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Cowboys hope Brandon Weeden can pull a Jason Garrett, circa 1998
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Jason Garrett does not like to reminisce very much about his playing days. Every year at Thanksgiving he is asked about his memorable game against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.
As the Dallas Cowboys get ready for life without Tony Romo for the next eight weeks -- give or take one or two -- because of a broken collarbone, Garrett can offer a perspective to Brandon Weeden that few can.
In 1998, Troy Aikman broke his collarbone in a Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos. Garrett was called in to start and keep the Cowboys’ chances afloat as they waited for Aikman’s return.
Like Romo, Aikman did not have surgery, but his break was more in the middle of the collarbone. Romo’s break is a distal fracture. Aikman was able to return in six weeks.
“Seems like 10 lifetimes ago,” Garrett said Monday afternoon.
Garrett was in his sixth of seven seasons with the Cowboys. He had started only two games before this run and had not started a game in three years.
But Garrett had some excellent recall in remembering that five-week run.
“I remember I was playing, excited about the opportunity. Happened in Denver, if I’m not mistaken, right?” Garrett said. “We played the Giants on the following Monday night. Billy Davis, Deion Sanders, right? Um ... I remember two really bad, disappointing losses where we lost 13-12. Remember a good game against Carolina. Am I right? How am I doing so far? I remember a really good game in Washington. Chris Warren. Was Emmitt (Smith) playing? They both had over 100 yards rushing. Yeah.
“So, I love playing football. We were better with the other guy playing, though. I’ve got to admit it. He’s pretty good.”
The Cowboys beat the Giants, 31-7, highlighted by an 80-yard touchdown pass to Davis. Sanders had a 59-yard punt return for a score. Smith had 28 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown in the 31-10 win against the Redskins. Warren had 104 yards on 14 carries. Garrett threw two touchdowns against the Panthers and Smith had more than 100 yards on the ground.
Garrett’s two losses were 13-12 affairs to the Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears. He was intercepted twice by the Raiders and once by the Bears, who won on a late field goal.
Garrett’s numbers were not staggering. He completed more than 14 passes in a game just once (18 vs. Oakland). He threw for more than 224 yards just once (287 against the Panthers).
If there is a blueprint for Weeden to follow, it’s what Garrett did in 1998.
“Brandon will not play exactly how Tony plays,” Garrett said. “We don’t want him to play exactly how Tony plays. We want Brandon to play how Brandon plays. We have a system of football that we believe in and we’re confident he can run it for us.”
Garrett did not play the way Aikman played. The Cowboys ran the ball effectively and the defense was stout. That’s something they will need to do without Romo.
Weeden completed all seven of his passes filling in for Romo Sunday against the Eagles, including a 42-yard touchdown to Terrance Williams. He was most impressed, however, with a check-down to Lance Dunbar that did not result in a first down.
“He took advantage of the opportunities to throw it and throw it to the right guy, deliver the ball where it needs to be delivered, did a good job being patient,” Garrett said. “Sometimes you get into a game like that and you start, 'Hey, we got to do something.' Just ran the offense. He ran it with poise and good decisions, good throws, critical throws to keep drives alive and obviously the one for the touchdown was big. He did a nice job."
Nice was good enough for the Cowboys in 1998 with Garrett. He kept them afloat. When Aikman returned, the Cowboys won four straight games, finished 10-6 and won the NFC East in Chan Gailey’s first year but lost in the wild-card round to the Arizona Cardinals.
The ultimate goal wasn’t reached, but Garrett did what he was supposed to do and now hopes Weeden can do what he’s supposed to do.
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Jason Garrett does not like to reminisce very much about his playing days. Every year at Thanksgiving he is asked about his memorable game against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.
As the Dallas Cowboys get ready for life without Tony Romo for the next eight weeks -- give or take one or two -- because of a broken collarbone, Garrett can offer a perspective to Brandon Weeden that few can.
In 1998, Troy Aikman broke his collarbone in a Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos. Garrett was called in to start and keep the Cowboys’ chances afloat as they waited for Aikman’s return.
Like Romo, Aikman did not have surgery, but his break was more in the middle of the collarbone. Romo’s break is a distal fracture. Aikman was able to return in six weeks.
“Seems like 10 lifetimes ago,” Garrett said Monday afternoon.
Garrett was in his sixth of seven seasons with the Cowboys. He had started only two games before this run and had not started a game in three years.
But Garrett had some excellent recall in remembering that five-week run.
“I remember I was playing, excited about the opportunity. Happened in Denver, if I’m not mistaken, right?” Garrett said. “We played the Giants on the following Monday night. Billy Davis, Deion Sanders, right? Um ... I remember two really bad, disappointing losses where we lost 13-12. Remember a good game against Carolina. Am I right? How am I doing so far? I remember a really good game in Washington. Chris Warren. Was Emmitt (Smith) playing? They both had over 100 yards rushing. Yeah.
“So, I love playing football. We were better with the other guy playing, though. I’ve got to admit it. He’s pretty good.”
The Cowboys beat the Giants, 31-7, highlighted by an 80-yard touchdown pass to Davis. Sanders had a 59-yard punt return for a score. Smith had 28 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown in the 31-10 win against the Redskins. Warren had 104 yards on 14 carries. Garrett threw two touchdowns against the Panthers and Smith had more than 100 yards on the ground.
Garrett’s two losses were 13-12 affairs to the Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears. He was intercepted twice by the Raiders and once by the Bears, who won on a late field goal.
Garrett’s numbers were not staggering. He completed more than 14 passes in a game just once (18 vs. Oakland). He threw for more than 224 yards just once (287 against the Panthers).
If there is a blueprint for Weeden to follow, it’s what Garrett did in 1998.
“Brandon will not play exactly how Tony plays,” Garrett said. “We don’t want him to play exactly how Tony plays. We want Brandon to play how Brandon plays. We have a system of football that we believe in and we’re confident he can run it for us.”
Garrett did not play the way Aikman played. The Cowboys ran the ball effectively and the defense was stout. That’s something they will need to do without Romo.
Weeden completed all seven of his passes filling in for Romo Sunday against the Eagles, including a 42-yard touchdown to Terrance Williams. He was most impressed, however, with a check-down to Lance Dunbar that did not result in a first down.
“He took advantage of the opportunities to throw it and throw it to the right guy, deliver the ball where it needs to be delivered, did a good job being patient,” Garrett said. “Sometimes you get into a game like that and you start, 'Hey, we got to do something.' Just ran the offense. He ran it with poise and good decisions, good throws, critical throws to keep drives alive and obviously the one for the touchdown was big. He did a nice job."
Nice was good enough for the Cowboys in 1998 with Garrett. He kept them afloat. When Aikman returned, the Cowboys won four straight games, finished 10-6 and won the NFC East in Chan Gailey’s first year but lost in the wild-card round to the Arizona Cardinals.
The ultimate goal wasn’t reached, but Garrett did what he was supposed to do and now hopes Weeden can do what he’s supposed to do.