TROY AIKMAN VS. ANTHONY BASS.(SPORTS)

Browse back issues of this publication by date January 7, 2000 | Seifert, KevinAs the free safety, Bass is responsible for playing a kind of center field and is often the last man standing between a receiver and the end zone. Bass has started two games in place of Orlando Thomas, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, but neither the New York Giants nor the Detroit Lions went out of their way to test Bass. Rest assured Aikman will. A three-time Super Bowl champion, Aikman is especially adept at seeking out and attacking the weakness of a defense. A likely target for that search is receiver Raghib Ismail, the speedster who caught 80 passes for 1,097 yards this season. The Vikings' improved pass rush is to Bass' benefit, and he may well develop into a front-line NFL safety. There is no way to tell, however, until he matches up with a few quarterbacks such as Aikman. Troy Aikman, Cowboys quarterback - Age: 33 - Season: 11th - Height, weight: 6-4, 226 - College: UCLA - How acquired: Drafted first round (first overall) in 1989. Anthony Bass, Vikings cornerback - Age: 24 - Season: 2nd - Height, weight: 6-1, 203 - College: Bethune-Cookman - How acquired: Signed as rookie free agent in 1998.