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Wednesday, December 10, 1997

Big changes in Big D for staggering Cowboys

By DENNE H. FREEMAN / AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Troy Aikman is looking for big changes in the Dallas Cowboys next year. Owner Jerry Jones says they will come after the season.

"It's hard to watch," Aikman said. "Something has to be done."

The Cowboys, winners of three Super Bowls in the 1990s, won't win their sixth consecutive NFC East title. For that matter, they won't even make the playoffs -- the first time in seven years that has happened.

The NFL office says there is still a distant possibility Dallas can qualify for the postseason, but there are so many scenarios the league hasn't bothered to figure out exactly how the Cowboys could stay alive.

In any case, everyone on the Cowboys knows it's over.

"We'll look at all the issues but we'll wait until way after the season is over," said a crestfallen Jones. "I know we can't keep having a direction like this. "

Unable to respond under coach Barry Switzer, the Cowboys have tumbled to 6-8 following Monday night's 23-13 loss to Carolina, the same team that knocked Dallas out of the playoffs in January.

Rumors sweep Valley Ranch daily that Switzer will retire after the final two games and take a $2 million pat-on-the-back check for winning a Super Bowl in four seasons as a replacement for Jimmy Johnson.

"I expect to be back next year," Switzer said Tuesday. "But only Jerry can answer that. I have a loyalty to Jerry and this football team. We'll discuss the job candidly and honestly. I'm a team guy. I want nothing but the best for this football team."

After the loss to Carolina, Switzer said: "I'm not even thinking about the offseason right now. We've got two games to play (Cincinnati and the New York Giants) and these guys will try to win. They're professionals."

Switzer has now lost three consecutive games for the first time in either his college or professional career, a span of 359 games.

Jones won't give Switzer or his staff a vote of confidence for next year.

"We've got to learn to play football without mistakes," was about as far as Jones was willing to go on Switzer's future.

Dallas hasn't lost three games in a row since 1990.

"It's been a great run through the 1990s," said safety Bill Bates. "We'll find out about some of the people on this team in the next two weeks."

The Cowboys are ailing for their game at Cincinnati on Sunday. Aikman has a rib injury; tight end Eric Bjornson has a fractured ankle; running back Emmitt Smith has a bum left shoulder; and offensive linemen Nate Newton and Erik Williams are both injured.

"It's the kind of season you want to forget about," defensive tackle Tony Casillas said. "We knew what we needed to do. We just couldn't get the job done."

Wide receiver Michael Irvin said the Cowboys can't believe what's happened to them.

"It's killing me," Irvin said. "Man, it's hard. It's just hard."