'85 Chronology-Long Shot?

Event Date: May 2nd, 1985

Event Description: Cowboys Draft Walker

Source: UPI

When it came time for the 114th player to be selected in the NFL draft Tuesday, Dallas Cowboys player personnel director Gil Brandt looked at coach Tom Landry and said:

“What do you think?”

“Let's go ahead,” Landry replied.

Moments later it was announced in New York that the Cowboys had selected Herschel Walker.

Dallas may not be the team it once was on the field, but it still has a flair for public relations.

A year ago the Cowboys drafted sprinter-long jumper Carl Lewis with their last-round pick, entertaining no thought at all that the Olympic hero would ever become a member of the team.

With Walker, however, it is a different story.

“He may never play for the Dallas Cowboys,” said Brandt. “But it is exciting to think that he may.”

Walker won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore running back at the University of Georgia and then put the collegiate football world into an uproar by leaving the school to sign with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.

Because Walker's college class will graduate this spring, he was eligible for this year's NFL draft.

“I guess this surprised some people,” said Landry. “It is a long shot and it depends on if the USFL succeeds. But funny things happen in this world.”

Walker is under a personal services contract with Generals owner Donald Trump through 1989 and is in the midst of an excellent season - having gained 1,529 yards in 10 games.

Moments after Walker was drafted, both Brandt and Dallas president and general manager Tex Schramm reached him by phone.

“He said he was honored to be drafted by the Cowboys,” Brandt said. “He seemed as excited as we were.”

Walker may have been excited, but he gave no hint he was anxious to leave the Generals.

“I'm very flattered and very honored at the opportunity to be picked by the Dallas Cowboys,” Walker said in a statement released by the Generals.

“By the same aspect, my focus is on the New Jersey Generals and winning a championship for the Generals in the United States Football League.”

More than 20 years ago the Cowboys used a draft pick to select Navy quarterback Roger Staubach even though they knew he had to serve a four-year stint in the military.

Staubach eventually led Dallas to two Super Bowl titles and those thoughts were very much in Landry's mind Tuesday.

“The thing that has always impressed me,” said Landry, “is the sight of Walker running the 60-yard dash. He has those big legs and he can run so fast. He is starting to do the things that people said he could do. He can be a dominant player.”

Story-(UPI)