LA Times: Troy Aikman as an Eagle?

[Gryphon]

By Sam Farmer
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nfl-sunday1-2009nov01,0,4859992.column

November 1, 2009

A future Hall of Fame quarterback donning the uniform of a bitter enemy and coming back to face his old team . . .

Can you imagine?

Troy Aikman can. Because it almost happened with him.

Seven years ago -- back when Brett Favre was firmly entrenched as the leader of the Green Bay Packers -- Aikman, a Dallas Cowboys icon, almost came out of retirement to play for the hated Philadelphia Eagles.

Aikman, now a Fox color analyst who will be in the booth for today's Vikings-Packers game, said nothing he can recall is quite like this homecoming. But he can relate on a certain level. He disclosed to The Times that in 2002 -- after Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb was injured -- he was contacted while broadcasting a game and asked to replace him.

"I was in San Diego working a game, and we did a game-break in the second quarter saying that Donovan McNabb looked like he might have broken his [ankle]," Aikman recalled in a phone interview. "All of a sudden a producer says in my ear, 'Hey, I need you to call somebody at halftime.' I said, 'What?' He had never done that. He gave me a number and said, 'It's Andy Reid.' "

Aikman stepped out of the booth at halftime and called the Eagles' coach, who explained the situation. He wanted Aikman to make a beeline for Philadelphia in hopes that he would be ready to play the following week, in a Monday night game at San Francisco.

"Andy was giving me all the reasons why this would be good, why this would work," said Aikman, who was 35 at the time and had retired from the Cowboys after winning three Super Bowls in large part because of concussion problems.

The Philadelphia situation was all happening too fast for Aikman, who explained to Reid he was in the middle of a broadcast and promised to call after the game. Aikman had plenty of time to chat too, because he and his wife were driving from San Diego to their home in Santa Barbara for a mini-vacation.

When Aikman dialed back Reid, the quarterback said he wanted to sleep on the decision but promised to call the coach the next day.

By the time he reached Santa Barbara, Aikman had a pretty good idea which way he was leaning.

"So I went to bed that night and said, 'I can wake up tomorrow and spend a nice couple of days in Santa Barbara. Or, I can be in frigid Philadelphia getting my brains kicked in,' " he said.

The next day, he called Reid and politely declined the offer. The Eagles did fine without him, reaching the playoffs behind the strong play of reserve A.J. Feeley.

It's notable that Aikman was not at all opposed to the idea of playing for the Eagles, even though there's no love between Philadelphia and Dallas.

"The decision for me not to come back and play had absolutely nothing to do with that," he said. "The reason I didn't go and play for Philadelphia is because I knew that it was just going to be for a few games to end the season. There was no future in it. McNabb was their guy. He was going to come back and play.

"So for me it was, 'Yeah, it would be kind of a fun story and it would be exciting, but where would it leave me when the season ends?' But I didn't weigh my decision on, 'Well, I wonder how the people in Dallas are going to feel.' "

And how would Cowboys' fans have felt?

The people of Green Bay have some inkling.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

It figures. He has no loyalty to the Cowboys, you can hear it in his broadcasts. Why would he have any after retiring? I would have thought though he wouldn't consider it because of his concussions. That's why he retired wasn't it?

 

[SDogo]

To be honest, I wish he would of.

I may be one of the few fans who could not stand the guy even as a player. I appreciate what he did in Dallas. I appreciate what Bradshaw did in Pittsburgh. Does not mean I have to like them.

Could care less if I never heard from Aikman again.

 

[DTK]

I would have had no problem if he decided to do play. It's his life, let him do what he wants. The man brought 3 Lombardi's to my team, so he gets nothing but the utmost respect from me.

 

[ROUSH8692]

He retired because once Irvin and Novacek were gone, he couldnt make it happen with anyone else.

TO is gone. Terry Glenn is gone. Romo makes it happen with Austin.

 

[Kangaroo]

It figures. He has no loyalty to the Cowboys, you can hear it in his broadcasts. Why would he have any after retiring? I would have thought though he wouldn't consider it because of his concussions. That's why he retired wasn't it?

Yet Emmitt last carry was as a Cardinal

Joe Montana's last throw was as a Chief

what is your point the team forced you into retirement you felt like you could still contribute.

I hate how fans hold that against players and get all upset remember he was booed off the field by Dallas Fans

 

[Number82]

Yet Emmitt last carry was as a Cardinal

Joe Montana's last throw was as a Chief

what is your point the team forced you into retirement you felt like you could still contribute.

I hate how fans hold that against players and get all upset remember he was booed off the field by Dallas Fans

Not the same. Cardinals hardly count as a Dallas rival.

And the 49ers and Chiefs aren't rivals at all.

If Aikman went to play for the Ravens or some team like that after Dallas, I would be okay. But, if Troy went to the Giants, Eagles, or Skins, I'd be pissed.

