Friday, July 24, 1998

Jason Garrett is No. 2

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) - Remember Thanksgiving Day 1994 when Jason Garrett saved the game with one of the most dramatic performances in the history of the Dallas Cowboys?

Well, it took three years, but Garrett has finally been promoted to No. 2 quarterback for the Cowboys, taking over for Wade Wilson, who was not re-signed and ended up at Oakland.

Garrett completed 15 of 26 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers to earn NFC Player of the Week honors as a sub for the injured Troy Aikman.

From that day, Garrett has had the confidence of his teammates.

The promotion hasn't changed Garrett, the young man who played at Princeton and signed as a free agent.

"My focus has always been to work and be prepared if you have to go into the game," Garrett said. "We all know Troy is going to be in there, but if he goes down I have to be ready. I have to be ready to play every snap this year if I have to."

Aikman is one of Garrett's biggest fans.

"Nothing has been handed to him, he's earned the right to be No. 2," Aikman said.

Garrett is thriving in Chan Gailey's new offense in which the quarterback and the receiver have to make the correct reads.

"I love this offense," Garrett said. "It's a lot of fun to run."

Wide receiver Ernie Mills said Garrett "has a nice touch on the ball and he gets it there. He's an excellent backup to Troy."

Gailey certainly thinks so.

"He's not as big, fast, or have as strong an arm as you would like," Gailey said. "But the issue with me is decision making and he does a great job."

Garrett is expected to play against Seattle in the July 31 preseason opener in Texas Stadium.

"We want to get Jason a lot of action in this offense," Gailey said.