If Aikman Asks for Too Much Money, Cowboys Might Go After Walsh

The new owner of the Dallas Cowboys says that if UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman asks for too much money, he will make Miami quarterback Steve Walsh the Cowboys’ No. 1 pick.

The Cowboys have the No. 1 choice in the NFL draft because they had the worst record in the league last year, 3-13.

“If Aikman gets his price right--if he knows what an opportunity is--he’ll be a Cowboy,” Jerry Jones said. “He can be the Roger Staubach of the 1990s.”

Jones, a Little Rock oilman, completed his purchase of the Cowboys during the weekend. He dismissed Tom Landry as head coach and hired University of Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson, a former roommate of Jones at the University of Arkansas.

Walsh guided Miami to a national championship in 1987 and an 11-1 record in 1988.

Walsh is a fifth-year senior at Miami and could make himself eligible for the draft.

Jones hinted Wednesday that he has looked into Aikman’s asking price.

“He’s got to do some cutting on his price,” Jones said. “We’re not going to pay that kid a lot of money. If not, we’ll go with Walsh.

Aikman’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, declined to say how much money he would seek.