Friday, September 25, 1998

Waiting period over for Cowboys' Chris Warren

By Jean-Jacques Taylor

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

DALLAS - Waiting to play has been hard on running back Chris Warren.

So hard, he preferred to remain in Dallas and rehab his strained left groin than accompany his teammates on road games to Denver and New York.

"I went to the first game and that was hard to watch, but I guess it's all part of the NFL," Warren said. "For the other games, I decided to stay home and do some extra stretching and work that I didn't even tell the trainers about ... .

"That's just doing what it takes to get the job done, so I could play. Coaches don't tell you to go home and study the playbook on your own, but that's what you do. It's all about being a professional."

Now, the wait is over.

Warren, who strained his groin in early August and aggravated it in the final pre-season game, will make his Cowboys' debut Sunday against Oakland. It couldn't have happened at a better time because the Cowboys' offense is bruised and battered.

But the Cowboys signed him to a three-year, $2 million contract, which included a $600,000 signing bonus for times such as these.

Emmitt Smith, who has a strained right groin, missed parts of five games last season with injuries. The Cowboys wanted to have a quality backup for use if Smith were injured and to give him a breather during games when he needs it.

Warren will play on third downs Sunday. How much more depends upon Smith.

Smith missed most of the final three quarters after gaining 21 yards on seven carries against New York. He practiced Thursday for the first time this week, but Coach Chan Gailey said he won't know his availability until later this week.

Sherman Williams has a pulled abdominal muscle, and it's unknown how much he can play. With quarterback Troy Aikman expected to miss at least the next three weeks with a fractured collarbone, the Cowboys can use all of the offensive help they can get with Jason Garrett at quarterback.

The more weapons, the easier his job becomes.

Last week, Gailey added Deion Sanders to the Cowboys' game plan, including some plays at quarterback. It's no coincidence his first appearance on offense came the week Garrett started the third game of his career.

This week, it's Warren, who has 810 yards rushing with nine touchdowns in nine games against the Raiders. But the three-time Pro Bowler has only one 100-yard game against Oakland.

Warren and Smith have different styles.

Smith, 5-9 and 209 pounds, is a slasher, who's at his best bursting through a seam. Warren, 6-2 and 230 pounds, is more of a glider. He's a patient runner who sets up blockers well and takes his time picking a hole.

"We wouldn't have done much differently in the first three games if he (Warren) had been out there," said Gailey, "because we make the game plan to beat the defense, not necessarily to match personnel.

"But if you watched him during the pre-season, then you know he's an excellent runner and blocker. I'm glad we're going to have him, but I'm really looking forward to having him and Emmitt 100 percent healthy at the same time."

Warren had offers to start at Kansas City and New England, but they didn't want to meet his price. He took less money to join the Cowboys, a team with a winning tradition.

In eight seasons with Seattle, Warren never played in a playoff game.

During his last two seasons, he split time with two other running backs, making his transition to Smith's backup easier. He said he prefers not to discuss his time with Seahawks because it's irrelevant.

"It just felt right for me to be here," Warren said. "Obviously, since I played with Coach (Clarence) Shelmon at Seattle, that was another reason to come here."

The Cowboys are glad he did.

AIKMAN THROWS:

Injured quarterback Troy Aikman threw passes for several minutes during practice Thursday with mixed results.

Aikman said his shoulder felt fine if he protected it when he threw. But, he said, it was painful when he tried to throw the ball with his normal release.

Still, he looked impressive.

"To watch him throw the ball like that and then not be able to use him is going to be torture," owner Jerry Jones said.

LINEBACKER SITUATION:

The Cowboys have contacted the agent for linebacker K.D. Williams but have not decided whether to pursue him, his agent said Thursday.

The Cowboys, who have a roster spot open, are looking for a replacement for Nate Hemsley, who broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle Monday night against New York. Williams, cut by Dallas in training camp, is on Kansas City's practice squad.

"They said they were going to wait until they make a move because they're still deciding what to do," said Frank Myles, Williams' agent. "They said they're looking at K.D. and some other linebackers, but I'm a little disappointed they haven't brought him in. He knows the system, and he's a good player."

GROWING PAINS:

Rookie linebacker Darren Hambrick, a fifth-round pick, is having a difficult time adjusting to the NFL.

He will replace injured linebacker Hemsley (leg, ankle) on special teams, but the Cowboys will use a combination of players to replace Hemsley in their different defensive packages.

"He's making progress, but he has a hard position to learn and he missed two of the last three seasons in college," linebackers' coach George Edwards said. "That's a lot of repetitions. It takes time, but he's getting better."

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.