Cowboys Sign Leafto Three-Year Deal

The Dallas Cowboys’ seven-month courtship of quarterback Ryan Leaf ended Friday when he signed a three-year, $2-million contract.

Team owner Jerry Jones, who tried to sign Leaf after the San Diego Chargers released him, said the quarterback is interested in making the most of the opportunity that opened because of starter Quincy Carter’s hamstring injury Sunday.

Jones said Leaf, who was cut by Tampa Bay during training camp, will be in uniform for Monday night’s game against Washington. Leaf, drafted No. 2 overall by San Diego in 1998, will come in as the third quarterback.

Team officials said Leaf’s deal does not include a signing bonus. He will get an NFL-minimum salary the first two seasons worth $1 million. His pay will be $1 million in 2003.

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After missing most of Thursday’s practice with a sore throwing shoulder, Denver Bronco quarterback Brian Griese practiced Friday and is expected to start Sunday in Seattle. The Broncos added Griese to their injury report, listing him as questionable.

An hour later, however, Griese had no obvious discomfort during a 75-minute workout.

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Warrick Dunn tested his sprained right foot in practice and could return to Tampa Bay’s lineup against the Tennessee Titans.

The Buccaneer running back was injured during a 20-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago and originally was expected to be sidelined about a month.

“I don’t want to come in and just be used on third down,” Dunn said. “If I play, I want to play.”

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Cornerback Donald Mitchell will make the first start of his NFL career Sunday when Tennessee plays Tampa Bay, while All-Pro running back Eddie George gave every indication that he will not miss a start for the first time.

A third-year veteran who sat out all of 2000 with a knee injury, Mitchell will start in place of Samari Rolle at right cornerback. Rolle is expected to miss up to a month because his spinal cord was bruised in Sunday’s game at Baltimore.

George practiced for the first time and did some cutting on his sprained right ankle.

Dallas defensive tackle Dimitrius Underwood has missed practices this week for what the team said was a “personal issue.”

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a columnist on the team’s Web site, both citing unidentified team sources, reported Underwood has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Detroit Lion players and coaches were locked inside the Pontiac Silverdome for 90 minutes on Friday morning after an unattended truck was found parked by the stadium.

Nothing unusual was found in the rented truck.

“We’re all very sensitive to everything these days, and the Silverdome has instituted some standardized security measures in addition to what we used to do,” said Rollie Gackstetter, the stadium’s security coordinator.