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Wednesday, December 18, 1996

Novacek might be back for playoffs

By DENNE H. FREEMAN / AP Sports Writer (Dec. 18, 1996)

IRVING, Texas (AP) - There's a chance tight end Jay Novacek will be available to the Dallas Cowboys for the playoffs.

Novacek, who hasn't played in the regular season because of a bad back, is the missing link in a sputtering Dallas Cowboys offense that ranks 24th in the NFL and 18th in passing.

Coach Barry Switzer and owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that quarterback Troy Aikman's second most favorite receiver is feeling better.

"He told some of our assistant coaches that his back has felt the best it has felt in a longtime and is optimistic that he may play in the playoffs," Switzer said. "That would be a tremendous lift for our team. I'll just wait for Jay to come to me and tell me when he's ready."

Since Novacek came to Dallas six years ago, no tight end has caught more passes (339) and only two had more receiving yards (3,576).

"It's no secret that one of the reasons we haven't been productive on offense this year is because Jay isn't here," Aikman said recently.

Eric Bjornson, groomed to be Novacek's successor, has been hobbled with injuries since training camp. While Novacek caught 62 passes for 705 yards last year, Bjornson has caught only 48 for 388.

Switzer had assumed Novacek had no chance of playing this year.

"All I talk with him about is dogs and killing birds," Switzer said. "I know Jay has been running uphill because his back hurts when he runs on a level surface. I don't know what it would do right now if we got him back to sea level."

Jones said he doesn't "want to make more of the situation than it is" but "Novacek is feeling better about his situation. We've got that little light out there. His goal is to play in the playoffs."

Novacek has played with pain most of his career in Dallas but fought through it.

"Jay has been playing with significant pain and on a scale of 1 to 10 he has it down to a 7," Jones said. "His pain has been at a 10. Maybe he can play but there's no way I'd give odds on it. It won't be this week but in the next couple of weeks it might. "

The Cowboys have carried Novacek on their 53-man roster instead of placing him on the injured reserve list in hopes he could be ready for the playoffs.

For the first time since 1991, the Cowboys don't get a first-round bye this year and will play either Minnesota or Philadelphia on either Dec. 28 or 29. The Cowboys close out the season on Sunday in Washington in a game that means nothing to the playoff picture.

Dallas also has Charles Haley, who had back surgery last month, still on the active roster. Haley has been bouncing around pain-free at Valley Ranch.

"I know Charles would like to play and if we get to the Super Bowl I'm sure he would want to be a part of it," Switzer said.