Walker Reportedly to Leave Vikings in ’92

Herschel Walker won’t return to the Minnesota Vikings in 1992, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported Saturday.

The running back, acquired from the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for eight high draft choices and five players, will not re-sign with the Vikings unless it’s necessary to facilitate a trade to a team he likes, the newspaper reported, quoting an unidentified source.

Walker, 29, signed a $1.75-million contract for 1991 but can become a free agent after the season.

A team signing him would have to give the Vikings two first-round draft choices. To keep him, the Vikings would have to offer him at least $1.75 million by June 1, or he would become an unrestricted free agent.

Walker has been unhappy with his role with the Vikings. He says he was promised that he would be the featured back, but he has seen his role diminished as the season progressed. In last week’s loss to Chicago, Walker carried four times for 14 yards.

The Vikings have been unhappy with his production and have been working rookie Terry Allen into the offense. Allen makes $65,000.