Monday, April 13, 1998

Cowboys sign Seahawks running back Chris Warren

By Jean-Jacques Taylor

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas -- Emmitt Smith, the key component in the Cowboys' three Super Bowl championships this decade, will have a new role next season.

He will no longer be asked to carry the Cowboys' offense.

That's because the Cowboys have agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $2 million, including a $600,000 signing bonus, with former Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Warren, a team source said.

The source said a formal announcement will be made at a news conference Monday.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to comment. Warren's agent, Rick Schaefer, could not be reached for comment.

Warren, 30, falls into the same category as former receiver Anthony Miller, the Cowboys' splashy free-agent signee last year. He is a former Pro Bowl player on the backside of his career, but with enough potential to give the Cowboys' offense a significant boost with a good season.

Miller caught 46 passes for 645 yards last season but did not give the Cowboys the consistent deep threat they needed to spread defenses and take pressure off wide receiver Michael Irvin.

The Cowboys envision a two-pronged attack that will primarily feature Smith on first and second downs and Warren on third down. Warren has at least 35 receptions in each of the past four seasons.

Warren's former position coach in Seattle, Clarence Shelmon, is the Cowboys' new running backs coach. Warren also has a close relationship with Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who coached with the Seahawks in 1992.

Warren's signing probably means the Cowboys will release former second-round draft pick Sherman Williams, who will count only $150,000 against their salary cap. It also means they probably won't re-sign Herschel Walker, who has spent the past two seasons with Dallas as a backup running back and kick returner.

Dallas went into the off-season trying to upgrade its running backs because Smith has slumped the past two seasons and Williams couldn't be trusted.

Warren's presence should ease Smith's load and prolong each player's career. Smith, 29, is signed through 2003 but slumped to 1,074 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Warren, an eight-year veteran from Ferrum College in Virginia, is the best running back in Seattle history. He set a franchise record in 1994 with 1,545 yards rushing and 1,868 yards in total offense.

He is one of only 14 players in NFL history to gain more than 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons, but he has not gained more than 855 yards the past two seasons.

Warren, 6-2 and 225 pounds, started 15 games last season and gained 847 yards on 200 carries, a 4.2 average. He also caught 45 passes for 257 yards, despite splitting time much of the season with Lamar Smith and Steve Broussard.

Seattle released Warren in an economic move on March 13, a few days after signing free-agent running back Ricky Watters, because Warren was supposed to count $4.1 million against the 1998 salary cap.

The Cowboys are also close to reaching agreement on a contract with former St. Louis and San Diego defensive end Leslie O'Neal. He is expected to make a decision between Dallas and Kansas City this week.

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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