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Tuesday, July 15, 1997

Cowboys set news conference for Haley and Novacek to say 'adios'

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Charles Haley and Jay Novacek, two of the Dallas Cowboys' biggest stars and both victims of bad backs, are expected to retire Tuesday in an unusual joint news conference at Texas Stadium.

Haley, an 11-year veteran defensive end who has an NFL-record five Super Bowl rings, said several weeks ago he wasn't going to play any more because of the back problems.

"Nah, I'm not playing," he said, although he didn't officially announce his retirement, instead waiting for the team to do so. "Something has to be done. I think they have a game plan for me, they just probably haven't told me."

He underwent a third back surgery on Nov. 14, 1996. Haley, 33, finished with 398 career sacks, including 48 in the postseason. He led his team in sacks in eight of the seasons he played for San Francisco and Dallas. In 1988 and '89, he won NFL titles with the 49ers. After being traded to Dallas in 1992, he won championships in that year, and also in 1993 and '95.

Haley had six seasons in which he got at least 10-1/2 sacks.

"Charles is a player. He works hard," Cowboys running back Herschel Walker said. "He's one of the best pass rushers that plays this game, so you're going to miss somebody like that."

Tight end Novacek, Troy Aikman's favorite receiver, didn't play last year. His back gave him problems again in a recent mini-camp and the Cowboys drafted David LaFleur of LSU in the first round because of it.

Novacek, a 12-year veteran, caught 422 passes for 4,630 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career. He was Aikman's main target on third-down plays and his absence weakened the team's passing attack last year.