Video: Aikman on why he left the Cowboys - never hear this before

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Bunch of disrespectful children in this thread ........ we would be beyond lucky to have a young Troy Aikman to build this team around.

If you don't toll the company line then you're a hater and doesn't matter how many SBs you give the franchise.

 

[Mk2_Cowboys]

What I'm hearing is "I sacrificed sweat and blood as a part of building what we built from the ground up, and seeing it come to ruin without having any chance of doing anything to right the ship is intolerable to me"

Basically--reading between the lines--Jerry and his ego were changing the culture that Jimmy and the Triplets had built and Troy couldn't abide by that.
he could sweat through the 1-15 debacle because he sensed what was being built and as tough as it was he knew there were brighter days ahead. But he could not sweat the decline knowing there was no chance of righting the ship under current management.

I don't want to put words in his mouth, but when I hear Aikman in this clip, that's what I'm hearing. In a general sense that mirrors what you said but I think it's a bit more complicated imo.

Well said.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Yes seen it a while back and was a bit surprised. He was so sour toward the ownership for parting ways with Jimmy Johnson. Can’t blame him. another interesting tidbit is Aikman asked to be released.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

All I heard is that the organization was becoming a circus atmosphere instead of a real football one like what it was under Jimmy and that was making Aikman look like a clown by association so he didn’t want to be a part of it anymore.

I remember the year after Aikman left. I went to training camp in Oxnard and it was a circus…I remember Woodson getting out of a limo with 3-4 shaggy looking woman around his arms at 3 am. Emmitt walking to his room stumbling with a couple women…they knew they were untouchable under campo , that the team was crap , and there was nothing that could be accomplished with that team.

 

[plymkr]

This interview is from 2015 or so. There is some context, that is missing in OP's short clip, in regards to his attitude and style of leadership. We all know the culture of this team took a dump once Jimmy left. Here is the full interview.

I might watch the whole thing. But Joe Buck’s lipstick is really annoying me. Like seriously, who did his makeup that day, Britney Spears?

I’ll listen to it but put the phone down so I don’t have to see and be distracted by Joe’s makeup.

 

[windward]

At the end, Aikman could not handle the normal punishment an NFL qb takes. I think in his mind he is in denial a little bit about his physical condition.

Yeah… he wasn’t on the team in 2001 because he kept getting hurt and the team was better off moving on at that point. Nobody wanted Troy at the money/stature he desired.

 

[noshame]

Troy left because he was concussed too many times
He's still one of only 2 great QBs we've ever had.
He was a perfectionist and expected the same, he'd explode around some of todays players.

 

[Flamma]

that’s cool, but removes a lot of the respect and platitudes imo. step up if you want a legacy

This video was something I haven't seen before. But in other vids he talks about this exact thing. It was his legacy he was worried about. Playing out the end of your career on a crap team can tarnish your legacy.

 

[Eddie]

His concussions and back probably had most to do with it. His physical condition was the real reason why he had to retire.

 

[Vtwin]

You can clearly tell who was actually alive and old enough to comprehend from those that were not born yet or were still toddlers.

If you saw Aikman's first couple years you would never question his toughness. He was the epitome of the "take the hit to make the play" QB. There was no rule that allowed him to throw the ball away. Rushers could still unload on him after he threw the ball. He played against those great defenses in NY and Philly and got pummeled. Watch the 11 sack game against Philly. It's on Youtube.

Aikman laid it all down for the team and the fans. He owes the team or you nothing.

 

[foofighters]

What I'm hearing is "I sacrificed sweat and blood as a part of building what we built from the ground up, and seeing it come to ruin without having any chance of doing anything to right the ship is intolerable to me"

Basically--reading between the lines--Jerry and his ego were changing the culture that Jimmy and the Triplets had built and Troy couldn't abide by that.
he could sweat through the 1-15 debacle because he sensed what was being built and as tough as it was he knew there were brighter days ahead. But he could not sweat the decline knowing there was no chance of righting the ship under current management.

