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Friday, December 19, 1997

Bates may be near end of 15-year career with Cowboys

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Dallas safety Bill Bates says Sundays season finale against the New York Giants could be his last as a Cowboys player.

"In the back of my mind, I know this has a very good chance of being my last game," said the 15-year veteran of the Cowboys and the NFL Wednesday. "It's going to be special. Obviously, there aren't many games left for me."

Bates made the team in 1983 as an undrafted free agent from the University of Tennessee, somehow surviving 15 seasons, three owners and three head coaches.

He has played in 230 games, including the playoffs, the second-highest total in team history. His 216 regular-season appearances are just seven shy of the club record held by defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones.

Although Bates would like to return for a 16th season to break the club record, he realizes that the uncertainty surrounding the Cowboys' offseason plans and the development of several younger players could force him to retire.

The team is 6-9 and out of the NFL playoffs for the first time since 1990.

He is second on the Cowboys with 21 tackles on special teams this season and remains the captain of that unit. He also is the middle linebacker in long third-down situations, although the Cowboys appear to want to take a longer look at Randall Godfrey in that role.

Coach Barry Switzer didn't sound optimistic about Bates' future.

"It's going to depend on what we draft, where he fits in and what he plans to do," Switzer said. "Does Bill work into the nickel (third-down) package any more? Should Randall Godfrey play every down? You're always trying to improve."

Bates said he will talk to owner Jerry Jones after the season about coming back, but numerous family members, including his wife and five children, will attend Sunday's game -- just in case.

Bates has said he would like coach with the Cowboys when his playing career is over, but he didn't want to discuss it as the team prepared for the season finale against New York.

"I'll cross that bridge when the time comes, but that time is getting pretty close," he said. "Real close, in fact."