Former NFL running back Herschel Walker was one of the most gifted athletes to ever step onto the field, although he may take exception to hearing the word "was."
Walker, 52, told USA TODAY Sports that he could still play in the NFL today.
“I can play in the NFL today,” Walker insisted. “I couldn’t take every snap. But running backs nowadays don’t play every down. Now they send in the choir section. Physically, I can still do it.”
Walker is a former Heisman Trophy winner who ran for more than 8,000 yards in his NFL career, which included a 1,500-yard campaign. He isn't planning a comeback, but keeps himself in shape and competed in mixed martial arts as recently as January of 2011.
Still, with the amount of punishment today's NFL running backs are taking, the concept of a 52-year-old playing is downright implausible.
Walker may be best remembered for going the other way in a trade that saw the Dallas Cowboys acquire five players and six draft picks from the Minnesota Vikings for the running back. The Cowboys parlayed those picks into three Super Bowls after drafting the likes of Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson.
