Sammy Morris Samuel " Sammy " Morris III ( born March 23 , 1977 in Oxford , England ) is an American football running back who is a free agent in the National Football League . He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft . He played college football at Texas Tech . He has played for the Miami Dolphins , New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys . Early years . Morris attended John Jay High School in San Antonio , Texas , where he played both quarterback and running back . He was named San Antonio Offensive Player of the Year and was a district MVP in his senior season . College career . After graduating from high school , Morris attended Texas Tech University , redshirting his freshman season in 1995 . In 1996 , he rushed for 226 yards in eight games . He did not play again until his senior season in 1999 , sitting out his junior year due to NCAA eligibility rules . He was a team captain his senior season , finishing with 562 rushing yards in nine games . Professional career . Buffalo Bills . Morris was drafted in the fifth - round ( 156th overall ) by the Buffalo Bills in the 2000 NFL Draft . During his stint with the Bills , Morris was a backup to starters Antowain Smith and Travis Henry . He played in 12 games in his rookie season in 2000 , recording 11 special teams tackles while finishing fourth in the team in rushing and third in receiving . In 2001 , Morris played in 16 games , starting one , and led the Bills ' special teams as a captain with 31 tackles . Morris was inactive for seven games in 2003 , but returned six kickoffs during the season and picked up nine special teams tackles . Miami Dolphins . Morris signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins on March 12 , 2004 , and though he was expected to be a fullback he ended up being the team ' s leading rusher following the abrupt retirement of Ricky Williams . He started eight of the 13 games he played in , finishing with 523 rushing yards and six touchdowns . He backed up rookie running back Ronnie Brown in 2005 and led the Dolphins with 16 special teams tackles . Morris was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 regular season after violating the league ' s substance abuse policy , stemming from him taking a banned substance , pseudoephedrine , in the over - the - counter medicine Sudafed . Upon his return , Morris rushed for 400 yards and was tied for third on the team with eight special teams tackles . New England Patriots . On March 3 , 2007 the New England Patriots signed Morris to a four - year contract . He started two of the first six games of the season , averaging 4 . 5 yards a carry . On October 14 , 2007 Morris suffered a chest injury while playing against the Dallas Cowboys . On November 2 , 2007 , after missing two games , Morris was placed on injured reserve with a chest injury , ending his season . After starting running back Laurence Maroney was placed on injured reserve in October 2008 due to a shoulder injury Morris received considerably more playing time than in previous years . Morris played in 13 games in 2008 , averaging 55 . 9 yards per game , which totaled 727 yards for the season . His previous high in rushing yards in a season was 523 in 2004 . Morris also set his own personal record with touchdowns in a season with seven . Morris started three of the first six games for the Patriots in 2009 before suffering a knee injury on his first touch of a Week 6 game against Tennessee Titans . He returned in Week 12 but would not start until the final two games of the season , finishing with 319 yards on 73 attempts and two touchdowns . In 2010 , Morris saw a significantly reduced workload behind new starter BenJarvus Green - Ellis . He finished the season playing in 16 games , all as a reserve , and carrying 20 times for 56 yards as well as making 7 catches for 77 yards . During an AFC Divisional playoff game against the New York Jets , Morris took a direct snap and ran for a two - point conversion at the end of the third quarter to pull the Patriots within three points of the Jets . During the 2011 season , he was released by the Patriots . Dallas Cowboys . On December 13 , 2011 , Morris was signed by the Dallas Cowboys after they placed starting running back DeMarco Murray on injured reserve with a fractured ankle and high ankle sprain .