Erik Walden
Encyclopedia
Erik Lashawn Walden is an American football
linebacker
for the Green Bay Packers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Middle Tennessee State
.
Walden has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs
and Miami Dolphins
.
against Central Michigan
in the 2006 Motor City Bowl
with six tackles and two quarterback sacks.
, Walden was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs
on August 31, 2008. Linebacker
Weston Dacus
was waived to make room for Walden. On November 19, the Chiefs waived Walden.
on November 20, 2008. The team waived linebacker
Rob Ninkovich
to make room for him on the roster.
weekend. Walden's girlfriend changed her statement and Walden was released with no charges filed.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Middle Tennessee State
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represents Middle Tennessee State University in NCAA Division I FBS football competition. The Blue Raiders, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, play their home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.Rick Stockstill has...
.
Walden has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
College career
He led the Middle Tennessee State Blue RaidersMiddle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represents Middle Tennessee State University in NCAA Division I FBS football competition. The Blue Raiders, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, play their home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.Rick Stockstill has...
against Central Michigan
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
in the 2006 Motor City Bowl
Motor City Bowl
The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually since 1997. The first five games were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Starting in 2002, the game was moved to 65,000-seat Ford Field in downtown...
with six tackles and two quarterback sacks.
Dallas Cowboys
Walden signed a four-year contract with the Cowboys on July 22, 2008. He was waived by the team on August 30 during final cuts.Kansas City Chiefs
A day after being let go by the Cowboys, hoping he would clear waivers enabling them to sign him to their practice squadScout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
, Walden was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on August 31, 2008. Linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Weston Dacus
Weston Dacus
Robert Weston Dacus [DAY-cus] is an American football linebacker for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Arkansas.-External links:**...
was waived to make room for Walden. On November 19, the Chiefs waived Walden.
Miami Dolphins
Walden was claimed off waivers by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 20, 2008. The team waived linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Rob Ninkovich
Rob Ninkovich
Robert Michael Ninkovich is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.Ninkovich has also played for the Miami Dolphins.-Early...
to make room for him on the roster.
Green Bay Packers
Walden was signed off the street by the Packers on October 31, 2010. Walden had his best game for the Packers on January 2, 2011 starting against the Chicago Bears. Walden led the team with 3 sacks and 16 tackles and was named NFC Defensive Player of the week. He finished the season with twenty tackles in 9 games (two starts).Personal Life
On November 25, 2011 Walden was arrested for an alleged physical altercation that sent his girlfriend to the hospital. Police had enough evidence to hold him under felony charges through Monday, as his case could not be processed over the ThanksgivingThanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
weekend. Walden's girlfriend changed her statement and Walden was released with no charges filed.