Herschel Walker: Will Walker Fall Victim To The Brett Favre Curse?
Herschel Walker is 48 years old. It's been more than a quarter century since he was drafted, nearly three decades since he won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Georgia.
Nevertheless, the former Cowboy, Eagle, Viking and Giant (who was once the prized star of the USFL) is talking about a comeback to the NFL.
"If I continue to stay in the shape I'm in now, I know I can play when I'm 50," Walker told FoxSports.com. "Right now, if you asked me if I can play today, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind I can play football, that I can help a team out."
There have been plenty of cases of players who came out of retirement to do great things.
Magic Johnson had a fine half-season in 1995-96, four years after he retired because of HIV. And, in 2004, when Deion Sanders returned to the NFL after retiring four years earlier, he was extremely productive for the Baltimore Ravens.
But other UN-retirements have not gone so well. Here are 10 cautionary causes that Herschel Walker should consider.
No. 10: Ryne Sandberg
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Year: 1996-97
Team: Chicago Cubs
When Ryne retired in 1994 he was already one of the greatest second baseman of all-time.
Coming back for the 1996 and 1997 season didn't ruin that legacy; in fact, he even hit 26 home runs and drove in 92 runs that first season back at Wrigley. But, usually a .300 hitter who didn't whiff very often, Sandberg hit .233 and struck out a career-high 116 times that year.
No. 9: Reggie White
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Year: 2000
Team: Carolina Panthers
In 1998, Reggie White really left the NFL on top. He recorded 16 sacks that season, was a first-team All-Pro and had totaled more sacks than any player in history.
But after sitting out a year, the Carolina Panthers convinced him to play one more season.
White's 2000 campaign in Carolina wasn't disastrous—he had 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 16 starts. But the Panthers went 7-9 and seeing the "Minister of Defense" in that Panthers uniform (after 15 seasons in the classic Eagles and Packers colors) was a weird image.
No. 8: Mario Lemiuex
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Year: 2005-06
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
After the lockout in 2004-05, the NHL really needed star power and a "feel good" story. They certainly got one when Penguins part-owner and the franchise's scoring leader Mario Lemieux came out of retirement to play one more season.
He certainly didn't embarrass himself, recording seven goals and 15 assists in 26 games. But even Lemiuex said he wasn't playing up to his high standards on the ice.
"I can no longer play at the level that I was accustomed to in the past and that has been very, very frustrating to me throughout this past year," Lemiuex said.
Of course, health problems (irregular heartbeat) were also to blame for his mid-season retirement.
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No. 7: Bobby Riggs
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Year: 1973
Bobby Riggs was a fine tennis player prior to World War II. He won Wimbledon in 1939 and the US Open in 1939 and 1941.
And after a very productive and lucrative playing career he retired in the 1950s.
But something convinced him to come back to the game in May of 1973 to compete against the top woman in the world, Margaret Court, whom he defeated 6-2, 6-1.
He should have quit while he was ahead. That September, the 55-year-old challenged Billie Jean King to another installment of "The Battle of the Sexes."
In the Houston Astrodome, King defeated Riggs 4-6, 3-6, 3-6 with the entire world looking on via television.
No. 6: Trey Junkin
5 of 10Year: 2002
Team: New York Giants
Junkin deserved better than the NFL farewell he endured in the 2002 playoffs. He had been a fine snapper for 19 seasons and retired happy with his career.
But when the Giants needed a long snapper late in the 2002 season, they convinced him to come out of retirement.
It didn't work out as he botched a snap in the middle of the game, then botched another as the Giants were hoping to avoid the largest single-game collapse in NFC playoff history.
No. 5: Apollo Creed
6 of 10Year: 1985
We're not sure for how long, but it had been quite a while since Apollo Creed had competed in a professional fight.
But, while swimming in his pool with his golden retrievers, Apollo conceived the idea of fighting former amateur champion Ivan Drago, a Russian juiced up on steroids, in an exhibition. Naturally, he ran the idea by his friends Rocky Balboa, Adrian, Paulie and that weird robot Paulie got for his birthday.
Coming out of retirment didn't go so well for the Master of Disaster/Count of Monte Fisto. Drago literally killed him in the ring.
No. 4: Gordie Howe
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Year: 1997
Team: Detroit Vipers
If you're going to un-retire, you want to show some dignity in doing so. For a world class, legend of the game, coming back to as a sideshow circus act or publicity stunt should not be the reason to return.
Sadly, that's how it was when Gordie Howe, the 23-time NHL All-Star signed a one-day contract to play for the International Hockey League's Detroit Vipers.
The 69-year-old played for one shift in the team's season opener at the Palace at Auburn Hills against the Kansas City Blades. He never touched the puck.
If Hershel Walker comes back, let's hope it's not to stand in the backfield for one play on a kneel down.
No. 3: Muhammad Ali
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Year: 1980
"The Greatest of All-Time" really couldn't do anything to tarnish his legacy and reputation as a fighter. But that doesn't mean stepping back into the ring with Larry Holmes on Oct. 2, 1980 at Caesars Palace was a good idea.
In June of 1979, less than a year after he regained the heavyweight title by avenging a loss to Leon Spinks, Ali announced he was retiring.
"I'm in a position that I can go no further in boxing," Ali said.
But a year later, the 38-year-old fought the WBC heavyweight champion Holmes and lost when his trainer, Angelo Dundee, wouldn't let Ali go out for the 11th round.
Essentially throwing in the towel was a terrible—and sad—end to one of the greatest careers in sport history.
No. 2: Michael Jordan
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Year: 2001-03
Team: Washington Wizards
Averaging better than 21 points per game in 120 starts is an incredible career for most players. But not for Michael Jordan.
There were some moments of greatness for His Airness in Washington, like that time he chased down Jalen Rose and blocked his shot, or that three he hit at the end of the 2003 All-Star Game.
But he wasn't Michael Jordan...or at least the Michael Jordan we all had become so used to seeing in the 1980s and 1990s—and the Wizards uniform wasn't the only reason why.
Washington didn't make the playoffs in either of his two seasons and Jordan just wasn't the same dominant player whom everyone remembered.
No. 1: Brett Favre
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Year: 2010
Team: Minnesota Vikings
The saying goes "third time's the charm." For Brett Favre, that was not the case.
After ending his first retirement and returning to the NFL in a Jets uniform, Favre had a decent season in 2008. He threw a lot of touchdowns and a lot of interceptions, but it was entertaining and the Jets had a shot at the postseason.
After ending his second retirement and returning to the NFL in a Vikings uniform, Favre had an incredible season in 2009. He threw 33 touchdowns against just seven picks, and brought the Vikings to within three points of the Super Bowl.
But after ending his third retirement and returning to the NFL again in a Vikings uniform, Favre had a disastrous season in 2010.
On average per attempt he threw nearly four times as many interceptions that year (19), suffered through a horrible string of injuries that finally snapped his 297-game streak, the Vikings were atrocious and then there was the Jenn Sterger scandal.
Now Favre's texting-mishaps probably won't happen to Herschel Walker, should Walker come back after retiring 14 seasons earlier. But injuries and embarrassment certainly could be in his future...no matter how good of shape the MMA fighter is in.
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