DALLAS — Don Perkins, the first of numerous great running backs in Cowboys’ history, died Thursday, the team announced.
He was 84.
Perkins was a ninth-round pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1960, but he would never play for them. Prior to the NFL draft, Perkins signed a personal-services contract to play for the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL determined because the Cowboys were admitted too late as an expansion team to participate in the draft it would allow Perkins to remain with Dallas. Yet, the Colts received a ninth-round pick in exchange.