When the Herschel Walker trade went down w/ the Vikings

[ravidubey]

I loved Walker (check the av), but Dallas was a mess of a team with more needs than any other team I can think of in recent memory-- worse than any expansion team. The trade was great for both Walker and the Cowboys.

I remember jumping up and screaming when Herschel broke a couple of huge plays in his Vikings debut. The cover of Sports Illustrated read "Herschel Lives!"

If the Vikings front office and coaching staff had been on the same page they could have ridden Walker to the Superbowl; instead they let a political struggle destroy them from within and actually started Albert Finney-- a no name fullback-- over Walker. Totally sad.

People are basically stupid though when it comes to perception and reality. Eric Dickerson was traded to the Colts for more picks than Herschel Walker -- PLUS a startign running back in Greg Bell.

The only difference was the results of the picks-- Rams BLEW their picks taking losers like Gaston Green and Aaron Cox while the Cowboys struck gold with Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson. Dallas went to the Superbowl and the Rams sunk into a decade long tailspin. Obviously the draft picks didn't have everything to do with it, but the trade gave the casual public something to pin the Cowboys' success on.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think it was great for the Cowboys but I think it was horrible for Hershel. The Vikings coaching staff hated the trade and didn't understand how to use Hershel. Basically, it ended his career IMO. Probably cost him an opportunity for the Hall. The trade was great for us but it was a train wreck for both Walker and the Vikings.

[TruBlueCowboy]

I remember that free promotional poster they used to give out in Dallas when Herschel joined the team that had him and Tony Dorsett with big smiles posing with their Heisman Trophies. Really thought he was going to be the next great RB legend in Dallas. Oh well, we had to settle for Emmitt Smith, dangit.

[Cajuncowboy]

When Jerry bought the team and fired Tom Landry, my favorite coach of all time obviously, I was in a hospital bed recovering from a kidney stone. That made it worse.

When I heard we traded Walker to the Vikes, I was again in the hospital emergency room being treated for another kidney stone.

So needless to say, these events hold a special place in my heart....er my kidney.

[SteveOS]

Originally Posted by Cajuncowboy

When Jerry bought the team and fired Tom Landry, my favorite coach of all time obviously, I was in a hospital bed recovering from a kidney stone. That made it worse.

When I heard we traded Walker to the Vikes, I was again in the hospital emergency room being treated for another kidney stone.

So needless to say, these events hold a special place in my heart....er my kidney.

Don't have another kidney stone, I might have a heart attack.

[Cajuncowboy]

Originally Posted by SteveOS

Don't have another kidney stone, I might have a heart attack.

Trust me, I don't plan to. Aside from the excruciating pain and prayers that death would come quickly, after the pain medication then wears off, you are still sitting there with the Cowboys mess.

[CrazyCowboy]

I was very excited because of all those draft picks.....and I thought it could really help our team.

But, honestly at the time, I never dreamed just how much it would actually help our team!

[speedkilz88]

I think the headline in the DMN was, "The Great Train Robbery". I was thrilled with all of the picks, didn't know too much about the players and got ticked at the RB who refused to come to Dallas.(Nelson?) I was really disappointed in Hershell's play, the oline wasn't good enough at that time to give him a hole and he couldn't make much room on his own. If teams could force him outside they could stop him. He was strictly a straight ahead one cut back.

[big dog cowboy]

Originally Posted by SteveOS

What did you think about it at that time?

I was a young squirt and didn't know much about football, but I knew Walker was my favorite player, it crushed me. Little did I know what good came out of it

I thought it was the greatest trade in the history of the NFL and would surely bring us at least 3 super bowl victories. Kinda weird how it all worked out huh?

[jem88]

As soon as I saw the immortal #30 in a Cowboys uniform, I knew it was a great trade. The draft picks were nice, but that trade also landed us our catalyst, gave us a CB with swagger, and instantly made us the coolest team in the NFL. Thank you Jimmy Johnson! Thank you for bringing the man to Dallas!!

[CowboyMike]

Originally Posted by coco2

I loved it even more when Herschel re-signed with Dallas down the road. I would have loved to win a SB with him on the team. Herschel is a class act - even if he did play briefly for the Eagles.

He re-signed with the Cowboys? I don't remember. Can anyone tell the story? Was it to retire a Cowboy?

[blindzebra]

I was at the game at KC and was talking to fans that came up from Dallas who asked me about the trade since the Dallas media were ripping on the trade.

I said we'd be in the Super Bowl in 3 years because of the trade.

[silver]

great trade.

[Natedawg44]

Does anyone remember Walkers first game when he ran out of his shoe on a carry. It was pretty much downhill for the Vikings after than play.

[Scotman]

Honestly, I was down. I loved Walker and thought he was going to save the team. In the end, he did. Just not in the way I pictured it.

Once I understood the magnitude of the trade (how many pics and people), I couldn't help but like it.