May 4, 2000

COWBOYS SIGN WORTHAM

For the second consecutive day, Dallas picked up a former Tennessee free agent linebacker when six-year veteran Barron Wortham signed a deal.

A day after signing Wortham's teammate Joe Bowden, the Cowboys now have two of the Titans' starters off the Super Bowl XXXIV team. Wortham, who has played his entire career with the Titans/Oilers franchise, is a close friend of Bowden, and both are from the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

"I'm here and I'm really excited for the simple fact that I'm coming home," said Wortham, who grew up in Everman, Texas and currently lives in Fort Worth. "I'll be close to my family and friends and I'll be able to be with a team that I've watched ever since I could watch TV. It's just really an exciting time right now."

Wortham, who grew up in nearby Everman, Texas, started 15 games in the regular season and posted 81 tackles and three fumble recoveries. He also started all four of the team's playoff games and made three tackles in the Super Bowl loss to the Rams.

Head coach Dave Campo said Wortham will bring experience and more importantly, versatility to the Cowboys' defense.

"Barron is a guy that has played all three positions. But he can play the MIKE (middle linebacker) position," Campo said. "He gives you added depth at that position and the opportunity for him to compete with Dat (Nguyen). I feel like we've improved our linebacker corps immensely with the guys that can step on the field and play. But Barron is a good, tough football player."

For his career, Wortham has totaled 51 starts and totaled over 300 tackles. He has been Tennessee's starting middle linebacker for three of the last four seasons.

He was a sixth-round draft pick of the Oilers in 1994 but injured his knee at the end of his rookie season. After coming back with a strong 1995 campaign, Wortham was named the Oilers' Ed Block Courage Award recipient for his successful return to the field.