European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Aikman stocking stuffed with Cash. Laplue $50 million Man Troy Aikman. Passes Young Elway by the associated press the nil is spending More than $100 million to satisfy some of its stars before restrictions limit them next season when the leagues salary Cap becomes a reality. The biggest Winner thursday a the deadline for offering future contracts that wont be counted against the Cap a was Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman. He got a record $50 million eight year contract. The 27-year-old quarterback. Will get an $11 million signing Bonus and salaries ranging from $1.75 million in 1994 to $7.5 million in 2000. \ those numbers surpass the leagues previous highs paid to san Francisco Tyve Young Ana Denver a John Elway. Cowboy owner Jerry Jones said Aikman has a Quot True understanding of the teams goals. Quot let it be said we have a commitment to keeping the team together a Jones said. Meanwhile the news was not Good Forsee pcs. 32-33 for More football the Philadelphia eagles a team already Hurt by player defections prior to this season. The eagles failed to re sign defensive stalwarts Clyde Simmons and Seth Joyner. Both Are eligible for free Agency. The eagles were successful in signing wide receiver Calvin Williams Center Dave Alexander running Back Herschel Walker and cornerback Mark Mcmillan and Ben Smith. Dallas also agreed to a three year Extension with tackle Erik Williams. The san Francisco 49ers agreed to deals with nine players. Like the cowboys they renegotiated 1993 salaries to increase payments that wont come under the Cap. Wide receiver John Taylor got $7.74 million for four years and tight end Brent Jones $6.95 million Over four years. Cornerback Eric Davis signed for $2.4 million Over two years and safety Merton Hanks signed for $2.8 million for three. Running Back Johnny Johnson and the new York jets agreed to a $5 two year Deal with a club option for 1996. San Francisco guard Derrick Deese received $622,000 Over two years safety Damien Russell $920,000 Over  years guard Ralph Tamm $3.1 million Over three years wide receiver Nate Singleton $687,500 Over three years and defensive end Karl Wilson $855,000 Over two years. These deals All included 1993. Washington agreed to a five year Deal with tackle Jim Lachey and a three year contract with wide receiver Ricky Sanders. No terms were released. The Atlanta Falcons negotiated contract extensions with linebacker Jessie Tuggle and kicker Norm Johnson but failed to reach new agreements with pro bowl guard Chris Hinton or wide receiver Michael Haynes. Pro Bowler Tuggle who had one year remaining on his contract agreed to a three year Extension. Minneapolis a the Dallas Mavericks seemed ready to fold again. They had 23 turnovers. Their Star Rookie Jamal Mashburn got ejected for committing a flagrant foul. And they had squandered most of a 20-Point Lead. A 21st consecutive loss appeared imminent. With the game on the line however they made the plays. For Only the second time All season they made the plays. And their Aba record tying losing Streak finally ended thursday night with a 93-89 see p. 34 for other Aba games Victory Over the hospitable Minnesota Timber wolves. Quot its a big Relief a said Jim Jackson whose 28 Points included four free throws in the closing seconds. Quot i think we matured tonight. When they made their run we stepped it up on defense and made the free  the Victory enabled the Mavericks to avoid breaking the single season record they share with the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost 20 straight in 1972-73. The league record for consecutive losses 24, was set Over two seasons by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 81-82 and 82-83. The Mavericks Are 2-0 at target Center and 0-23 elsewhere a including 0-12 in their own reunion Arena. A if we could work hard and play Minnesota every night wed get a lot of victories Quot a laughing Mashburn said. The stars and stripes december 25/26,1993 Page 36 phils unwraps richest Deal Philadelphia a Lenny Dykstra is ready to become the highest paid player in Philadelphia Phil lie history. A Dykstra who hit .438 with four homers and eight Bis in the Phillies world series loss to Toronto has tentatively agreed to a $24.9 million four year contract Extension that runs through 1998. Quot this contract makes Lenny Dykstra the highest paid Philadelphia Phillie in history and is the richest contract Given to a Lead off hitter in major league history a Alan Meersand one of dyes Lral a representatives said thursday "1 could have tried to wait a Dykstra told the Phila Delphia daily news. Quot maybe i could have gotten More Money somewhere. Else. But this is where 1 want to play this is where i want to dive into bases this is where 1 want to yell at umpires. This is where i want to be and 1 Hope the fans of Philadelphia realize  the 30-year-old Dykstra is signed for 1994 at $2.6 million. The new contract Calls for a $2 million signing Bonus $5.7 million in each of the 1995 and 1996 seasons and $5.5 million in each of the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The Phillies have an option for 1999 at $6 million with a $500,000 buyout and the option year becomes guaranteed if he has 500 plate appearances in 1998. A they did no to have to do it make the offer but they wanted to and that shows what a class organization this is a Dykstra said. Quot and i told general manager Lee Thomas and owner Bill Giles that i would do something to make them proud before this contract is through. I told them something very exciting will  trying out the Cheek seats Toronto a Drake Berehowski lands on the face of new jerseys Claude Lemieux during the opening period of thursdays game at East Rutherford . By games end however it was Lenieux who was sitting pretty As his two Power play goals provided the margin of Victory in a 32 Devil win. See Page 34 for the nil wrap up