THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412180437
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
Troy Aikman says the parallels between this season and 1992 are ``frightening.''
``That year, we lost our 10th and 14th games and had to win our 15th on the road,'' the Cowboys quarterback said recently. ``Now, we have the same situation again. We've lost our 10th and 14th games and we need a win on the road.''
In '92, Dallas' 14th game was a bitter 20-17 loss at Washington, a loss that haunted then-Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson weeks later.
Now the Cowboys are trying to bounce back from a 19-14 loss to Cleveland. Dallas needs a victory Monday night to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs and the home-field edge in a divisional game. Dallas trails San Francisco by a game for the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
``This team needs a victory badly,'' Aikman said. ``A win in New Orleans would do a lot for us. I'm not overly concerned about this team right now.''
Aikman said the '92 loss to the Redskins was among the toughest moments of the Johnson era. The coach cussed out the team on a flight home from Washington. Most players were so mad that only five showed up at the team's Christmas party.
``Jimmy lost some players, but he didn't lose me, because I'm not sure he ever had me,'' Aikman said. ``I felt everyone had to look at it like they were professionals and not be throwing the towel in. We went on to win our last five games, so everything worked out.''
TIP OF CAP TO BALTIMORE? According to Vito Stellino of the Baltimore Sun, the NFL's new free-agency system and salary cap might help Baltimore's bid to bring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Baltimore. The Buccaneers' payroll increased by $11.4 million in the past two years, according to figures compiled by the NFL Players Association.
The Bucs, who had the league's second-lowest payroll ($24,484,000) in 1992, spent $35,889,000 this year because of the rising salary levels caused by the league's new free-agency system.
The payroll increase has pushed the Bucs into the red for the first time and is one of the reasons Tampa is having a difficult time finding a buyer who will keep the team in Tampa.
GIANT INPUT: Maybe it's coincidence, but the Giants' four-game winning streak started about the same time that coach Dan Reeves began letting the offense, in effect, call its own plays.
``About three or four weeks ago, I started having them list their five favorite runs and their five favorite passes after we practiced them all week,'' Reeves explained. ``I've always had quarterbacks list their favorite plays, particularly on third down, so I know theirs in crucial situations. This is the first time I've taken everybody's and it's helped. They've responded well and been able to have some results too.''
Not surprisingly, the players love the whole concept.
``It's a great idea,'' wide receiver Mike Sherrard said. ``I watch film two or three nights a week besides the film we watch in practice. I have my opinion on what I think will work. Dan now knows what I feel comfortable with. If he has a feel for what we feel most comfortable running, those are the plays that will probably be successful.
``It's a great idea. I'm surprised it's taken coaches this long to think of it.''
A THOUSAND IN TEN: If Bears kicker Kevin Butler scores 10 points in the final two regular-season games, he will become only the fourth NFL player to reach the 1,000-point mark in 10 seasons or less.
Three other NFL players have reached 1,000 points in 10 years or less. Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud scored 1,031 points in his first 10 seasons. The Steelers' Gary Anderson, who is in his 13th season, had 1,010 after his 10th year.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only one player reached 1,000 points before his 10th season. Former Boston Patriots receiver/kicker Gino Cappelletti scored 1,060 points after nine seasons in the American Football League. He wound up with 1,130 points in 11 seasons.
ANYTHING FOR THE FANS: Giants GM George Young is a fan, at least publicly, of parity.
``Everybody's ripping parity,'' Young said recently. ``What the hell do they want? Do the fans want close games? Do the fans want close races? I think that's what the fans want. They want hope as long as they can have hope.
``People are complaining about all these 6-7 and 7-6 teams that are still in it. Well, what the hell is wrong with that? Do you want teams that dominate every conference? Do you want the way it used to be in college football when one or two teams used to win the conference every year?
NFC NUGGETS: In sweeping the NFC West this season, the 49ers won their six division games by an average score of 36-15. . . . In his first five years in the league, the Lions' Barry Sanders had just one run of more than 60 yards. This year, he's gone over 60 yards six times - and there have been only nine runs of 60 or longer in the NFL this year. . . . Washington's four rushing TDs are fewest in the league. . . . The Packers play their final game in Milwaukee today. In 61 years, Green Bay has compiled a 104-61-3 (.625) record at County Stadium. . . . Rams tackle Jackie Slater, who is wrapping up season No. 19, said he is close to making a decision on his future. Slater, who has been sidelined because of an elbow injury, indicated before the season that he would like to play 20 years. . . . Giants coach Reeves gets credit for the line of the year: ``If it weren't for that seven-game losing streak, we'd be undefeated.'' . . . CAP-ITIS: Aikman, who signed a $50 million deal a year ago, has the highest salary average in the league - $6,366,200. But his cap number - the figure the Cowboys must count toward their cap this year - is just $3,037,900 because the deal is backloaded, meaning Aikman gets substantially more of his salary later in his career than now. The player with the highest cap number this year is 49ers quarterback Steve Young at $4,525,000. by CNB