Serving as the Packers' No. 3 receiver for much of last season, Javon Walker blossomed into the player drafted 20th overall the year before, making great catch after great catch in the latter half of the season.
Playing in all 16 games for the first time, Walker led the Packers with a career-high 716 yards receiving on a career-best 41 receptions (third on the team).
Among receivers with 25-or-more catches, Walker finished second in the NFL with a 17.5-yard average, behind only the Cowboys' Joey Galloway (19.8).
Entering his third season with the Packers, Walker is looking to improve on last season's performance, hoping that 2004 is the breakout season that both he and the Packers expect from the former Florida State Seminole.
Packers.com recently caught up with Walker to discuss his transition from the college game to the professional level, his offseason schedule and a few other topics in our latest round of Random Questions.
Packers.com: What is the most difficult adjustment you had to make from college to the professional level?
Walker: "I'd say just competing with the different athletes. All the players in the NFL are great athletes and you have to get used to the competitiveness of the game. I've always been on a level of my own. In the NFL, you have to come every week ready to play. Everybody is a standout here.
"And learning what to do in certain situations on the field was another one of the tough adjustments."
Are there any players that you tried to emulate when you were growing up?
"Not really in football. I've always liked Michael Jordan. I'm still a Michael Jordan fan to this day."
If you could travel back to another time period, when would it be?
"Probably the 1960s. They used to have a lot of fun back in the '60s. They always had a lot of parties and a lot of stuff going on all the time. I would just like to see how it was."
What game show would you most like to be a contestant on?
"Family Feud."
Who has had the most influence on your life?
"Without a doubt, my mom."
What was your favorite sports team growing up?
"I didn't really have one. I pretty much watched everyone."
Who is the biggest comedian on the team?
"Man, that's tough. We've got a lot of crazy guys on this team. I'd have to say Darren Sharper is a comedian. I think I'm pretty much a comedian. Donald Driver, a lot of guys. I probably couldn't narrow it down to just one."
What is the one thing that you most want to improve on this year?
"Wow, I can't really nail down one thing that I want to improve. I just want to get better. I want to take my game to another level. Like some of the plays that were made last year, I just want to make more of them. And jump out to a fast start this year."
What are your thoughts about athletes being role models to kids?
"A lot of athletes, depending on their situation, are going to be role models regardless, because people are going to look up to them. But athletes are human, just like everyone else. I wouldn't mind for a lot of athletes being role models but I also would like the fans to know that the players are human just like they are. So if they make a mistake, don't look down on them."
What is the funniest thing you've seen happen on the football field?
"It wasn't really that funny then, but looking back you have to laugh about it. There was one game, I don't remember exactly which one, but someone made an interception and started running it back. They fumbled the ball, we picked it up and started running it back. We fumbled the ball and they picked it up and started running it back. After a while, someone finally made the tackle. There was just a lot going on in that one play."
Instant replay: Get rid of it? Or use it more?
"Use it more."
If there was one NFL rule you could change, what would it be?
"I would change it to where we could wear our socks any way that we wanted to. The league has all kinds of fines for more serious things, but the cost for them are less than a socks fine, which is about $5,000."
How would you wear your socks?
"Our socks are half green and half white. I would like more of the green to show."
What kind of music do you listen to before games?
"I listen to a lot of rap. Some of it gets me pumped up, depending on what it is."
What have you been doing this offseason?
"I've just been training and trying to get my body right coming into this season. I had a couple of little nicks and bruises that I'm just trying to get well."
What is your favorite opposing city to play in?
"Minnesota."
What is your favorite video game?
"Super Mario Brothers."
What is your favorite TV commercial?
"I like the Miller Lite commercial with the two girls fighting."
Who is the best dressed player on the team?
"I'm going to say that's got to be Donald Driver. He's always dressed pretty nice."
Who is the toughest player you've had to go against since you've been in the league?
"Probably Quentin Jammer. He was pretty aggressive."
If you weren't playing in the NFL, what would you be doing?
"I'd like to be a sports commentator."
What is one word you would use to describe your game?
"Slick."
Can you cook? If so, what's your specialty?
"I do cook a little bit. I like to cook baked or grilled chicken. I'm from the south, and in the south it's all about seasoning."
