The Hall of Fame running back, who is teaming with Mike Ditka as national spokesmen to raise awareness of men’s health issues, believes he could have challenged Walter Payton for the NFL rushing record.
Q. You rushed for 12,739 yards on 2,936 carries for a 4.3-yard average during your NFL career. Walter Payton was the all-time leading rusher during your era, rushing for 16,726 yards on 3,838 carries and a 4.4 average. Do you think you could have challenged Payton for the record if you had been given more carries?
A. I could have had a good chance of breaking or getting close to Walter’s record. But it depends on how you are being used. [Cowboys coach Tom] Landry kind of felt that because of my size–183 pounds–it would be healthier for me if they didn’t use me as often as they did some of the bigger backs in the league. I understand the logic but I don’t totally agree with it.
Q. What projects have you been involved with lately?
A. I have been drafted again by coach Ditka. We are on this “Tackling Men’s Health” campaign and Levitra is sponsoring it. I am excited about being a part of the team. With coach Ditka and me, they have two guys from Pitt, two guys from Aliquippa (Pa.) and two guys who played for the Dallas Cowboys.
Q. Why are you so passionate about men’s health issues?
A. I am part of this because I have been health conscious since my college days. This campaign obviously is to help create more awareness and to make people more proactive about these health issues. People need to pay attention to their bodies and go get a checkup. If you do that, you have a chance to help illnesses from getting even worse.
Q. You won the Heisman Trophy in 1976 and then you were a member of the Super Bowl champion Cowboys as a rookie. Was the rest of your career anticlimactic?
A. It wasn’t anticlimactic, but I got off to a great start. Winning a Super Bowl and then going to two or three NFC championship games right after that … it was a great run for me, my 12 years in the NFL. Playing a game and doing something that you love was great.
Q. Can you understand the reasoning behind Dolphins running back Ricky Williams wanting to retire at the peak of his career?
A. I don’t quite understand the logic. And I don’t understand the timing of it. You have a lot of guys who are your teammates and that you went to battle with in big ballgames. Then all of a sudden, right before training camp, you drop the bomb on them. He will regret the decision he made for many years to come.
Q. What do you think of the present-day Cowboys?
A. The current era started last year with Bill Parcells. It is quite refreshing to see that we have a real coach back there. A coach who has some authority, a coach who knows football and a coach who will bring out the best in his players. Before he came in, you see a lot of these (former Cowboys coaches) making the same bonehead mistakes over and over again. But coaches like Bill Parcells, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs … they don’t tolerate that kind of thing.
Q. I don’t remember seeing you celebrating in the end zone after a touchdown by dunking the ball over the crossbar or kicking it into the stands. What is your opinion of the histrionics of many NFL players?
A. It’s uncalled for. Some of these guys, their celebrations are premeditated. If it’s spontaneous, it’s OK. But if you have to premeditate something and it’s going to harm your team, it’s not good for you.
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