Aikman on why he retired

[cowboys5xsbs]

Aikman is on record saying his back issues forced him to retire, not the concussions. Either way, watching him in the 2000 season was sad. You could tell his skills eroded beyond salvaging.

Exactly I think there are alot of young fans who never saw the end of Aikmans career. It was not pretty.

 

[J_Allen]

He could not finish a game without getting a concussion. I really don't think there's any other reason why he retired other than that.

 

[Astoria911]

If you watch the Cowboys in the early 90s they were a machine lead by Aikman. Aikman really took a beating his first 2 season which most qbs would not have survived. He had back surgery after their first Super Bowl which was the one the reason why he retired. Getting frustrated with Jerry and his bad football decisions was probably the other. Anyway those were great times watching the Cowboys. Unfortunately we will never see that kind of dominance again.

 

[links18]

The Aikman love is ridiculous. He was a great qb here until he wasn’t. He’s been a solid broadcaster after that. The people that think he’s the second coming to football and some kind of football savant are delusional.

Come on. Troy is a Cowboys legend, one of the best QBs to ever play the game and among the best in the broadcast business. Is he infallible? No. Did he decline during the back half of his QB career? Yes, but Jerry did just about everything he could to help screw it up.

 

[Chasing6]

I think the most interesting part of this is that he intended to keep playing and would have if Norv Turner had signed him in San Diego, then he almost got Miami. What stands out to me was Aikman was driven away from the Cowboys organization because of their bad decisions.

The part that made me cringe was that he got an offer to play for the Eagles. Thank God he turned that one down. That would have been really sickening to see him in an Eagles uniform. I've cringed when I saw Cowboys players in another team's uniform as follows:

John Niland in an Eagles uniform.
Calvin Hill in a Washington uniform.
Herschel Walker in an Eagles uniform.
Ken Norton Jr. in a 49ers uniform.

Thank God I was spared seeing Aikman in an Eagles uniform.

I am sure it had nothing to do with his 59% completion percentage. 7 TD's and 14 Interceptions.

 

[Flamma]

The Aikman love is ridiculous. He was a great qb here until he wasn’t. He’s been a solid broadcaster after that. The people that think he’s the second coming to football and some kind of football savant are delusional.

This is pretty much my take as well. Back then QBs lose a lot of the edge they had after 10+ years of punishment. Aikman was no different. Look at Drew Bledsoe on our team in 2006. Was he the same QB that played in the SB in 1996? Not even close.

 

[offlimits]

Aikman stopped playing because he was cooked. If any team actually wanted him to play they would have offered him legit money and he would have played.

Aikman sought out a starting QB gig. He did not get one. That really tells you everything you really need to know.

Concussions, back, mobility and arm strength. Troy was done. He made the right decision.

 

[stuckindc]

Or Emmitt as a Cardinal …

I’m glad Aikman retired when he did.

He had at least ten concussions in his career, including one on his very last play.

Oh, God, how did I forget that one. That one was so hard I think I blocked it out.

Ware in Denver sucked as we needed him , especially in that 2014 season

 

[offlimits]

Oh, God, how did I forget that one. That one was so hard I think I blocked it out.

Especially, when Emmitt returned to Texas Stadium as a Cardinal. It was sad to see- we were there.

 

[MikeT22]

The Aikman love is ridiculous. He was a great qb here until he wasn’t. He’s been a solid broadcaster after that. The people that think he’s the second coming to football and some kind of football savant are delusional.

Better than Dak

 

[amame25]

Better than Dak

And that has what to do with the conversation?

 

[amame25]

Come on. Troy is a Cowboys legend, one of the best QBs to ever play the game and among the best in the broadcast business. Is he infallible? No. Did he decline during the back half of his QB career? Yes, but Jerry did just about everything he could to help screw it up.

Which negates exactly what that I said?

 

[amame25]

Then I'm delusional. Aikman was a rock. Accurate with great decision making.

How is that different than what I said? He was great until he wasn't. But some posters here think he left here with his full body in tact and could have walked into any other organization and taken them to the superbowl. On top of that they think just because he was a hall of famer and broadcaster that he could walk in and be the greatest GM in the history of GMs.

 

[amame25]

But the unwarranted Dak love is OK, right?

4 NFCCG's and 3 super bowls vs. 2-5 playoff record - in case you needed a reminder why Aikman belongs on a much higher pedestal than #4.

How does that have anything to do with my comment?

 

[amame25]

We just appreciate the memories he helped build. Same as Jimmy, Emmitt etc, etc. No one said he's a know it all that can levitate a helmet.

I agree. Nothing I said changes that.