Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said today at the annual league meetings that the team might bring back free agent cornerback Frank Walker.
And he said he knows the fans in Baltimore wouldn’t be too thrilled with the move.
“It’s funny you ask the question and the whole fan base, everybody’s going to be like, ‘Don’t do it,’” Harbaugh said when asked by Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun whether Walker coming back is an option.
Harbaugh acknowledges that the fans have a point: He knows Walker gets burned in coverage sometimes. But Harbaugh adds that Walker isn’t quite as bad as the fans think.
“Frank’s a better player than what people think,” Harbaugh said. “I get as frustrated with Frank as anybody does and Frank knows that. He’ll tell you about it and he’ll laugh about it. Frank has got as much talent as any corner in the league. He’s tough, he’s competitive, he’s a physical guy. He loves to play the game. When he gets carried outside of his technique he struggles just like any corner does. When he stays within himself and plays technique, he plays very well.”
Walker played for the Ravens in 2008 and 2009, starting six games over the last two years. Most people figured he was gone when his contract expired at the end of the 2009 season, but Harbaugh thinks he might be back.
“Right now, I’m not so sure that he’s not the best guy out there,” Harbaugh said. “He knows how we play. He knows how we practice. He knows the expectations. We’ve had him for two years. We’ve been through some moments as we all know. And those moments you kind of grow through those things. Hopefully, he understands now what’s expected of him.”
It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement. But it is an indication that Harbaugh would be willing to bring Walker back.