Erik Walden

Erik Lashawn Walden (born August 21, 1985) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Middle Tennessee State. Walden was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers.

Early years

Walden attended Dublin High School where he practiced football, basketball, and track. In football he played as a running back and defensive end. In basketball he received All-state honors as a junior and senior.

He moved on to Middle Tennessee State University and became a four-year starter at defensive end. As a junior he was an All-Sun Belt Conference selection. Against Central Michigan in the 2006 Motor City Bowl he led his team with six tackles and two quarterback sacks.^[1]

Walden was injured most of his senior season, which limited his effectiveness, but was still named All-Sun Belt, after finishing second in conference history in career sacks. He ended his college career after playing in 44 games (34 starts) with 152 tackles (40 for loss), 22.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 passes defensed and one interception. He owns the school's career (22.5) and season (11.5) sack records.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Walden was selected in the sixth round (167th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.^[2] He was waived on August 30 during final cuts.

Kansas City Chiefs

A day after being let go by the Cowboys, hoping he would clear waivers and enabling them to sign him to their practice squad, he was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs on August 31, 2008. After playing in 9 games and registering 10 special teams tackles, he was released on November 18.

Miami Dolphins

He was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on November 20, 2008. He played in 6 games and recorded 5 special teams tackles. The next year he was inactive for 5 games and finished with 8 special teams tackles. He was waived on September 9, 2010.

Green Bay Packers

Walden was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers on October 27, 2010, because they were experiencing several injuries on the defensive side. In just his second career start he had a breakout game and was named NFC Defensive Player of the week, after playing against the Chicago Bears, while leading the team with 16 tackles and 2 sacks.^[3] He was declared inactive in Super Bowl XLV because of an ankle injury.

In 2011, he became a full-time starter (15 starts) for the first time in his career and posted 86 tackles (50 solo), 3 sacks, 2 passes defensed and a fumble recovery that he returned for his first career touchdown. The next year his starts were reduced to 9 games after the Packers drafted Nick Perry. He finished with 69 tackles (38 solo), 3 sacks, 4 passes defensed and his first 2 career interceptions.

Indianapolis Colts

Walden signed with the Indianapolis Colts on March 12, 2013.^[4] The contract was for four years, $16 million ($8 million guaranteed).^[5] In week eleven against the Tennessee Titans, he pulled Delanie Walker's helmet off and head-butted him, which resulted in a penalty for unnecessary roughness and a one-game suspension.^[6] He finished the season with 15 starts, 58 tackles (33 solo), 3 sacks, 3 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

In 2014, Walden set a career-high in sacks with 6, while also recording 57 tackles (40 solo) and one forced fumble in 15 games (14 starts). The next year he started 15 games, posting 3 sacks and one forced fumble.

Personal life

Walden has two children with an ex-girlfriend, Erica Palmer.^[7] On November 25, 2011, he was arrested for an alleged physical altercation that sent Palmer to the hospital. Police stated they had enough evidence to hold him under felony charges through Monday, as his case could not be processed over the Thanksgiving weekend.^[8] Charges were later dropped, and Walden was not suspended by the league.^[9]

On March 19, 2015, it was reported that Walden and an unnamed female companion had been attacked by Palmer. She allegedly confronted Walden at his Braselton, Georgia home with a gun and a baseball bat, and while he was able to take the gun from her, Palmer used the bat to break the arm of the unnamed woman. Palmer then fled, but returned to attack Walden, slashing his arm with a knife. Palmer was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, family violence aggravated assault, theft by taking, and first-degree burglary.^[7][10]

References

External links

• Indianapolis Colts bio
• Green Bay Packers bio
• Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders bio