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 Vintage
Troy:
Aikman growing impatient with Cowboys' losing habit
By DENNE H. FREEMAN
AP Sports Writer
(Dec. 5, 1989)
IRVING - Troy Aikman is a millionaire, but he's not happy.
The rookie quarterback has yet to win an NFL game and it's beginning
to grind on him.
At times the top draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys has been brilliant.
He threw four touchdown passes on Sunday, yet a series of miscommunications
short-circuited the offense on a critical late drive in a 35-31
victory by the Los Angeles Rams.
"We let the game get away from us and I'm upset about it,"
Aikman said. "It's ridiculous and I'm disappointed."
Dallas drove deep into Los Angeles territory late in the game
but lost a vital timeout when an official thought Aikman was signaling
a "T."
Actually, Aikman was trying to communicate with his wide receivers.
"I was calling the play at the line of scrimmage and the
ref thought I was calling time out and he whistled it," Aikman
said. "That was a bad call but I guess it's something we
have to learn to live with."
The Cowboys plan to change their signaling procedure because of
it.
"We need to do something," Aikman said. "It does
kind of look like a timeout call."
On the next play, Cornell Burbage ran the wrong route. Aikman
threw the ball to him short anyway and time ran out with Dallas
inside the Rams 20.
"We were up by 10 points with five minutes to play, in a
position to win the game, and we let it get away from us,"
Aikman said. "The last play was a play we've had in our book
all year long but it was just a miscommunication on our part.
We worked on it all week as a matter of fact."
Aikman hit 19 of 34 passes for 179 yards and had one intercepted.
He also scrambled four times for 57 yards.
Aikman drew raves from the Rams.
"He's going to be the best quarterback in the NFL one of
these days," said coach John Robinson.
"Aikman is incredible," said Rams safety Vince Newsome.
"He can run and throw."
But Aikman is beginning to tire with Dallas' 1-12 season. Steve
Walsh was credited with the only victory.
"I don't believe in moral victories," Aikman said. "I've
yet to win a game for the Cowboys and it's emotionally draining.
You can't believe in moral victories if you are a football player."
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