Friday, September 18, 1998

Fantasy Island: Dallas QB from invisible to valuable

By RICHARD SKINNER

and TIM CURTIS

Scripps Howard News Service

Dallas quarterback Jason Garrett has gone from invisible to valuable fantasy quarterback instantly now that Troy Aikman will miss four to eight weeks with a broken collarbone.

Garrett is used to making the impossible seem possible. This "fantasy football" fill-in has literally had a "fantasy" career.

The 32-year old Garrett was not picked in the 1989 draft. He spent a year on the New Orleans Saints' developmental squad and was, get this, out of football and an assistant coach for his alma mater Princeton during 1990. He then played in the World League and the Canadian Football League in 1991.

Cut by Dallas in 1992, he hooked back on with the Cowboys in 1993 and has been super ever since.

College: Was honorable mention All-America as a senior. Established Division I-AA records for single-season completion percentage (68.2) and lowest percentage of passes intercepted (1.0).

1993: In only significant playing time, orchestrated two critical scoring drives against the New York Giants.

1994: In only second NFL start and only significant playing time that season, led Dallas to 42-31 come-from-behind win vs. Green Bay with a club-record 36 points in the second half. Led team to six straight scoring drives. Had 311 passing yards.

1995: Saw hardly any time; solid veteran Wade Wilson was Aikman's backup.

1996: In only significant playing time he led three fourth-quarter drives against Washington.

1998: Was 14-of-19 for 113 yards in relief of Aikman last week at Denver.

Now all of Dallas has its fingers crossed the capable Garrett can achieve the same results as an every-week starter.

(Richard Skinner and Tim Curtis write for The Cincinnati Post.)