Dickerson’s Demands Result in No Interest

Doors all over the NFL have been slammed in Eric Dickerson’s face ever since the Colts’ running back demanded a trade and burned his bridges in Indianapolis with critical comments about his teammates.

The Washington Redskins, one of five teams Dickerson contacted about a trade, on Friday issued a statement saying that they have no interest in the back, who needs just 1,514 yards to become the second-leading rusher in NFL history.

The New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Oilers and the Raiders previously indicated no interest. Dickerson has said that he will retire April 24, the day after the draft, if he hasn’t been traded.

If he sits out the 1990 season, a clause in his contract requires him to return the $500,000 signing bonus he received three years ago when he was traded by the Rams, and the Colts contend that Dickerson would have to forfeit another $1 million.

The Colts have set a ridiculously high price of three first-round draft picks or two firsts and two seconds. Dickerson also would want to upgrade his contract, which is scheduled to pay him $1.45 million this season and $1.59 million in his option year.

Blaming the Colts for the lack of trade interest, Dickerson has said, “What they’re asking is absurd. They’re running off any possibility of a trade.”

The thinking around the league is that the Colts really would like to get rid of Dickerson and are trying to create a market and leave themselves negotiating room. Dickerson, after saying that running behind the Colts’ offensive line is like playing Russian roulette, would have a hard time returning to Indianapolis.

Chris Hinton, a six-time Pro Bowl tackle, said that his linemates probably would tell General Manager Jim Irsay, “‘See what you can get for him.’ I’ll be surprised if it can be resolved with him coming back here to play.”