Raiders’ Williams Leaving the Backfield

Harvey Williams took a step into the line, then darted toward the corner of the end zone. To the delight of Oakland’s offensive coaches, he got man-to-man coverage from a lineman.

And that’s the whole idea behind the Raiders’ switch of the 6-foot-2 Williams from running back to tight end.

“They ain’t got a guy in this league that can cover me. I don’t even think safeties can cover me,” Williams said. “They’ve got me doing all kinds of stuff. They just want to get the ball in my hands.”

Williams has spent his six-year NFL career starting plays from the backfield. He has rushed for 3,386 yards, and was fourth in the AFC in 1995, gaining 1,114 yards for the Raiders.

Meanwhile, Desmond Howard and Larry Brown, the last two Super Bowl most valuable players, watched from the Raider sidelines again.

Howard, signed as a free agent to take over punt and kickoff return chores, sat out his third day of workouts because of a slight hamstring strain.

Brown, a cornerback, has a slight toe injury that is not related to the foot problems that plagued him last season. He has not practiced since Tuesday.

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Running back Warrick Dunn, the 12th pick in the NFL draft, ended a five-day holdout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, agreeing to a six-year, $8.86-million contract that included a $3.5-million signing bonus.

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Running back Dorsey Levens is hoping to sign a long-term contract with the Super Bowl champions, although he insists the Green Bay Packers have only another month to make it a done deal.

Levens, a restricted free agent in the off-season, recently accepted a one-year, $785,000 tender offer.

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Right tackle Harris Barton of the San Francisco 49ers remained in the Bay Area to get additional medical opinions on his damaged left knee.

Coach Steve Mariucci said Barton’s knee, injured earlier this week, probably will require some rehabilitation--making his status for the early exhibition games questionable.

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The Miami Dolphins will open the exhibition season Saturday against Green Bay without defensive end Daniel Stubbs.

The nine-year veteran, who has never missed a regular-season game, broke his left leg during a passing drill Wednesday. Coach Jimmy Johnson said Stubbs will miss not only the exhibition opener at Green Bay, but the remainder of the preseason.

Three Dolphins--including rookie receiver Yatil Green, the team’s top draft pick--already have season-ending injuries.

“I don’t know if luck enters into it,” Johnson said. “We’ve been in camp longer than some of the other teams have. They’re starting to get injuries too.”

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Simeon Rice’s condition improved after an overnight hospital stay in Phoenix, and he was expected to rejoin the Arizona Cardinals at training camp by this weekend. Rice had a viral infection. . . . The Denver Broncos signed their first-round draft choice, former Clemson defensive end Trevor Pryce, to a five-year, $4.9-million deal. . . . Fullback Daryl Johnston was back with the Dallas Cowboys’ first unit after sitting out two days at their camp in Austin, Texas, because of heat exhaustion.