Coach Praises Progress : Aikman May Start for Dallas in First Game

Dallas Cowboys Coach Jimmy Johnson says multimillion-dollar quarterback Troy Aikman has made so much progress that he could start in the team’s season opener.

“Troy has been everything we’ve expected and more,” Johnson said of the first pick in this year’s NFL draft. “Mentally, he has a good grasp of what we’re trying to do. And we already knew how physically talented he is.

“He is right on schedule for where we want him to be. He may be ahead of schedule. I have no reservations about Troy possibly being the starter in that first game.”

Richest Rookie in History

Aikman, the richest rookie in NFL history, has a six-year, $11-million contract. But after practices, he eats $3 sandwiches as he sits on the locker room’s carpeted floor, brown-bagging it with offensive linemen.

Aikman has earned his teammates’ respect on the field.

“He hasn’t come in here with an attitude like ‘Clear out. I’m the big cheese,’ ” linebacker Garry Cobb said. “He’s working as hard as anybody. There’s no hot dog in him.

“He’s going out there every day, trying to do everything within his power to improve and learn. That’s the kind of attitude that everybody respects.”

Aikman will be the first to agree that much remains to be done.

“I need to work on everything, not one particular area,” he said. “Right now, being in shorts is a whole different ballgame than it is when you put the pads on. When I get the pads on, I’ll be able to learn a lot more about myself and my progress.”

He has rejected all but a few requests for endorsements and personal appearances.

“I don’t want to receive a lot of attention until I prove myself on the field, and right now I don’t think I’m worthy of receiving that attention,” Aikman said. “So I’ve backed off.”

Players are praising the strength of Aikman’s arm and his ability to learn quickly.

“He can throw just about any kind of ball,” cornerback Everson Walls said. “He can throw it deep. He can lay it up and put some touch on it. He can throw it short. He can get it outside.”