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Sunday, December 14, 1997

After bungles, Troy Aikman walks away from drill

By Clarence E. Hill Jr. / Knight-Ridder Newspapers

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys' season of frustrations spilled onto the practice field on Friday when quarterback Troy Aikman walked away from a drill after a botched play during the final practice before Sunday's game at Cincinnati.

A couple of previous plays at practice had also been mistake-ridden. Considering that offensive mistakes have been a seasonlong problem for the Cowboys (6-8), the final straw for Aikman seemed to come when a couple of receivers missed the snap count and then he and running back Emmitt Smith nearly collided.

Aikman tossed the football to running back Herschel Walker and walked to the sideline. He stopped to get a drink of water, then walked over to the scout-team drills while his offensive teammates and coaches stood and watched him.

Backup quarterback Wade Wilson took Aikman's place, and the drill ended a few minutes later. Aikman then resumed practicing.

Aikman was unavailable for comment after practice. Cowboys coach Barry Switzer downplayed the incident but said the frustrations were "typical of the Cowboys season."

"We busted a couple of plays," Switzer said. "He was upset with that. Any quarterback would be upset."

Said running back Sherman Williams: "We all know Troy. We are going through some bad times. It's the way the season is going. Things are more touchy-feely, more sensitive."

Offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese, who initially said Aikman was bothered by the thumb injury that kept him out of some practices last week, also blamed it on frustration.

"I think everybody is frustrated with the year we've had," Zampese said. "There is frustration among all of us."

SWITZER 'WORRIED' ABOUT EMMITT

Though Smith is still bothered by his ailing shoulder, he is expected to start against the Bengals. Switzer is concerned about how long he will last.

"I'm worried about him," Switzer said. "I'm worried if he takes a shot he is through."

With 966 yards rushing, Smith is 34 yards away from his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season.

NEWTON MIGHT BE BACK

Guard Nate Newton, out of the Bengals game with a sprained knee, hopes to be back for the season finale. He said he plans to play against the New York Giants on Dec. 21 "if the Cowboys want him to."

THE LAST WORD

"Nobody listens to a team that's not in the playoffs."

-- Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin on Cowboys players' general unwillingness to talk to the media this week.

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(c) 1997, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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