Thursday, January 2, 1997

By DENNE H. FREEMAN / Associated Press (Jan. 2, 1997)

IRVING - Troy Aikman says there's no question he's concerned about his team's image. Though, he added, "I'm still proud to wear a helmet with a star on it."

Emmitt Smith says he thinks his teammates are "just fed up with all we've been hearing throughout the year." Then he added: "We'll just shake it off and keep on moving."

The Dallas Cowboys tried to do just that Wednesday, a day after being jolted by the latest distraction in a season full of them: A 23-year-old woman accused wide receiver Michael Irvin of holding a gun to her head while offensive tackle Erik Williams and another man allegedly raped her.

Irvin and Williams practiced for Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Carolina Panthers. On Thursday, police said they planned to call them in for questioning.

Coaches have a backup plan for a worst-case scenario should the pair miss the game. However, police have said neither player would be prevented from leaving the state while the investigation was under way.

Irvin, on probation for a drug offense, said he is innocent; Williams has declined comment.

As he left the Cowboys' Valley Ranch training facility Wednesday evening, Irvin said he wasn't at Williams' home Sunday night.

"I'm ... looking forward to seeing how you guys go rewrite, reprint, rerun all these things about what happened Sunday night when you find out that I wasn't even at Erik's house," Irvin said.

"I'm real anxious to see how that's going to happen. Can you run it with the same intensity that you ran this other stuff? Can you run it with the same intensity? I want to see if it's possible."

Aikman said the team was handling the latest distraction fairly well.

"Obviously it's some distraction, but I don't think it's going to keep us from preparing to play like we have to come out and play," the quarterback said. "I don't know if you ever get used to distractions. This team has overcome a great deal of adversity. We'll just have to see."

"I want to be proud of this organization," he said. "I'm proud of what we have accomplished."

So is teammate Bill Bates, though he said all the turmoil "makes me sick to my stomach."

The safety-linebacker said his children asked him what was going on.

"I just told them that people in life sometimes have problems and that nobody is perfect," he said. "Things happen and not just to the Cowboys. It's happening all over the NFL, the world, the nation. Nothing shocks me anymore. Just turn on the TV. It's society in general."

Fullback Daryl Johnston said the Cowboys' image was definitely taking a hit.

"You would have to be foolish not to be concerned about what the public perception would be," he said.

He said Dallas players are accustomed to circus sideshows at Valley Ranch. "It's just another thing we are forced to overcome," he said. "It comes at a critical time. But we've done it (overcome adversity) in the past."

Johnston, who is a free agent after this season, said before he re-signs with Dallas he would consider things such as image.

Should Irvin and Williams miss the game, the Dallas coaches could move All-Pro right guard Larry Allen to right tackle for Williams and put backup Derek Kennard in Allen's spot.

Deion Sanders would start in Irvin's spot as he did in the first five games of the season when Irvin was serving his NFL probation on a no-contest plea of cocaine possession. He was sentenced to four years' probation and 800 hours of community service. Irvin's parole could be revoked if he is charged with any crime.

Coach Barry Switzer had already planned for Sanders to get more playing time than in recent weeks at wide receiver. Sanders has been bothered with muscle spasms in his back.

Former Dallas coach Tom Landry said the Cowboys' troubles are a sign of the times.

"Well, I don't know if the latest (charges) are accurate or not, but it seems like they run into trouble from time to time," said Landry, who coached the team from 1960 to 1988. "It's a reflection on the whole team when it does.

"It seems like this is a different era. It just seems like the players can do whatever they want."

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