Thursday, August 29, 1996

Forget who's missing; it's Troy's time

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Irvin's gone. Emmitt's injured. It's Troy Aikman's game on Monday night in Chicago.

Aikman, the third-most accurate passer in NFL history, the second most accurate in the playoffs, owner of three Super Bowl rings and a 9-1 playoff record, may face one of his greatest challenges against the Bears in the world champions' season opener.

He has on his hands a hurting team that has to be held together until Michael Irvin's suspension ends in October, tight end Jay Novacek can fight through a painful back injury, and Smith and offensive lineman Mark Tuinei can run on 100 percent healthy knees.

"For us in the preseason it's been, 'What have you done lately?' and lately we haven't done a lot," Aikman said. "If anything we've been humbled a little bit."

But a serious challenge is what keeps Aikman coming back for more.

"We're missing some of our top guns, but we'll find a way to get the job done," Aikman said. "I'm very positive and upbeat about this team. I think we're going to play well."

Just don't look for the same Dallas team on offense.

Aikman himself doesn't know exactly how he's going to get the job done.

"Without Jay and Mike it's going to be interesting to see how we get the ball downfield," Aikman said. "In the past we haven't seen a lot of eight-man fronts but we may see that now as teams try to stop Emmitt and see what we can do with our passing game.

"We've got to really convert our third downs. We won't be as methodical. You won't see as many seven-minute drives as you have from us in the past. We're going to have to hit some big plays."

Aikman can't be sure of Deion Sanders' impact at wide receiver. Sanders only caught four passes in the preseason and suffered a bruised shoulder in the exhibition finale going up for a ball.

"I'm not sure about Deion's value because we don't know how much he will play on offense," Aikman said. "How do we know when we'll have him?"

Even with Sanders, Aikman said the early games won't be pretty.

"I think it will be a struggle for us," Aikman said. "It's not a hopeless situation but it will be a big challenge, a big test. I want to see how this team competes."

There's no question how Aikman, who will run if it means picking up extra yards, will compete.
"I don't expect anyone is going to pity us," Aikman said. "We know the deal on that. All I know is this team has been counted out before, backed into a corner, and come out on top."

The bad news for the Bears is that Aikman is the healthiest he has been in several years.

"I feel good, not as good as a lot of 29-year-olds in this country, but for me it's great," Aikman said.

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