Monday, September 14, 1998

Aikman fractures collarbone against Broncos

By AARON J. LOPEZ AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) - Troy Aikman has survived jarring hits from blitzing linebackers and bounced back from five concussions. This time, he did most of the damage on his own.

Aikman, who hasn't missed a start for Dallas in four years, broke his left collarbone Sunday when he landed awkwardly after a 6-yard scramble during the Cowboys' 42-13 loss to Denver. He is expected to miss 4-8 weeks.

"This is one of those freak injuries," Aikman said. "I took off running and fell on the shoulder. It could have been the first scramble I had of the year or the last scramble. You just don't know when those things are going to happen."

Aikman, 31, was injured in the second quarter when he took off down the right sideline and avoided Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski. Aikman cut back inside and dived forward as Marvin Washington and Neil Smith piled on top.

"We had the opportunity to lay out and get him," Smith said. "Marvin brought him down, and all I had to see that the guy was underneath him. I knew how he felt and he was hurt."

With Aikman out, backup Jason Garrett will have a chance to show what he has learned in six years as an understudy.

"Anytime you're a backup quarterback, you've got to put yourself in those positions mentally, and I do that every week," said Garrett, who has only two career starts. "It's never an ideal situation, but you try to mentally prepare yourself to say, 'Hey if something happens to Troy, you've got to go in there and play.' "

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave Garrett a vote of confidence, saying he would not pursue another quarterback before next Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

"I saw nothing in training camp that didn't confirm that Jason could get in here and move our team," Jones said. "Otherwise, we'd have been out there looking for a different situation."

Aikman's injury immediately cast Dallas' playoffs hopes in doubt. After a disastrous 1997 season, the Cowboys had started 1998 on the right foot with a 38-10 win over Arizona in their first game under head coach Chan Gailey.

Aikman threw for 256 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in that win, and he was 5-of-12 for 88 yards and another TD before leaving Sunday's game.

"It's disappointing, no question," said Aikman, his left arm resting in a sling. "I've been fortunate to get through these last three seasons healthy, and now to be faced with it again this year, especially with the way things have gone through the preseason, is frustrating."

Dallas hasn't had a starting quarterback other than Aikman since Nov. 12, 1994, when Rodney Peete led the Cowboys to a 31-19 win over Philadelphia. Aikman expects nothing less from Garrett next week against the New York Giants.

"I think he provides some real leadership for the offense. The offensive players believe in him," Aikman said. "He's not a newcomer to the team. It helps when you have somebody everyone's familiar with."

Despite his history of concussions, Aikman has started 60 straight games since returning from a sprained knee ligament in 1994. Before that, he missed only 13 games because of injuries, including one playoff game in 1991.

"I hate to use the word devastating," Gailey said. "I would say that it hurts our football team. He's an all-time great player, and you don't lose all-time great players and it not affect your team."

After replacing Aikman, Garrett completed 14 of 19 passes for 113 yards, but two Dallas drives stalled inside Denver territory as the Cowboys settled for field goals.

"We lose a marquee player, and we're coming up with Rudy," Dallas running back Emmitt Smith said, referring to the Notre Dame walk-on made famous in a movie. "I think Rudy is going to lead the way."