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Tuesday, December 16, 1997

Aikman says he'll be back next year ... regardless

By DENNE H. FREEMAN

Associated Press

IRVING - Troy Aikman, not a big backer of Barry Switzer, said Monday he'll be back as the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback next season.

In the Valley Ranch rumor mill, this was another sign that Switzer might not return as coach because he doesn't teach the discipline Aikman believes is necessary to win.

With a 31-24 loss Sunday to Cincinnati, the mistake-plagued Cowboys are 6-9 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

"I'll be back," Aikman said. "I've always said 10 years is important to me, so I'll play. I just hope (owner) Jerry Jones takes the necessary steps to get this thing back on track."

As far as the subject of Switzer is concerned, Aikman said he has never tried to influence Jones' coaching and personnel decisions.

"Jerry makes the decisions he is comfortable with, and I don't lobby for anybody," Aikman said. "I've removed myself from the process."

"I don't have a magical answer for all this."

But he did say the team needs more focus and discipline, things it lacked this season.

"That (discipline) is just my nature, and maybe it's an extreme approach," Aikman said. "On teams that are successful, there is discipline.

"Something needs to be done about penalties and mistakes. But it is not for me to decide what is done."

Switzer joked about the coaching job Monday afternoon.

When asked about his job status, Switzer said again that Jones "is the only one who can answer that."

"I haven't pulled the trigger yet," Switzer said. "Jerry has the gun and I haven't taken it from him, but maybe I will."

The Cowboys close out the season against the New York Giants on Sunday, and then Jones will decide whether to keep Switzer as coach, dismiss him, or move him to another job such as college talent evaluator.

"I want to help prepare for the draft and be part of the evaluation of talent whether I'm the head coach or not," Switzer said.

Switzer would have two years remaining on his contract, worth about $1 million per season, and Jones would have to pay him anyway.

Jones said he has a plan for 1998, but isn't divulging it.

"I don't have time to have any more bad times," Jones said. "It's not on my schedule."

The Cowboys could get a good draft pick. Only six teams in the NFL have worse records.

Dallas has lost four consecutive games for the first time since 1989.

Switzer said the Cowboys will go all out against the Giants.

"We'll try to go and win the game," he said. "Troy and Emmitt Smith will start."