AUSTIN (AP) - Herschel Walker rips into the secondary and runs over four
players on a draw play. Two of them get up limping.
He catches a little slant pass and flattens a safety.
He blocks on a punt, knocking his man down.
He blocks for Emmitt Smith, producing a huge hole.
Why is this multimillionaire who lives in a luxurious home on a golf course
risking heat stroke on a 100-degree day?
Why is he playing for the NFL minimum of $275,000, which is chump change,
a penny on the dollar for what he has made throughout his career?
The ring.
Despite all his successes in life, he doesn't own a Super Bowl ring. He
has only played in two NFL playoff games in his 10-year NFL career.
People he has never heard of before have Super Bowl rings. But they've played
for the Dallas Cowboys three out of the last four years. Last year, while
he played for the New York Giants, the Cowboys were winning another Super
Bowl.
"I've had a lot of success in business and in athletics, but just once
I'd like to experience being on a championship NFL team, one that wins it
all," Walker said.
"Herschel's on a mission," coach Barry Switzer said after a recent
scrimmage in which Walker shined with his blocking, receiving and running.
"The way he is playing he is looking like the Herschel of old."
Like the Herschel who once was the leader of the Cowboys.
Like the Herschel who led the NFC in rushing in 1988.
Like the Herschel who became the first running back to rush for over 1,000
yards and catch passes for over 1,000 yards in the same season.
"I can still catch, and I can still run," Walker said. "There's
still some good football left in Herschel."
Walker often refers to himself in the third person, as in "Herschel
is different than a lot of players. He stays in good shape all the time."
Of course, the Cowboys traded Walker to Minnesota to set the foundation
for their run of Super Bowls. Such players as Smith and Darren Woodson were
taken with the draft picks.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones paid Walker an even $1 million to accept the trade
to the Vikings and leave town.
Now Jones is paying Walker with the change in his pocket, a fraction of
what he gave to placate Herschel in the steal of a deal that changed the
course of NFL history.
"It is ironic," said scouting director Larry Lacewell. "But
Herschel has played like a hungry player since he has been here. He definitely
adds to our versatility on offense."
Walker, for the most part, will play backup fullback behind Daryl Johnston.
He will sub on occasion for Smith at tailback. He will play on special teams.
He will be slipped into the offense as a receiver.
"I enjoy special teams," Walker said. "It's a great way to
contribute to the team. I like being on the field. I'll play anywhere. Do
anything."
Johnston said it's great to have Walker back.
"There are things Herschel can do I can't do because he is such a great
athlete," Johnston said. "He helped me when I was a rookie on
this team. I could ask him questions, and he didn't act like it was a burden
to answer. I appreciated his help. And now he's back helping again."
Walker could do a lot of damage to other NFL teams this year. However, in
a recent scrimmage he hurt two of his Dallas teammates on one play.
"We've got to start holding him out of the camp scrimmages," Lacewell
said. "He has no idea how to ease up."
Walker will be on display Saturday when the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys
meet in a preseason game.
After the matchup at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys return to Austin, site of
the team's training camp at St. Edward's University, for three days of scrimmages
and workouts.
It will be the 16th preseason game between the two clubs and the eighth
since 1987. Oakland holds an 11-5 series advantage.
The teams have split regular season games with Dallas winning 34-21 in Oakland
last year.
Besides the appearance of Walker, it will be interesting to see how the
crowd accepts former Cowboys Larry Brown and Russell Maryland when they
are introduced to the crowd. Both won Super Bowl rings with the Cowboys
last year and Brown was the MVP.