Darryl Talley's post-NFL plans of managing a McDonald's franchise or investing in a Ford dealership will have to be put on hold for awhile.
Talley, a 13-year veteran linebacker whose career peaked with the Buffalo Bills during their glory days, passed his physical Thursday and signed with the Vikings, who are desperate to fill the void left by injured linebacker Ed McDaniel.
'He's in excellent condition,' said Vikings coach Dennis Green, who, along with outside linebackers coach Trent Walters and various scouts, watched Talley's workout. 'We just need to make sure he can still run. Darryl's been a tremendous player, so it's not a question of whether or not he's a tremendous player. He has been. The question is if he's still a tremendous player.'
A two-time Pro Bowl selection during his 12 years with the Bills, Talley signed as a free agent for $2 million in 1995 with Atlanta, where he spent a low-profile season with an unfamiliar defense. Accustomed to the Bills' 3-4 defense, Talley started 15 games in the Falcons' 4-3 set without producing any dramatic results. Credited with 86 tackles, including 58 solos, Talley had no sacks and no interceptions.
'My most frustrating year as a professional,' Talley, 36, said. 'I like coach [June] Jones a lot, I had a lot of fun with the guys down there, coach Jones was great, but . . .'
Now, the only factor uniting the Vikings and Talley is their dubious distinction concerning the Super Bowl.
'They have a history similar to mine, but it's not what I'd want to be remembered as,' Talley said. 'This organization has done what I did in Buffalo, what our team did in Buffalo. They've been to four Super Bowls and they've been victimized, too.'
Three years ago, Talley took part in McDonald's owner/operator internship program in Rochester, N.Y., in preparation for life after football. Then, after being released by Atlanta in February, Talley didn't spend his time sitting idly or fretting about his future.
'Lots of golf,' he said. 'And I'm looking at a possible Ford dealership and also doing McDonald's. . . . I remained calm, because I've learned that you don't panic.'
But even last season, Talley was fending off questions about his retirement.
'Right now, the way I look at it, I take it from year to year, because my body feels fine to me,' he said. 'They say one day everybody is going to hit this wall. When you hit the wall, you'll know it. When I get to that point, I'm just going to say, `Hey, excuse me, I can't do it.' '
Green said Thursday that Talley and former Cleveland Browns players Pepper Johnson and Carl Banks have been speaking with the club since February. However, with Jeff Brady at middle linebacker, Green said he didn't think Johnson would be interested in a backup role.
'We're just looking to see who's going to fit into what we do,' Green said. 'Again, depth is always important and who knows? We might sign one of those guys. But right now, we think that Darryl is the best guy. . . . There are a few other guys out there also that we're looking at.'
That includes third-year pro Aubrey Beavers, a reserve linebacker who was just released by Miami, where he played under Tom Olivadotti, the Vikings' new inside linebackers coach.
Talley's signing makes free-agent signee Dixon Edwards' switch to weak-side linebacker easier. Edwards will replace McDaniel, leaving Talley on the strong side.
