Sunday, September 20, 1998

Giants not underestimating Garrett

By TOM CANAVAN

AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Facing Jason Garrett instead of Troy Aikman doesn't give the New York Giants as big an advantage as you might think against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

Backups, and even rookie quarterbacks, have done remarkably well playing against New York since Jim Fassel took over as coach, which scares some Giants defenders.

"I got one word for you," Giants safety Percy Ellsworth said, then paused. "Jacksonville."

Just to jog the memory, third-string quarterback Steve Matthews made his first NFL start against the Giants last year because of injuries to Mark Brunell and Rob Johnson. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 252 yards in a 40-13 Jaguars win.

Arizona's Jake Plummer, making only his fourth start, set an NFL rookie passing record throwing of 388 yards in a 19-10 Giants win on Nov. 16.

Even in this year's season-opening 31-24 win against Washington, third-stringer Trent Green came off the bench and hit 15 of his first 16 passes for two touchdowns to scare New York.

Now comes Garrett, making only his third start in six years. He completed 14 of 19 passes for 113 yards after Aikman broke his left collarbone in the second quarter of the Cowboys' 42-23 loss to Denver on Sunday. The former Princeton star led Dallas to a 42-31 win over Green Bay in his last start in 1994.

"I'm not looking at this guy to come in and be like a normal, average backup guy," Fassel said. "This guy can play football. He's been around. He's very bright and will function in their offense."

That message has been relayed to the Giants defense. Players have gone out of their way to say that while Garrett isn't in the class of Aikman, he's good.

"You guys are talking about Garrett like he has never held a football before," Giants middle linebacker Corey Widmer said. "You know, he is not an invalid in the pocket. He has come out and made good plays and good passes.

"So I am not going to even attempt to label him as being a handicap to the team," Widmer added. "We are going to come out and play to our level. We're not going to change our level no matter who they put back there."

Cowboys coach Chan Gailey said the Cowboys won't have to cut back on their offensive package with Aikman out.

Garrett, inactive for 47 of 53 games over the past three seasons, said he hasn't felt any extra pressure this week. His goal will be to play within the system so receiver Michael Irvin and halfback Emmitt Smith get a chance to make things happen.

Smith has rushed for 217 yards, 64 more than the entire Giants team. Irvin has 15 receptions for 200 yards.

"The biggest thing I have to do is believe in them, the guys in front of me, running the ball behind me, the guys I am throwing it to."

While the Cowboys have dominated the Giants in recent years, New York won both games last season in winning the NFC East title. The teams come into this game with 1-1 records after bad losses last week.

New York lost 20-17 to Oakland in a game it should have won.

"I think we have the potential to be a good football team," Gailey said. "The first game we played pretty well and the second we did not play well. We have got to decide which one we are."

The Giants are in the same situation, heading into their first Monday night game in three years, which ironically was a 35-0 loss to Dallas.