Tuesday, July 21, 1998

Cowboys plan to keep Godfrey at outside linebacker

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - One day after linebacker Broderick Thomas was lost of the season with a knee injury, Cowboys coach Chan Gailey said the great experiment of moving strong-side linebacker Randall Godfrey to the middle is basically over.

Gailey said Monday the team will continue to give Godfrey snaps at middle linebacker but said the starting linebackers most likely will not change.

The Cowboys had hoped Thomas' presence would allow Godfrey to compete with Fred Strickland for the starting spot at middle linebacker.

To replace Thomas on the roster, the team plans to sign free-agent linebacker K.D. Williams, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said, adding that the team hoped to bring Williams to camp last night and have him signed for practice Tuesday.

Williams, who played at Henderson State in Arkansas, played in Canada in 1995 and 1996 and spent the past season with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL-Europe.

As of now, the Cowboys don't plan to sign a more experienced veteran to fill Thomas' role at linebacker or pass-rushing end, Jones said.

COWBOYS AND BEANIE BABIES

The Cowboys plan to give away Beanie Babies before the regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 6 at Texas Stadium.

Texas Stadium personnel will distribute authentic TY Beanie Babies, along with a Cowboys collector's card, to the first 10,000 children 14 and under. The Cowboys will give out "Chocolate Moose" Beanie Babies.

"This is a promotion that is being enthusiastically received throughout the country," Cowboys spokesman Joel Finglass said. "We wanted to be the first team in the NFL to become involved with a Beanie Babies giveaway.

For ticket information, call the Cowboys ticket office at (972) 579-5000 or TicketMaster at (214) 373-8000.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Visit the Star-Telegram on the World Wide Web: www.startext.net; www.arlington.net; and www.netarrant.net.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.