Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 45

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Sunday, October 4, 1987 E7 TucumcarPs David Takes 'Alternate' Route to Denver By Rick Wright summer to attend his grandfather's funeral. Told before he departed that his chances of making the team weren't good, he didn't return. "They'd just traded for (Chip) Banks anyway," he said, "so I didn't figure there was any point in going back." He went instead to Lubbock, Texas, where he'd starred in football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders after a brilliant high school career in Tucumcari. In Lubbock, he began looking for ways to use his degree in mechanical engineering. It was, he figured, time for his life's work.

But then, just before the strike began 12 days ago, the Broncos called and made an offer. His acceptance, he says, surprised even him. "It was a very hard decision to make," said David, who is listed as Denver's No. 2 left outside linebacker as the Broncos strike squad prepares for today's game against the Houston Oilers. "I've got a lot of friends who are on strike, and I didn't want to do something that might hurt them.

But I had some personal reasons for getting into this situation. I felt it was the best thing at the time for me to do." How long it will be the best thing or how long it will last is unknown, particularly after regular starting left outside linebacker Jim Ryan rejoined the club on Friday. "I see this as short-term for me," David said, "especially at linebacker. As a linebacker, right now, I just don't know if I weigh enough (211 pounds). When I left San Diego, my weight dropped.

It's hard for me to keep my weight up and easy for me to lose weight. He laughed. "I think I have a free safety's body." Free safety was the position David played with distinction at Texas Tech, making the all-Southwest Conference team as a senior. A three-sport star at Tucumcari, he also played a year of basketball at Tech. But Buffalo made him a linebacker, and that's what he's been ever since.

If there's one thing David hopes to gain from the strike experience, it's a chance to go back to what he feels is his natural position. "They (the Broncos) told me there might be a chance in the secondary next year," he said, "depending on what happens. Some of their defensive backs are fairly old." If that chance never comes, however, David can always get back on the exit ramp to Lubbock and his life's work. "Before I left," he said, "I'd been talking to various people about various jobs. "I found some pretty good leads, and I hope they'll still be there." JOURNAL STAFF WRITER DENVER With football fading in the rear-view mirror, Stan David was on the exit ramp to his life's work.

But then came the big detour the National Football League player strike. And, if not exactly in the driver's seat, the former Tucumcari High School star is back in football as an "alternative" Denver Bronco. A month ago, David had little hope for his all-too-short NFL career. After stints with the Buffalo Bills ('84-85) and the Kansas City Chiefs ('86), David had left San Diego Chargers training camp this super electronics values Armstrong 'Enjoying' Comeback With Dallas By Dennis Latta $299 fegh tows 1jp- Magnavox 3-head VHS VCR with infrared remote control. This deluxe VCR features a 100 channel digital cable ready tuner, i video heads for more jitter-free special effects, 7 day2 event programming and a digital tracking system.

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He thought he knew his future. But a phone call almost two weeks ago created a reverse in Armstrong's metamorphosis. The coach has reverted back to a player. Armstrong is expected to be the starting left cornerback today when the stand-in Dallas Cowboys (plus a few veterans) play the stand-in New York Jets. That seems like a strange place for a young man who was cut by the Cowboys during the preseason.

Armstrong was expecting to coach football instead of playing it. After getting his release, Armstrong went back to the mountains of western North Carolina. He had attended college at Appalachian State in Boone and decided to do his student teaching. He had a job lined up for next fall as a high school assistant coach. Armstrong wasn't drafted last spring but the Cowboys invited him to training camp.

He played in just one exhibition game and was released. "When the strike started, Dallas called me and offered a bonus if I'd sign," Armstrong said. "A couple of other teams called me. I knew that Dallas had a good free-agent program. I knew I wasn't drafted, but I was counting on another shot.

"The money wasn't a big factor. My base salary is $65,000 a year." When he arrived back at the Dallas practice facility, Armstrong wasn't surprised to find that he was listed as a starter, although that's a big jump for a player who couldn't make the team a month ago. "I know that if they (the regular players) came back today or tomorrow, I wouldn't be nowhere to be found. For me, it's fun. I just like being with the guys.

I like to play," Armstrong said. In less than two weeks, the new players haven't had time to learn complicated schemes on offense or defense. "We're running the flex, but it's been simplified," Armstrong said. "I'll be playing a man-to-man. That's definitely a skill position.

I've heard it called the most complicated position on the team. You're by yourself out there, like on an island. If you're scared to get burned, scared to give up the big play, you can't play the position. "I look at it as an opportunity. I hope I can make somebody's NFL team.

If I don't, then I can make some money. "I wish this was under different circumstances," Armstrong con- tinued. "I have to do what is best for me. I didn't know whether I wanted to play during the strike. There was a lot of indecision.

Dallas Enjoys Newest 'Edge' EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Although they have a 2-0 record, the New York Jets are underdogs against the 1-1 Dallas Cowboys in an NFL strike game today. That's because the Cowboys lead the Jets in the weekend's most important statistic the number of players crossing the Players' Association pick-' et lines. Dallas will have 15 veterans eight on injured reserve on its roster at Giants Stadium today, compared with two for the Jets. "It has to be an advantage for Dallas," Jets coach Joe Walton said.

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