Bulging Disk Might Be the End for Dickerson

It appears that Eric Dickerson’s dream of becoming the NFL’s all-time leading rusher has been ended by a spinal condition.

Two days after he was traded by the Atlanta Falcons to the Green Bay Packers, Dickerson flunked a physical Thursday because of a bulging disk in his lower neck.

Packer officials determined that because the bulge was directed toward the spinal nerves, the potential for paralysis was too great to allow him to play.

Dickerson, 33, was promptly released. He hinted to Coach Mike Holmgren that his 11-year career, which included a record 2,105 yards rushing with the Rams in 1984, was finished.

“I will never put a player at risk like that,” Holmgren said.

He then described his conversation with Dickerson after the exam.

“I said, ‘You know, I suppose there’s a possibility that you can play for someone. And I wish it was for me. But I can’t do that,’ ” Holmgren said. “When I made that statement . . . he goes, ‘I don’t think so. This was my shot. I’ve had a good run. I want to walk off the field, too. I don’t want to be carried off.’ ”

Holmgren concluded, “I would suspect he might retire.”

Dickerson left Green Bay on Thursday afternoon and was unavailable for comment.

Many had thought he would retire when the Falcons attempted to put him on waivers last week. They were afraid to play him because of the same injury, which Dickerson claims he has lived with for several years.

Several weeks ago in Atlanta, Dickerson told reporters, “I feel fine. This thing really doesn’t bother me. The only reason I even mentioned it to them is because my girlfriend told me I should say something about the tingling in my fingers. But I feel like I can play . . . and I definitely want to play.”

After being traded to the Falcons by the Raiders over the summer, Dickerson said it was his dream to pass Walter Payton, who had 16,726 yards as the league’s top rusher.

If Dickerson’s career has indeed ended, he will finish 3,466 yards short, with 13,260.

He gained only 92 yards with the Falcons this season, appearing in four of five games. He gained 77 yards in 17 carries in their second game against the New Orleans Saints but was inactive the next week because of the injury, then managed only four yards in three carries in his final two games.

He is best remembered for his three Pro Bowl seasons with the Rams, although his 4 1/2-year relationship with the team ended in acrimony when he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in the middle of the 1987 season after a long and bitter contract dispute.