MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins addressed their running back situation Wednesday by acquiring former Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam from the Chicago Bears for a conditional 1999 draft pick.

The

Rashaan Salaam will be smiling in Miami now. (Allsport)

Dolphins also released wide receiver Brett Perriman and running back Irving Spikes and signed free agent tight end Syii Tucker.

Salaam was limited to three games last season after suffering a broken right fibula and torn deltoid ligament in his ankle on September 14. He underwent surgery three days later and was placed on injured reserve on September 23.

The 23-year-old captured the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a junior at Colorado before being selected with the 21st overall pick of the 1995 draft by Chicago. He rushed for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games as a rookie, but combined for 608 yards and three scores in 15 games over the next two seasons.

"We liked Rashaan coming out of college when he was the Heisman Trophy winner," said Dolphins general manager and head coach Jimmy Johnson. "A change could help him, and provide depth and competition for us at running back."

Karim Abdul-Jabbar led Miami in rushing for the second straight season in 1997 with 892 yards on 283 attempts, down from his total of 1,116 yards as a rookie in 1996. He scored 15 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 261 yards.

THE DOLPHINS also have Jerris McPhail, Bernie Parmalee and Lawrence Phillips, who signed a two-year contract on December 2 after being waived by St. Louis less than two weeks earlier for skipping practice.

Phillips saw limited action in two games for Miami before injuring his left knee and undergoing arthroscopic surgery in January. The troubled running back was the Rams' leading rusher with 633 yards when he was released by the team.

As for Chicago, the team signed former Packer Edgar Bennett to a four-year, $6.2 million contract on February 19 and selected Penn State's Curtis Enis with the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft last weekend.

The Bears also removed the transition player designation from Raymont Harris on Monday, giving them the right of first refusal on any offer to Harris, makes him a free agent and takes back a $2.46 million one-year contract offer. Harris led the team with 1,033 yards and 10 TDs last season before breaking his leg on December 2nd.

"We obviously have too many backs and have made a commitment to Edgar Bennett and Curtis Enis," said Bears coach Dave Wannstedt. "This move gives Rashaan a chance to compete for playing time. We wish him well."

PERRIMAN, who re-signed with Miami on February 23, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs last summer, but missed all of training camp with a hamstring injury and had just six catches for 83 yards in five games before getting released on October 7th.

He signed one day later with Miami and started five of eight games, hauling in 19 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown. The 32-year-old Perriman played at the University of Miami for Johnson. In 153 NFL games, Perriman has 525 receptions for 6,589 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Spikes rushed for 934 yards and eight TDs and caught 24 passes for 185 yards and two scores over four seasons and 48 games with Miami. He was second in rushing last season, gaining 180 yards and two TDs in 12 games.