Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman should have a deeper supporting cast in 1999.

Aikman had his health, all these options, a good veteran third-down receiver in Ernie Mills and a innovative offensive mind running the show. Aikman passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more. The Cardinals, a popular preseason pick to take down Dallas, had to read headlines like "Debacle in Dallas" and "Cardinals defense offends."

The Cowboys were riding high. What could go wrong? That answer came the next week in Denver where Aikman fractured his left clavicle (non-throwing shoulder) and would miss the next five games.

In essence, he had to start some of the learning process over. Backup Jason Garrett did an admirable job with a 3-2 record, but Aikman and the offense were still working out some kinks in a December fade.

Aikman finished with his usual good numbers -- fourth in the NFC with an 88.5 passer rating -- but the 1999 season should give the Cowboys a better read on how good Aikman can be passing to Michael Irvin, Mills and Raghib Ismail, with Emmitt Smith still an elite running back behind him.

Aikman is honest enough to admit every player says the upcoming season will be good. If a player is negative in September, he won't stay in this game long.

"But I believe we should be better this year," Aikman said. "I really believe that."

Aikman has several good reasons to think that. He's healthy. He has old friend Mark Stepnoski back at center. Ismail and fourth-round choice Wane McGarity were added to the receiving corps.

And everyone involved is more familiar with Gailey's offense.

"Step provides us with some good stability," Aikman said. "He doesn't get too down when things are going bad, and he's not too excited when things are going good."

The same could be said of the quarterback. While some fans might want Troy to smile more, he's paid to win.

AIKMAN FILE

Born: Nov. 21, 1966 Drafted: No. 1 overall 1989 College: UCLA (1987-88), Oklahoma (1984-85) NFL: Entering 11th season with Cowboys. Holds or is tied for 43 Cowboys passing records, including attempts (4,011), completions (2,479), yards (28.345) and completion percentage (61.8 percent). Super Bowl: Aikman is one of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to lead a team to at least three Super Bowl victories. He led Dallas to titles following the 1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII in 1993.

And it's hard to imagine anyone more focused or successful at that task.

"There's nobody who wants to win Super Bowls than I do," Aikman said. "And there's nobody who appreciates the work and focus it takes to get there. I want to win the Super Bowl as bad today as before I won the first one (1992 season). It's still important to win, and I'd be highly disappointed if I didn't win another one."

Aikman and the veteran Cowboys have tried to avoid "Super Bowl or bust" statements. But the goal or hope remains.

And Aikman thinks his offense will be improved, although as the No. 8 unit in the NFL last year, it's not as if the attack needs a total makeover. And stats are not an Aikman strength unless you're talking about winning.

"From an offensive standpoint, I don't think it's asking too much for us to improve on last season," Aikman said. "We're much further along at this point than where we were a year ago. I think on paper anyway, that we're better talent-wise."

Aikman's team has never been bad enough in the 1990s for him to throw the ball 40 times per game. He passed for a career-high 3,445 yards and 23 touchdowns in 1992. That's the only time his TD total reached 20.

Aikman, 3-0 in Super Bowls, is 83-57 for his career in the regular season. He's an incredible 11-3 in the playoffs, including last year's 20-7 embarrassment to Arizona.

"I don't worry about what my numbers have been in the playoffs. I don't concern myself with where my place is in history," Aikman said. "What I do care about is that I want to go out and do everything I can to help my football team win. "The quarterback position is the result of everything around you. Jerry (Jones) doesn't pay me to go out and throw for 400 yards a game."

A popular phrase these days is window of opportunity, but Aikman, 32, but doesn't see his time running out just yet. He said without an injury, 1998 might have been his best year statistically.

"I still feel like my best years are ahead of me. I don't feel my game has slipped," Aikman said. "I wouldn't say that I feel quite as good as I did when I was 25, but I probably condition myself better than I did when I was younger. My time will come like everyone else's, but it's not today. And it's not this year."

One training camp goal set by Gailey was improved third-down success. The Cowboys were 14th in the league last season.

Installing a new offense, especially the third-down packages could have been a reason.

And the receivers suffered a loss when Mills missed the final five games.

"A lot of times it's not out-smarting somebody or out-strategizing somebody," Aikman said. "You just have to be able to out-execute them. And that's what we failed to do."

Aikman will eventually take his place in the Hall of Fame, where the team played its first preseason game.

"When we won the Super Bowl it was a tremendous accomplishment, but it didn't make me any happier," Aikman said. "Well, I was happier that night. But you come back and do it all over again. You still have life's challenges and hurdles. That's what I'm trying to say more than anything. If I get inducted into the Hall of Fame when my time comes, then I'm going to be thrilled and excited about it. I'm not going to have things to overcome and challenges to face."

Aikman still loves the game of football.

"The great thing about football is that you get immediate gratification. The highs and lows are pretty severe," he said. "You have to go out and prove yourself every week, and that's one of the motivating things about the sport and the most difficult thing about the sport.

"When I get out of ball, I'll have some other things and be motivated by other things to keep going. The fear of losing, the fear of embarrassment is really what motivates me every year."

Andy Newberry writes for the Times Record News in Wichita Falls, Texas.