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It's payback time for Chris Warren

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) - The Seattle Seahawks never came to Chris Warren to tell him he was no longer in their plans although he was the leading rusher in club history.

"They gave me no indication they didn't want me but I heard about it by word of mouth," Warren said on Wednesday. "Other backs were visiting and I didn't even know about it."

To say Warren is pumped for the Dallas Cowboys game against Seattle in Texas Stadium on Sunday would be the understatement of the year.

He is trying to play it low key, but the smile on his face tells a different story.

"I'm not bitter," he said. "If I was bitter it would take away from my game and fall into their hands. It's obvious they wanted Ricky Watters and not me. That was obvious when they invested $5 million a year in the guy."

But it's hard for Warren to even convince himself the meeting with his former team is just another game.

Warren, who rushed for 6,706 yards and scored 44 touchdowns in his eight-year career with Seattle, admitted there will be give and take with his former Seahawk teammates.

"Sure, they'll be waiting for me and trying to take me out of the game and I'll be trying to avoid that," he said. "It's going to be tough. But I'm looking forward to it. "

Seattle coach Dennis Erickson said on Wednesday in a conference call that the Seahawks will be seeing Warren's best.

"I'm happy for Chris and how things worked out for him in Dallas because he did a lot of things for this franchise," Erickson said. "There is no question in my mind Chris will be pumped and ready to play on Sunday."

Seattle quarterback Warren Moon said the Seahawks dumped Warren because "they felt his play was starting to decline. I just knew when he went to Dallas it was going to be a great find for them because of the talent he had."

Warren's feeling are still hurt.

"I still don't know the answer to why they didn't want me because I felt things were good enough the way they were," Warren said.

Erickson said he didn't want to get into why Warren was let go, saying only "it was salary cap and different things we were doing. That's all I want to say about it."

Warren and some of the Seattle players are still good friends.

"I talk to a lot of them," Warren said. "I talk to Cortez Kennedy every day or so. "

Although Warren isn't the featured running back with the Cowboys because of Emmitt Smith, he still likes his role with the Cowboys.

"It's been a good situation for me," Warren said. "I've kind of eased into the offense and it gets better each week. "

Warren volunteered to return kickoffs when Kevin Mathis broke an arm and another chore could be added on Sunday - punt returning - if Deion Sanders' sprained left big toe doesn't heal.

"I want to play as much as I can and if they want me to return punts I'll be ready although the last time I did it was 1992," Warren said.

Warren has rushed 45 times for 202 yards and scored 3 touchdowns for the Cowboys. He's also caught 9 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Smith said he is a big admirer of the way Warren has accepted his backup role with the Cowboys.

"Sometimes you have to humble yourself in this game and take what opportunities you get," Smith. "Chris is a very unselfish player. He is making me a better player. He helps give me a rest and when I work the ball downfield and he scores I feel like I scored. "

Warren just hopes he can score a little more than usual on Sunday to show the Seahawks what they've been missing.