Lions Sign RB James Stewart

November 30, 1999 / 8:44 PM EST / CBS/AP

The Detroit Lions took dead aim on free-agent running back James Stewart. Monday, they got their man.

Stewart, who led the Jacksonville Jaguars with 931 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns last season, signed for $25 million over five years, including a signing bonus of $5.75 million.

The Lions, who got by with virtually no running game after the surprise retirement of Barry Sanders on the eve of training camp last season, outbid the Cleveland Browns for Stewart.

"A lot of it came down to how I felt after my visit here last Friday," Stewart said at a news conference in the Silverdome. "The staff, the coaches, everybody really made me feel welcome."

Stewart said he also was influenced by the fact that Detroit seems closer to winning a championship than the Browns do.

"This is like a puzzle here," Stewart said. "I fit into this puzzle real well. I think in Cleveland I'd have to carry the load. Here, I'll just be a piece."

The Lions made the playoffs with an 8-8 record last season. The expansion Browns were 2-14 in their first season.

"The key was Detroit's ability to win now," Stewart's agent, Pat Dye Jr., said. "And they obviously wanted him. They didn't want to let him leave town Friday."

The Lions rushed for just 1,245 yards last season. They ranked 28th among the NFL's 31 teams. The year before, Sanders rushed for 1,491 yards himself his lowest output in five years.

"Last year, teams knew we couldn't run and lined up to take away our ability to pass the ball," Lions' offensive coordinator Sylvester Croom said. "With James Stewart in the lineup, if they want to give us that same option and take away our passing game, we'll take full advantage of it."

The Lions, who released running backs Ron Rivers and Greg Hill at the end of the season, pitched Stewart hard during his visit Friday. They made it as clear as possible that he was the man they wanted.

"I had a real good feeling when I left here," said Stewart, who spent part of Saturday and all of Sunday in Cleveland. "I was pretty much leaning this way all the time.

"Still, it wasn't an easy decision. I didn't make up my mind for good until late last night."

Stewart visited Cleveland out of respect for coach Chris Palmer who was Jacksonville's offensive coordinator before taking the job with the Browns.

At Jacksonville, Stewart filled in for injured Fred Taylor last season. In the playoffs, Stewart had 14 carries for 97 yards a 6.9 average and two TDs.

But when Taylor recovered from his hamstring injury, Stewart again was the Jaguars' No. 2 back.

Stewart never really said he was looking forward to leaving Jacksonville, or that he was unhappy with his role. Mainly, things just never really panned out the way he had hoped.

"I'm in the prime of my career," Stewart said.

Stewart, who left Tennessee as the school's all-time leading rusher, was drafted in the first round by the Jaguars in 1995. He was Jacksonville's starter.

But a toe injury cost him the spot to Natrone Means during Jacksonville's playoff run of 1996. That lasted through most of 1997.

When Means departed, Stewart became a starter again in 1998 before a season-ending knee injury in the third week gave Taylor his chance. And once Taylor took the field, Stewart became forgettable again.

"This is exciting," Stewart said. "I don't have a crystal ball. But I think these guys are going to jell. I think we're going to get it together."

The Lions were still waiting to hear from NFL arbitrator Sam Kagel on whether Sanders will have to repay $5.5 million from his signing bonus. But even if he does, the club doesn't appear likely to soften its stance on not wanting to trade Sanders' rights to another team.

"There's really nothing to talk about," said Chuck Schmidt, the Lions' chief operating officer. "He's retired."

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