AUSTIN, Texas (KRT) - Blessed relief for Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys
has arrived with the advent of hot, punishing two-a-day workouts. Training
camp, of all the confined locations in a wide, wonderful world, has become
their sanctuary.
Here Aikman and his mates have plenty to do rather than reacting to who
among them had been arrested or suspended since dawn. A zippy practice in
98-degree heat takes a man's mind off someone else's problem. Even with
the usual 1,000-plus tire kickers who spectate daily and more media than
covered Desert Storm, there's relative peace of mind.
A necessary experience to be endured, a period of drudgery and numbing repetition,
this pre-season camp instead is welcome for the sense of isolation it provides.
Oh, there are diversions. Players watch free movies, even though most are
of themselves cavorting for the later purpose of playing them one at a time.
"I think this team, because of all the off-season things that have
gone on, is happy camp is here," Aikman said Tuesday. "We can
go out and play and not continually talk about what did happen during the
off-season."
Which was what Aikman talked about anyway, and to a conclusion about the
Cowboys' internal dynamics. Not every character still with the team can
pass the Boy Scout oath without crossing his fingers. But there's a team
characteristic that Aikman feels will sustain it through tough times ahead
such as after Michael Irvin's suspension becomes official this week.
"I do know members of this team rally around each other," said
the quarterback. "People think we win because we're talented. It's
not just because of that.
"This team seriously cares about each other. It's a close group. Players
and coaches who've left us don't talk about missing the winning. They talk
about missing the guys. Because of that, when an individual is being attacked,
the team seems to rally."
Black players closed ranks to support Aikman during the prelude to Super
Bowl XXX when he was falsely accused of racism. Irvin led the rally. Aikman
stood for Irvin during the latter's cocaine possession trial by appearing
in court, a decision he knew would be misinterpreted and draw criticism.
"I went as a friend," Aikman stressed. "People who know me
knew I wasn't condoning the reason the trial was taking place. If that had
been my sister, I would have done the same thing. That doesn't mean I'd
be proud of the reason she's there.
"If people want to criticize ... well, it wasn't going to stop me from
doing what I think is right."
Just as it didn't stop Irvin when he defended Aikman, an act the quarterback
put in this context: "On a lesser scale, maybe he put himself in position
to be criticized, too."
There was another instance last season when players rallied around Coach
Barry Switzer, the national whipping post after his fourth-down follies
influenced a 20-17 defeat in Philadelphia. Coincidence or not, the Cowboys
ran the table in their last five games. Further testimony semi-dedicated
a 27-17 victory over Pittsburgh to Switzer as payback for the abuse he endured.
Aikman is more concerned with the team's physical state than its emotional
balance. Mentally, the Cowboys are stable despite all the recent turmoil.
After several private, pre-camp sessions, he and Switzer are on the same
page even if they sometime read the words different.
"It's not just Michael," Aikman said, referring to soft spots
on the roster. "Jay Novacek is having back problems. Some of our offensive
linemen are down.
"A lot of people want to think all we have to do here is fine-tune
the machine. That's not the case. We have lots of questions. Maybe more
than in previous years."
One question dogging Aikman to tiresome degree is about the Cowboys' image
as a haven for rascals and rowdies. As a spin-off to that theme, Aikman
was asked if he felt smeared personally by mere association.
"I think it's unfortunate that the acts of a few carry over to the
entire organization. I've been asked in the off-season if I'm concerned
about image. I am, but no more than when I first joined the team.
"I'd like to play for a team that other players and people respect.
Whether or not I do," he admitted, a bit ruefully, "I don't know."
(Frank Luksa is a sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Write to
him at: Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas, Texas 75265.)