Tuesday, September 15, 1998

Troy Aikman shouldn't shoulder the blame

By Frank Luksa

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Back when he was smart and resourceful, Troy Aikman added running ability to a short list of Cowboys offensive threats from a year ago. That was eight days ago when all the parts in his left shoulder were in working order.

Aikman was daring and bold then. Gaining 40 yards on two wise, well-chosen scrambles drew applause during a 38-10 season-opening victory over Arizona. Now, after being hurt doing the same thing in Denver, wee minds consider him foolish and thoughtless of injury risk.

So the debate begins. Was Aikman reckless to turn a pass play into a run, whereby he suffered a fractured collarbone and may miss the next eight weeks?

Of course not.

First, consider that Aikman did not invite a head-on collision. He knew better than to square off against a linebacker or 300-pound linemen coming at full speed. Aikman's I.Q. in full-contact situations is higher than his jersey number.

I've seen Cowboys quarterbacks who challenged large people on defense who don't shave or use breath mints. Roger Staubach in his early days ranked as the all-time hard head. He lost the 1972 season when he refused to run out of bounds during an exhibition and chose to engage Los Angeles Rams linebacker Marlin McKeever, who separated Roger's right shoulder.

Aikman had the option of running out of bounds against the Broncos but made a fateful turn upfield. This decision left him open to a charge of a careless, rash act but only in retrospect when his injury imperiled hope of a playoff-contending season. Also because he settled for a three-yard gain and ran out of bounds on the previous snap.

Bill Romanowski, the Denver linebacker Aikman eluded en route to being hurt by hitting the ground or struck after he was down, hinted that valor overcame what should've been Troy's first consideration. That is, protecting himself at all cost because of his immeasurable value to the Cowboys.

"You gotta be smart. He was trying to get five extra yards," said Romanowski.

Think like Aikman, and you understand why he thought every yard gained was precious and any play he could make had vital importance at that stage of the game.

What Aikman saw and felt was this:

His team behind, 28-14. His defense in clumsy retreat, already punctured for four touchdowns on four possessions. Early signs that he and John Elway would lock in a scoring duel. Demand to keep pace with Elway meshed with knowledge that he'd get no relief from his defense. A setting where play safe was the last play to enter Aikman's competitive mind.

Want to blame someone for Aikman's injury? First, absolve him for not adopting a feet-first slide. Quarterbacks despise the necessity of that action. It flies against instinct to keep going that they've known since junior high. Ducking makes them look and feel like a sissy.

The real culprit? A defense that placed Aikman under immense strain to rally his team with the worst first-half collapse in franchise history. A defense that compelled his attempt to make a gain even if it amounted to no more than six yards.

Aikman will miss games through injury for the sixth time in his 10-year NFL career and for the first time since 1994. A review of those episodes proved something few suspect. He has been hurt as often trying to pass as scrambling.

As a rookie in 1989, he broke his left index finger on the Texas Stadium turf at the end of a run. When Aikman's passing pocket imploded the next year in Philadelphia, a tackle by Clyde Simmons of the Eagles separated his right shoulder. Again, trying to pass against Washington in '91, he sustained a sprained right knee.

In '93, Aikman strained a left hamstring scrambling and without being touched by the New York Giants. His last previous wound, a sprained left knee while passing, occurred in '94 via a knock from Washington linebacker Ken Harvey. The fractured collarbone evened Aikman's serious-injury log at three each when passing or running.

The point sustains itself. Aikman is at risk either way. He could as soon been hurt trying to pass as when he ran against Denver. He's still smart, resourceful and the best quarterback in the NFC East qualities that will magnify the longer he can't play.

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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