![]() ![]() The media reported the Cowboys traded Herschel Walker for just-another-guys and meager draft picks, and scoffed at Johnson’s proclamation that this was “The Great Train Robbery.” To the media and Diogenes fans, Mike Lynn had blown a furnace full of smoke up the front office’s pipe. Sometimes, what a club executive spits in the team headquarter’s parking lot has more football knowledge than the local media, and this was again one of those times. Along with that came veterans Darrin Nelson, Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Isaac Holt, and Alex Stewart. That is when the deal sweetened so much it nearly gave Johnson diabetes.įor one player, and also oft-forgotten third and tenth round picks in 1990 and a third round pick in 1991, the Vikings were offering their first, second, and sixth round picks for 1990. They were interested, and Johnson called Lynn back in Minnesota telling him the Vikings had to do better. Notice needed to arrive in Dallas by 6:30 PM or Minnesota had no deal and Dallas would take Cleveland’s offer.Īfter a forty-minute walkthrough at Valley Ranch, Johnson returned to his office with Lynn’s fax awaiting him. He spelled out for Lynn Cleveland’s terms and what it would take to overtake their offer. Jimmy Johnson called Mike Lynn, general manager for the Minnesota Vikings. Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson were to call around the NFL finding another bidder. It was admittedly a good offer, but Jimmy Johnson wanted to see if they could use this offer as leverage against another team or even the Browns. The Atlanta Falcons showed interested, but grimaced at the prospect of the Georgia legend fleecing them in contract negotiations.Įrnie Accorsi, the Cleveland Browns’ general manager, offered Dallas two future first round and three second round picks. The New York Giants were interested, but the Cowboys brass didn’t want to face him twice a season. Now, what could they get if they traded Herschel Walker? With discretion being the better part of valor, he decided to go with the tide in 1989. Jimmy Johnson recognized just how disastrous his 1989 Dallas Cowboys were. In 1988, Herschel Walker rushed for over 1,500 yards in Tom Landry’s 3-13 unbeknownst swan song. In fact, Gil Brandt, in one of his last shrewd moves of the old regime, spent a fifth round pick on Walker’s rights in the 1985 draft in case the league folded, kind of like the WFL from 1974. The former Georgia runningback was a USFL star that the Cowboys picked up in 1986 after the league folded. What could they get if they dealt Herschel Walker? Now, Johnson dabbled into the indispensible. ![]() ![]() The only reason that trade didn’t happen was Al Davis pointed out, in the fashion of a Talmudic scholar, that Troy Aikman wouldn’t have anyone to throw to. Jimmy Johnson was a man so bent on winning in Dallas that he divorced his wife and kids, so it shouldn’t have shocked anyone when he wanted to deal former Hurricane star Michael Irvin to the Los Angeles Raiders. The only expendable players of value the Cowboys had were guys like Jim Jeffcoat and Michael Irvin. They were historically bad.ĭuring an early morning jog with his coaching staff through the Valley Ranch complex in Irving, Johnson came up with a novel idea during the unofficial brainstorm: what if the Dallas Cowboys made a huge trade? A huge trade for a player? No, a huge trade of a player. Aside from their 27-21 loss in Atlanta in Week 2, the Cowboys’ average margin of defeat was over three touchdowns. All of this despite a promising 3-1 start in pre-season. Heading into this decade of opportunity, Dallas was stuck in the Dark Ages. Jimmy Johnson’s Miami ways and Jerry Jones’ wildcatting weren’t enough to turn around the rotgut of the late ’80s Dallas Cowboys. ![]()
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