Tuesday, September 15, 1998

Cowboys rally around new starting quarterback Jason Garrett

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Win or lose, Jason Garrett is the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys until injured Troy Aikman can return.

Coach Chan Gailey said Monday that Garrett, who has started only one game in six NFL seasons, will be charged with keeping Dallas in the NFC race until Aikman's broken left collarbone heals.

"Jason does things differently than Troy, but we don't plan to scale our offense down," Gailey said. "Jason has a great mind for the game and will try to do the things we've been doing. "

Garrett said Monday he is ready for the challenge.

"It's a nice opportunity for me, but not the way it happened," Garrett said. "I can't get caught up trying to be like Troy. I just have to play my game. I've got a lot of confidence I can get the job done and I think the team has confidence in me."

Wide receiver Michael Irvin agreed.

"Jason's our blue collar leader," Irvin said. "We have a lot of respect for him. We all have to raise our games now until Troy gets back."

Trainer Jim Maurer said Aikman could be throwing in a week to 10 days because the fracture was on the left side of the right-hander's collarbone.

"But it will be about four to eight weeks before the bone solidifies," Maurer said. "It's painful for him right now. The collarbone will be stronger than it was once it heals."

Aikman got hurt on a scramble in the first half of Sunday's 42-23 loss to Denver. Gailey refused to term it as a reckless play.

"Troy is a competitor," Gailey said. "He thought he could get a first down and stuck it inside. Getting hurt is part of the game."

When the Cowboys take the field against the New York Giants next Monday night, Garrett will be starting for the first time since Thanksgiving Day, 1994. He stunned Green Bay by hitting 15 of 26 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-31 win.

Gailey, who was a Pittsburgh assistant, remembers watching that game on television.

"That game Jason had really stuck in my mind," Gailey said. "I was impressed with his decision-making process. He took the team to victory."

Gailey acknowledged Garrett's shortcomings.

"He doesn't have as strong an arm as Troy, but it's strong enough to get the job done," Gailey said. "He's not as experienced. He was a second-team quarterback for a reason. He was not as good as the starting quarterback."

Garrett hit 14 of 19 passes for 210 yards and took the Cowboys to three field goals against the Broncos. However, 11 completions were for 10 yards or less.

"He had a lot of repetitions in the off-season and the preseason," Gailey said. "He knows what to do."

Mike Quinn, who was on the roster at Pittsburgh last year, will backup Garrett. He hit one of two passes for 10 yards last year.

After the Giants, Dallas hosts Oakland, plays at Washington, hosts Carolina, and is at Chicago before a bye on Oct. 25.