'Boys Bring Brown Back To Texas

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

December 2, 1998 / 7:58 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

With their secondary ailing, the Dallas Cowboys have re-signed Larry Brown, their MVP in the Super Bowl three years ago.

Brown played his last game for the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, where he had two interceptions of Neil O'Donnell against Pittsburgh. He was signed Wednesday for $76,000 for the remainder of the regular season.

Brown, who became a millionaire playing for the Oakland Raiders after his five-year Dallas career, will get additional money if the Cowboys make the playoffs and still need secondary help.

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Forum: Is Brown capable of helping out?

"Things didn't work out in Oakland like I thought they would," said Brown, who did not live up to his Super Bowl standard. "It wasn't a fit for them and for myself. It feels good to have a job. I'll be ready for any role the Cowboys want me to play."

Cornerbacks Deion Sanders and Kevin Smith will miss Sunday's game at New Orleans, so Brown should see much action right away.

"He's familiar with the system and we expect him to play Sunday," owner Jerry Jones said. "Larry should be able to contribute immediately."

Dallas

Larry Brown will be back in a Cowboys uniform Sunday in New Orleans. (AP)

players greeted Brown with much razzing before Wednesday's workout.

"They've been dogging me pretty good, giving me a hard time and cracking jokes," Brown said.

Brown had a $12.5 million, five-year deal wit Oakland. He was kicked off the team midway of the 1997 season for what Oakland claimed was "conduct detrimental to the team."

"That was a joke," Brown said.

Safety Darren Woodson said it was good to have Brown back.

"He'll help the team, he knows the system," Woodson said.

Brown played five preseason games with the Minnesota Vikings before injuring an ankle and was put on the waiver wire. Nobody claimed him.

"It was a bad injury and it took me about seven weeks to get my strength back," said Brown, who played 74 games for the Cowboys from 1991 to 1995 and had 13 regular-season interceptions. "I'm glad Dallas gave me a chance again."

Dallas needs whatever help it can get in the secondary. Quarterbacks have thrown for nine touchdowns and 984 yards in the past three games. The Cowboys' secondary ranks No. 23 in the NFL.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Ernie Mills, who sustained a severe intestine injury two weeks ago, will be put on injured reserve and be out for the year.

"It was a reach for us to think Ernie would be ready if we get to the Super Bowl," Jones said. "He has been a major contributor for us."