Herschel Walker : General Is Saluted in Camp of Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys rarely hold formal press conferences at their preseason training camp at Cal Lutheran University.

They hardly ever hold press conferences anywhere for unsigned players.

They never hold press conferences for fifth-round draft choices.

They did all of the above here Tuesday.

But then, there has never been a fifth-round draft choice quite like running back Herschel Walker.

Some running back! Arms like a blacksmith, legs like a weightlifter, smile like a choir boy. Real polite guy. Lot of yes sirs and no sirs.

Can he play football?

Yes sir! Coach Tom Landry hovered over Walker Tuesday like a father greeting a long-lost son.

Is Walker ready to play football?

No sir, not just yet. Just thought he’d stop by and get acquainted, meet the guys. He’d love to do more, but first, there’s this matter of a contract to be negotiated.

“I’d like to be here as soon as possible,” Walker said. “That’s up to Tex Schramm (Dallas president and general manager). If I come in here late, it’s going to hurt my chances. This is a complicated offense.”

Fifth-round draft choices don’t usually have much leverage in negotiations, but Walker already has a contract with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League, one that calls for him to receive $6 million over four years.

That makes his annual salary more than double the amount earned by running back Tony Dorsett and quarterback Danny White, the two highest-paid Cowboys.

But when you’ve got statistics like Walker’s, you aren’t likely to accept a pay cut.

Winner of the 1982 Heisman Trophy after his junior year at the University of Georgia, Walker jumped ship to sail with the Generals of the USFL. In three seasons at Georgia, he had gained 5,259 yards rushing.

Now, three years later, the USFL ship has run aground and been forced into dry dock for at least a year and probably forever by its inability to compete with the NFL. But Walker, who gained more than 7,000 yards rushing and receiving and scored 61 touchdowns with the Generals, will survive, possibly to go on to bigger and better things.

After USFL officials announced last week that the league would not operate in 1986, New Jersey owner Donald Trump said he was giving permission to Walker and his two quarterbacks, Jim Kelly and Doug Flutie, to talk to the NFL.

When Walker, 24, became eligible for the NFL draft last year, the Cowboys used an extra fifth-round pick, obtained from the Houston Oilers in a trade, to select him.

Tuesday’s press conference was held just to signal the start of talks with Walker and his agent, Peter Johnson. Rarely, if ever, have negotiations been given such a kickoff.

“Herschel is in a unique situation,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to gauge how the Cowboys regard him. Do they gauge him as an All-Pro? Do they gauge him as one of the greatest players in the game? Or as a fifth-round draft choice? This is a different situation than any other one seen in the National Football League.”

Asked if the money from a Cowboy contract would be subtracted from money that Trump is obligated to pay, Johnson would not comment.

“It’s not relevant to the situation,” he said of the money still owed Walker by the Generals. “When my employer pays my salary, he doesn’t take into account whether or not I have a trust fund. I don’t see what one has to do with the other.”

If and when Walker finally signs, Landry says he will use him as a backup to Dorsett at tailback.

“That would be the best way for him to learn our offense,” Landry said. “We’re not going to put Herschel on the field until he’s comfortable with our system. That’s when it’s going to happen.

“But we’re not going to play an eternity with Tony Dorsett and Herschel in the same position. I would think (Herschel) would be used right off in the New York game (Dallas’ season opener). Situations would come up where they’d be in the same backfield at the same time.”

Landry, entering his 27th season as the Cowboys’ coach, has been at least toying with the idea of retirement. Would the arrival of Walker extend his career?

“It would sure help,” Landry said.

The USFL operated as a spring league but ceased play after 1985, hoping to resume action this fall. So, Walker has not played football in more than a year. He said he did just fine without it.

“People think I’m weird but I don’t keep up with football that much,” he said. “I didn’t watch it on TV. When I’m not playing football, I give whatever I’m doing 110%. Whatever bed the Lord makes for me, I will lie in.

“I’m a football player. The Lord has given me a great deal of ability and I can’t use it sitting at home. I always wanted to get involved with a class team and this (Dallas) is a class team. Maybe some of it will rub off on me.”

Although he was obviously happy to have someplace to go, Walker said he wasn’t particularly happy with the problems encountered by his old league.

“I was disappointed,” he said. “The league brought out some players who would never have played in the NFL. A lot of players worked real hard to get into the position they are in, and it’s a shame they are not going to have the chance to go on.”

But Walker will. For the immediate future, however, he was heading back to the East Coast.

Yes sir, had a real nice visit. Met some real nice people. Hope to be back real soon.

Cowboy Notes Dallas also announced at the press conference the signing of three other former USFL players--wide receiver Jerry Parrish of the Orlando Renegades, wide receiver Perry Kemp of the Jacksonville Bulls and tight end Jeff Spek of the New Jersey Generals.