Aikman: I Plan To Play Sat.

	IRVING, Texas (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys won their last two games
without Troy Aikman. It appears they'll get a chance to win the
next one with him.
	``It's good to have our general back,'' wide receiver Michael
Irvin said. ``We've been putting up some points without him. Now
that he's going to be back, there is no reason why we can't really
put up some points.''
	Aikman missed two games with a sprained left knee but was in
charge of the team Tuesday as the Cowboys prepared for Saturday's
game against Cleveland in Texas Stadium.
	``I plan on playing,'' Aikman said.
	Third-stringer Jason Garrett won against Green Bay on
Thanksgiving, and second-stringer Rodney Peete led the team to
victory Sunday against Philadelphia.
	Peete said he knows his role and doesn't expect to play against
the Browns.
	``I'd like to play, but I hope he's feeling well enough to play
because this is his team,'' Peete said. ``When I came here I knew
the only time I was going to get to play was when he couldn't go.''
	Aikman, who might play with a knee brace on Saturday, hates
sideline duty.
	``I remember the last time I had a sprained knee, I was held out
five weeks and could have played in two weeks,'' he said.
	Aikman still simmers over the incident. It was three years ago
and the Cowboys started their playoff run without him. Steve
Beuerlein got on a roll and then-coach Jimmy Johnson wouldn't start
Aikman, who said he was ready.
	Finally, in a blowout by Detroit, Aikman got to see second-half,
mop-up duty. Johnson later apologized to Aikman, who then led the
Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
	``I know my body and my body tells me when I can play,'' Aikman
said. ``I believe I can play.''
	Coach Barry Switzer said Aikman can take as long as he wants to
decide.
	``If he runs out of that tunnel on Saturday and -- poof -- says he
can play, then that's enough notice for me,'' Switzer said. ``He
doesn't need that much practice time.''
	Running back Emmitt Smith said the team needs Aikman, despite
the success of the reserve quarterbacks.
	``It's very important that we get him back before the
playoffs,'' Smith said. ``We've got to gel and get in rhythm for
that playoff run. We need him in there.''
	It's already been a busy week for Aikman. He opened a restaurant
in Dallas on Monday night and moved easily from guest to guest
without a limp.
	``Only Troy and God can keep him out of the game on Saturday,
and I think God is going to be quiet,'' Irvin said. ``We've got to
have our general before we get into the playoffs.''