I don't want to put words in his mouth, but when I hear Aikman in this clip, that's what I'm hearing. In a general sense that mirrors what you said but I think it's a bit more complicated imo.

Correct. If you have been listening to just about anything Aikman, you'll piece together that he's got a big issue with Jerry. Is it class or cowardice as to why Aikman won't just come out and say it? I do wish some of these "important" guys would officially call Jerry out but oh well.

 

[dfense]

He forgot to mention getting a 10-6 coach Chan Gailey fired because he wasn't comfortable with the offense and hand picking a loser TE in David Lafluer. The reality is, he couldn't make a difference without Irvin and Emmitt.

Aikman rode Emmitt's coat tails right into the HOF.

 

[DallasEast]

You can clearly tell who was actually alive and old enough to comprehend from those that were not born yet or were still toddlers.

If you saw Aikman's first couple years you would never question his toughness. He was the epitome of the "take the hit to make the play" QB. There was no rule that allowed him to throw the ball away. Rushers could still unload on him after he threw the ball. He played against those great defenses in NY and Philly and got pummeled. Watch the 11 sack game against Philly. It's on Youtube.

Aikman laid it all down for the team and the fans. He owes the team or you nothing.

Thank you.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Aikman on "If Jimmy hadn't left". Basically, much more winning.

 

[G2]

He was concussed during that interview.

 

[stuckindc]

Didn't watch the video. But in reality his brain was toast if he took another hard hit. He had to get out of football.

His back was in shambles too

 

[Streifenkarl]

You can clearly tell who was actually alive and old enough to comprehend from those that were not born yet or were still toddlers.

If you saw Aikman's first couple years you would never question his toughness. He was the epitome of the "take the hit to make the play" QB. There was no rule that allowed him to throw the ball away. Rushers could still unload on him after he threw the ball. He played against those great defenses in NY and Philly and got pummeled. Watch the 11 sack game against Philly. It's on Youtube.

Aikman laid it all down for the team and the fans. He owes the team or you nothing.

My sentiment exactly. He did have his flaws, loyalty or giving it all were'nt among them. He knew his generation was done, he was battered, he'd won everything you can win as a football player, there was nothing left to prove. He went at the right time, I don't blame him. The Cowboys were about to become a circus and nothing else. He wanted no part in this. Jerry wouldn't allow other leaders but him.

 

[Mcsports]

I wonder if that's why he seem to be against the Cowboys whenever he calls a game. I hate listening to Troy when he calls the Cowboys games.

If Troy sees something he disagrees with, he will say it.
Troy would not be calling Monday Night Football if he was a homer. I enjoy it.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

You can clearly tell who was actually alive and old enough to comprehend from those that were not born yet or were still toddlers.

If you saw Aikman's first couple years you would never question his toughness. He was the epitome of the "take the hit to make the play" QB. There was no rule that allowed him to throw the ball away. Rushers could still unload on him after he threw the ball. He played against those great defenses in NY and Philly and got pummeled. Watch the 11 sack game against Philly. It's on Youtube.

Aikman laid it all down for the team and the fans. He owes the team or you nothing.

The whole reason he broke down late in his career was all the hits he took early in it. During the height of the Cowboy dynasty there was no other QB I would have rather had.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

He forgot to mention getting a 10-6 coach Chan Gailey fired because he wasn't comfortable with the offense and hand picking a loser TE in David Lafluer. The reality is, he couldn't make a difference without Irvin and Emmitt.

Aikman rode Emmitt's coat tails right into the HOF.

And Emmitt ran the coattails of that great OL. I heard that one too. Maybe they were all great. I know we haven't had a team that great in 30 years Aikman sacrificed his own stats for the good of the team because all he cared about was winning. I thought Parsons was like that too but honestly I don't think anyone on this current team has that same passion.