Friday, July 12, 1996

Will Herschel Get The Rings He Helped Dallas Earn?

By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer

(July 12, 1996)

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Shortly after Herschel Walker said he's returning to Dallas because he wants a Super Bowl ring, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked whether he was giving Walker the three he owes him.

It was meant as a joke and Jones took it that way. Yet it wouldn't be such a bad idea considering there's no way Dallas would've won three of the last four Super Bowls without Walker - that is, without having traded him.

The Cowboys sent Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for 12 draft picks and players on Oct. 12, 1992, in what quickly became known as "The Trade."

Dallas parlayed its end of the deal into stocking its roster with many of the key players that have led their turnaround, including Pro Bowlers Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson.

Walker, meanwhile, didn't lead the Vikings to the title. Subsequent stops in Philadelphia and New York also ended short of his goal.

After the Giants released him last month, Walker decided again to focus on a team that could finally make him a champion. On Thursday, he picked the Cowboys, who were eager to give him a supporting role.

"I looked around to see what team I felt had a chance to win the Super Bowl because that's what I want: a Super Bowl ring," Walker said.

Walker wouldn't say which other teams he considered, but San Francisco and Oakland were considered front-runners. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones smiled at the notion that he kept Walker from going to the 49ers, Dallas' archrival.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it seemed understood that he took a low base salary for the chance of fulfilling his championship dream.

"If you talk about terms with me, I don't think you understand me," Walker said. "I've done very well financially in the business world and the athletic world. Money wasn't a deciding factor on what I was going to do."

Jones also stressed that the signing was in no way intended as a negotiating tool with Smith, who has been promised a new contract.

"It is not intended in any way as a way of saying we can go without Emmitt or anything like that," Jones said.

Still in great shape at 34, Walker is fourth on the NFL's all-purpose career yardage list with 15,881 yards and 18th on the career rushing list with 8,122 yards.

Signing him doesn't address Dallas' biggest weaknesses, but it does give the Cowboys a deep backfield and an added weapon on special teams.

Walker will back up Smith at tailback and Daryl Johnston at fullback. He'll take some of the kick-returning load off receiver Kevin Williams and cornerback-receiver Deion Sanders.

"We now have three backs who legitimately can line up eight yards deep and give you a chance to win the football game," coach Barry Switzer said.

Walker began his pro career with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL in 1982 after winning the Heisman Trophy as a junior at Georgia. With the Generals, he rushed for 5,562 yards in three years before the league folded after the 1985 season.

He went to Dallas and led the NFC in rushing with 1,516 yards in 1986, then began evolving into an all-around offensive threat by also catching passes and returning kicks.

In 1987 with Dallas, he led the NFL in all-purpose yardage. In 1994, with the Eagles, he became the first NFL player ever to score from 90 yards or more in a single season on a kickoff return, a run and on a reception.

Last season was the first time he failed to total at least 1,000 yards combined rushing and receiving.
"I can still add my little weapons and do some things," Walker said Thursday.

Walker said he never held a grudge against the Cowboys for trading him and, despite still living in Dallas, he never thought much about returning.

Jones, however, never forgot about him. He credited the free-agency system for allowing the Cowboys to get Walker back.

"We are getting under the system to take a team that has some great, proven players and we've added another proven, great player," Jones said. "We're proud of our draft picks and don't want to demean them in any way - but this is no draft pick sitting next to me."

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