded — OK, very guarded — it's easy to understand why.
Walker, who spent the past two seasons playing right tackle, knows he is stepping into the big shoes of a two-time Pro Bowler, Jason Peters. He knows he is protecting the blind side of quarterback Trent Edwards.
Walker is not going to say anything that will call extra attention to himself. He's not going to make any bold proclamations.
He's not going to come remotely close to getting on some opponent's bulletin board.
The Bills' management, conversely, gave a loud endorsement of Walker's ability April 17 when they traded Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles. You don't deal a Pro Bowler at one of the most important positions on the field unless you think you have a good alternative. They gave Walker another big vote of confidence April 25 when they passed on two chances to take a left tackle in the first round of the NFL draft — with the 11th and 28th overall picks.
Conclusion: The Bills are completely sold on Walker...
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