PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Gary Switches, Joins Dolphins

Free agent running back Cleveland Gary, a former Ram No. 1 draft pick released by the team in late August and then sidelined by appendicitis, rejected an offer from the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday and signed with the Miami Dolphins.

Gary was set to sign a one-year deal worth a league-minimum $162,000 plus incentives with Dallas, but Miami made a better offer late Monday.

Gary caught a midnight flight to Miami, met with Dolphin officials Tuesday and signed a one-year contract that pays $200,000 in base salary with incentives that could increase it to more than $500,000.

The Dolphins wanted Gary as a replacement for tailback Terry Kirby, who is out for the year because of a serious knee injury.

Gary returns to Miami, where he was an All-American in 1988 with the Miami Hurricanes.

Miami waived running back Aaron Craver to make room for Gary.

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Pro Bowl safety LeRoy Butler of the Green Bay Packers said he will lobby the coaching staff and medical personnel this week to let him play Sunday against the Rams even though he is not fully recovered from the illness that left him hospitalized for eight days.

“I’m just anxious to get out there and get some things done,” Butler said. “This year we haven’t had any fun. There’s no dancing, no talking. It’s just an ordinary team.”

The Packers fell to 2-3 Sunday when Matt Bahr’s wobbling, 33-yard field goal with four seconds left gave New England a 17-16 victory.

“We’ve got to get some spark here and I think as soon as I get back, I’ll provide that,” Butler said.

General Manager Ron Wolf said the team’s medical staff will evaluate Butler this week and make a recommendation. He said there was no way Butler would play if doctors felt there was a risk of injury. *

New York Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason, recovering from a sprained ankle, is listed as questionable for the upcoming home game against Indianapolis. Backup Jack Trudeau was 28 of 46 for 288 yards, threw two interceptions and a touchdown and was sacked twice in a 27-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns last week.