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 Vintage
Troy:
Aikman signs with 'Pokes for $11.2 million
By DENNE H. FREEMAN
AP Sports Writer
(April 21, 1989)
IRVING - The Dallas Cowboys ended weeks of NFL draft speculation
Thursday by signing quarterback Troy Aikman to a rookie-record
six-year, $11.2 million contract.
Aikman, who played at UCLA and who will be the No. 1 choice in
Sunday's NFL draft, said he hoped that within five years "the
fans will be comparing me with Roger Staubach."
He said he wanted to sign with the Cowboys because every Sunday
he used to watch Staubach on television from his home in Henryetta,
Okla.
"I remember all those comeback victories and I'd like to
be part of that someday," Aikman said. "I can't step
into Roger's shoes but maybe I can do some of the things he did."
Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said the third time was the charm
trying to attract Aikman.
"He turned me down out of high school and went to Oklahoma,"
said Johnson, who was then coaching at Oklahoma State. "Then,
when I was at Miami, I tried to get him when he left Oklahoma
but he went to UCLA. I was afraid he would turn me down a third
time."
Ironically, Aikman suffered a broken leg during a game against
Miami when he was at Oklahoma.
He sat out the rest of that season and decided to transfer to
UCLA after Oklahoma coaches announced they would return to the
run-oriented wishbone offense the following season.
"Thanks for breaking my leg, Coach," Aikman said. "You
did me a favor."
Quarterback Vinny Testaverde signed a six-year, $8.2 million contract
with Tampa Bay when he came out of Miami in 1987.
Quarterback Warren Moon recently signed a contract with the Houston
Oilers for five years at $2 million per season. Leigh Steinberg,
Aikman's agent, also negotiated that contract.
Aikman's $11.2 million contract included a signing bonus believed
to be worth more than $2 million.
"It was the highest contract for a rookie," Steinberg
said of Aikman's deal.
"I was proud to pay it," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.
"In my opinion, Troy could have gotten more money if he had
played for another team in the NFL."
Johnson wanted Aikman badly.
"Everybody kept saying I had a poker face but at times I
had to bite my lip to keep my enthusiasm inside," said Johnson,
who took over as coach of the Cowboys last month and has sinced
signed a 10-year contract.
Aikman said how fast he plays in the NFL depends on how quickly
he picks up the system.
"The ideal way would be to take things slowly," he said.
"I'll have a lot of talent around me and that will help."
Johnson said he and Aikman would begin studying film Thursday
night.
"There's no timetable for when Troy will play," Johnson
said. "We'll go at his pace. We'll see what happens in training
camp."
Aikman said he will donate some of his bonus money to UCLA and
Henryetta High School. He also plans to donate $1,000 to charity
for each Cowboys' victory next year.
"I hope to give $16,000," he quipped.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Aikman, who played two years at UCLA after
transferring from Oklahoma, was 20-4 with the Bruins. He completed
60 percent of his passes and threw 41 touchdown passes with only
17 interceptions.
Aikman was the most valuable player in the Cotton Bowl, leading
UCLA to a 17-3 victory over Arkansas. He also was named the winner
of the Davey O'Brien award as the nation's best quarterback. He
was third in the Heisman Award balloting.
Aikman will wear No. 8, the same number he wore at UCLA.
Johnson handed the Cowboys' jersey to Aikman and said, "I
hope you wanted number eight."
Then Johnson took Aikman to his locker at the training complex,
which already had his name painted over it.
"This is where it all begins," Johnson said. "It's
a new era for the Cowboys."
Aikman said he believes he will be a better professional quarterback
than he was as a collegian.
"There were a lot more things I can do than I showed at UCLA,"
he said. "I was limited to a degree by our offensive talent."
Asked how it felt being rich, Aikman said, "I said all along
I wanted to be with the Dallas Cowboys. I'm just now getting used
to that. Being rich really hasn't hit me."
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