Wednesday, July 22, 1998

Hunt for No. 2 receiver may end at Mills

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) - It's the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl in Phoenix, January, 1996, the Dallas Cowboys against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Cowboys were being hurt by Pittsburgh's Ernie Mills, who had eight catches for 78 yards and 79 yards on kickoff returns. He was someone very dangerous.

Then Mills went down with a torn interior cruciate ligament of the left knee and the Cowboys went on to win 27-17.

Two-and-a-half years later guess who is the leading candidate for the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Michael Irvin?

"It's kind of ironic isn't it?" Mills said, sweat dripping off his nose on another 100-degree day at Midwestern State University. "Who would have ever thought I'd end up playing for the Dallas Cowboys?"

Or who would have ever thought Mills and former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, the Cowboys' new coach, would wind up on the same team together again.

Mills tried to come back during the 1996 regular season for the Steelers and his old moves just weren't there. He caught only seven passes for 92 yards.

He signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent for the 1997 season after it became apparent the Steelers weren't interested. He started but couldn't produce and was deactivated several times. He finished with 11 catches for 127 yards.

"I just never fully recovered from the knee injury at Pittsburgh and I thought I was ready to go at Carolina but it was like they never had confidence in me," Mills said. "But it's worked out. Now I get a second chance with Chan."

Mills has been dazzling in training camp, using his knowledge of Gailey's pass routes to hook up with quarterback Troy Aikman. Aikman loves what he sees in Mills.

"He's been the leader of our receiving corps," Aikman said. "He has been very consistent. In fact, I'm learning a lot about our new offense from him. "

Asked what he's seeing in Mills, Gailey said "He reminds me of exactly what we left at Pittsburgh and that's good enough for me.

Gailey remembers 1995 when Mills had 39 catches for 679 yards and eight touchdowns on a run-oriented team that made it to that Super Bowl.

Mills said he hopes he can take some of the double-teaming heat off Michael Irvin.

"Maybe with me being in there Michael can get a few more one-on-one situations," Mills said. "If I produce I think he will. I can't do the things Michael can do but I think I can really help this team."

Watching the seven-on-seven passing drills at Midwestern State University and Mills' worth becomes obvious.

Here he is cutting over the middle for a perfect slant pass from Aikman. There he is selling the inside move and cutting outside to get open for an out route bullet from Aikman.

"It's great to catch balls Aikman throws," Mills said. "The ball gets right to you in perfect position and it's easy to catch.He hits you right on the break."

And the way Mills looks at it after the last two years it's time he got a few good breaks.

"It's still a little weird to see that star on my helmet," Mills said.