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As initially reported by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staffer Tom Silverstein, Javon Walker wasn't ready to discuss his reasons for arriving in town this evening for the official start of training camp, but the star receiver was willing to say this:

"Tell them I'm coming in," Walker told a Journal Sentinel reporter as he arrived at the Green Bay airport shortly after 5 p.m. "You can tell them that."

Walker wouldn't elaborate on whether there had been any change in his contract status. A team official who spoke to Associated Press sports writer Arnie Stapleton on condition of anonymity confirmed Walker had reported to camp for the veterans' 7 p.m. mandatory meeting.

According to ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli, it was not immediately clear how the conflict between Walker and the Packers was resolved, although sources told Pasquarelli there have been conversations the past few days between Green Bay vice president Andrew Brandt and agent Drew Rosenhaus.

But up until Walker's arrival at Austin Straubel Airport, most in the Packers organization were under the impression he wasn't going to be present for the start of training camp.

Walker skipped all the Packers' offseason workouts after hiring Rosenhaus to renegotiate his contract, which has two years remaining and calls for him to make $515,000 this season. Last week, Rosenhaus said the Packers informed him that they had no intention of trading Walker, redoing his deal or even committing to a renegotiation down the road.

In addition, the Packers had the right to seek the return of half of Walker's $1.3 million option bonus paid in 2003 if he held out, according to the provisions of his contract.

It's also worth noting that Walker's threatened holdout drew the ire of Brett Favre, who got into a highly-publicized verbal tussle with Rosenhaus by saying he hoped the Packers wouldn't give in to Walker's demands.

Favre suggested that players with several years left on their contract should honor their deal, and if they want a raise, they should go about it behind the scenes and not hold out.

Rosenhaus responded by suggesting Favre give him a call to "get all the facts," something Favre said was unnecessary.

Although many analysts claimed Favre's public criticism of Walker was out of line, teammates had the veteran signal caller's back.

"I'm not in a position where I can comment on people's contracts," tackle Mark Tauscher told Journal Sentinel staffer Lori Nickel earlier this month. "I personally am going to stay out of the whole thing. There's no question that people respect and are going to listen to what Brett Favre is going to say.

"I think for the most part most players don't have the right to comment on other people's business, but with Brett, he's got the clout and he can say what he wants and I don't think anybody can question it. I don't know of many other guys in the locker room that have that."

Place-kicker Ryan Longwell added: "Brett has earned more respect than anybody in the locker room and he can say what ever he wants. For the most part I agree with him. I don't think he's said anything that's untrue; I don't think he's said anything that's over the line. If you look at his history, he does not talk a lot. So when he does, it's something that really gets him."

Interestingly enough, the team's shareholders shared Favre's sentiments.

In a shareholders meeting held earlier today, at least a dozen shareholders told general manager Ted Thompson to hold the line on the wide receiver.

According to Stapleton, not one of them told Thompson to give in to Walker's demands for a raise. And team president Bob Harlan, who greeted stockholders after the packed meeting, said he got the same one-sided advice.

Thompson said he wasn't surprised by the fans' passionate pleas.

After the meeting, Thompson and Harlan were peppered with questions from fans, many of whom were fuming over Walker's demands for a trade or a new deal. Thompson said he appreciated the support but politely stood up for Walker on a couple of occasions.

"Things like this happen in professional sports. It's just the nature of the business," Thompson said. "It doesn't mean he's a bad person. He's a good kid. We hope he's here for a long time."

At which point, another fan said, "Yeah, don't trade him. But don't pay him!"

All the hullabaloo, of course, comes after Walker earned a Pro Bowl berth for the first time last season, leading the Packers with 89 receptions for 1,328 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His presence at camp and in the starting lineup will be critical to the team's overall offensive success. Or at least that will be the case if he duplicates last year's efforts.

Which, in my opinion, might be the most interesting aspect of this story.

While I readily concede that Walker is a talented up-and-comer with tremendous potential, I'd like to see him get the job done for more than one season before granting him "elite" Fantasy status. ...

For what it's worth, I find it a more than a little interesting that Donald Driver put up pretty solid numbers -- 84 catches for 1,208 yards and nine TD -- last year. In fact, Driver ranked ninth overall in total receiving yards just behind Reggie Wayne, while his nine scoring catches ranked 11th in league along with Nate Burleson, Lee Evans and Jerry Porter.

And he did it all without creating nearly the buzz Walker did.

My point? It's all about value friend. ...

A quick glance at the Antsports.com average draft tool shows us Walker is currently the seventh receiver being drafted; Driver the 20th.

Again, I'm not down on Walker. My expectations are as high as anybody's. But I'd be more comfortable with those expectations if he had a better track record of success. ...

In a couple of related notes. ...

No changes reported for Bubba Franks, who refused to sign the one-year contract tender this offseason because he wants a long- term deal.

So for now, Franks doesn't have a contract and can't report to training camp until he does.

The Packers put the transition tag on Franks in February for $2.095 million, but he wants a deal averaging in the $3.5 million range. The Packers are believed to be offering somewhere in the $2.5 million range.

In the meantime, David Martin will see more action in the preseason as coaches work to build depth at the position until Franks' situation is resolved.

Martin, a college wide receiver, performed better as a blocker in limited action last season. ...

Rookie quarterback Aaron Rogers will also miss time -- at least until he signs his initial contract.

According to Silverstein, it will be hard to finish the first-round pick's deal until the team's two second-round picks are signed because the Packers are working under a salary cap limit and can more easily tweak Rodgers' deal than the other two. ...

Also of interest. ...

Pro Football Weekly reports that coaches are thrilled with the progress of wideout Robert Ferguson, who was slow to recover from a head injury suffered on Dec. 19. That injury, the result of a vicious hit delivered by Jaguars safety Donovin Darius, ended Ferguson's season.

In an article published Monday, PFW reminded readers that headaches persisted for nearly four months, and Ferguson experienced numbness in his limbs and blurred vision in his right eye and was often unable to sleep.

The good news? All of his symptoms disappeared after he underwent Lasik surgery on both eyes in Houston. ...

Those worried about the mental aspect of returning from such a hit can take heart in the fact that Driver described Ferguson as "fearless" after watching him go through the paces during June mini-camp workouts.

And finally. ...

Also according to PFW, team observers are putting some stock in Favre's commitment to fitness over the offseason.

Favre worked out with a personal trainer for much of the offseason. In years past, Favre steered clear of grueling physical activity between January and July. Favre turns 36 in October and has lost some of his verve outside of the pocket in recent seasons.

Team officials hope a better conditioned Favre will mean a more effective Favre.