Herschel Walker Will Never Make the Pro Football Hall of Fame Despite Legitimate Gripe

Even though backs like Willis McGahee and Ahman Green have more rushing yards, and players like Corey Dillon have more yards from scrimmage, former Dallas Cowboys running back and Georgia legend Herschel Walker has at least a legitimate case for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Walker claimed that his stats should be good enough to put him in Canton, which is actually somewhat true.

Walker has three major factors working against him. First, he spent the first three years of his career in the USFL, where he ran for 5,500 yards and scored 54 touchdowns. Even if you slice those numbers in half and add it to his NFL production, Walker would have over 10,000 yards and 88 touchdowns on the ground, as opposed to the 8,225 yards and 61 scores he finished with.

Unfortunately, Walker was never an elite running back once he reached the show, as he made just two Pro Bowls and had just two seasons of 1,000 rushing yards. But he was historically relevant, serving as the center piece of what has been dubbed "The Herschel Walker Trade" that helped the Cowboys make the leap from doormat to dynasty as soon as they gave him up for draft picks.

His case isn't totally ridiculous, however. Walker has more career rushing yards than Hall of Famers Larry Csonka and Terrell Davis, while his receiving skills allowed him to pile up more yards from scrimmage than worthy Canton inductees Jim Taylor and Earl Campbell.

Walker might never get into Canton due to his short prime and association with an ill-fated trade, but maybe the writers should take another look at his Hall of Fame candidacy given his numbers.