You really don't know what would go through your mind as a fan because you haven't experienced it. My brother is a big Packers fan. When Favre went to the Jets last year he was okay and even supportive of his favorite player. Now, he hates Favre. So I'm basing my opinion off my own hypothetical feelings and off the feelings of someone who is currently in that situation.

 

[Mike_45]

Call me a derelict but if he wanted to play again I would have no problem with it now; back then on the other hand... Granted I was younger then, much more advanced as a 28 year old now, and I would have booed him and talked nasty about him and his family.

Troy Aikman brought so much success to the Cowboys, I don't like him as an announcer but I have the utmost respect for the man. I would love to meet him and shake his hand one day. I just don't get how fans of this team can talk bad about him as a player. He got his brains bashed in for this team multiple times.

 

[THUMPER]

Yet Emmitt last carry was as a Cardinal

Joe Montana's last throw was as a Chief

what is your point the team forced you into retirement you felt like you could still contribute.

I hate how fans hold that against players and get all upset remember he was booed off the field by Dallas Fans

People tend to forget that the Cowboys cut Aikman rather than let his contract extend which would have cost them $70 million with a huge bonus up front. Our cap could not take that kind of hit at the time so we decided to let him go. Aikman was not quite ready to retire and looked for other teams that might give him a shot to start. None were willing to hand him the starting job and he didn't want to be a backup so he retired.

Aikman has been very loyal to the Cowboys over the years but he also has a job to do and it doesn't include being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I think he does a very good job of being objective and calling things like he sees them without letting his loyalties cloud his comments. He has shown up to every Cowboys event that he has been able to attend and still says "us" at times when referring to the current team.

I would have hated seeing Aikman in ANY other uniform. I hated it when Unitas played for the Chargers. I hated it when Dorsett played for the Broncos or Emmitt for the Cards. I like to see players stay with the team they have been with their entire career so it would have sucked for Troy to play elsewhere but if someone would have offered him a starting job I would have been mad at Jerry Jones, not Aikman.

It was Jerry's decision for Aikman to leave, not Troy's. I understand the decision and even agree with it to a large degree. Aikman was a TEAM player all the way and supported his teammates and the team at every opportunity. How people get the idea he is somehow against us is beyond ridiculous.

 

[Gordon]

People tend to forget that the Cowboys cut Aikman rather than let his contract extend which would have cost them $70 million with a huge bonus up front. Our cap could not take that kind of hit at the time so we decided to let him go. Aikman was not quite ready to retire and looked for other teams that might give him a shot to start. None were willing to hand him the starting job and he didn't want to be a backup so he retired.

Aikman has been very loyal to the Cowboys over the years but he also has a job to do and it doesn't include being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I think he does a very good job of being objective and calling things like he sees them without letting his loyalties cloud his comments. He has shown up to every Cowboys event that he has been able to attend and still says "us" at times when referring to the current team.

I would have hated seeing Aikman in ANY other uniform. I hated it when Unitas played for the Chargers. I hated it when Dorsett played for the Broncos or Emmitt for the Cards. I like to see players stay with the team they have been with their entire career so it would have sucked for Troy to play elsewhere but if someone would have offered him a starting job I would have been mad at Jerry Jones, not Aikman.

It was Jerry's decision for Aikman to leave, not Troy's. I understand the decision and even agree with it to a large degree. Aikman was a TEAM player all the way and supported his teammates and the team at every opportunity. How people get the idea he is somehow against us is beyond ridiculous.

Great post.

I would not have liked seeing Aikman in an Eagles uniform, but it wouldn't make me hate him. I don't think he owed it to the Cowboys to find somewhere besides Washington, New York, or Philly to play. They sent him packing, and he thought he still had the opportunity to play. If one of those teams were the only team willing to give him that shot as a starter, why wouldn't he take that opportunity?

As for Troy as an analyst, I'll never understand the hate he gets from Cowboys fans. Broadcasting is his career now, he's no longer the Dallas Cowboys QB. It's his job to be objective and to call it the way he sees it. He wouldn't be taken seriously as an analyst if he just gushed over the Cowboys and/or hated on the Giants, Skins, Eagles with no basis for reality. It doesn't appear to me that he goes out of his way to bash the Cowboys, as he often has very good things to say about the team and the players. But he is critical of them when he should be, just like he's critical of Panther, Rams, Bucs, etc players when he should be. He's doing his job as an analyst, which is to have absolutely no rooting interest in either team and to call the game as he sees it.

 

[DTK]

People tend to forget that the Cowboys cut Aikman rather than let his contract extend which would have cost them $70 million with a huge bonus up front. Our cap could not take that kind of hit at the time so we decided to let him go. Aikman was not quite ready to retire and looked for other teams that might give him a shot to start. None were willing to hand him the starting job and he didn't want to be a backup so he retired.

Aikman has been very loyal to the Cowboys over the years but he also has a job to do and it doesn't include being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I think he does a very good job of being objective and calling things like he sees them without letting his loyalties cloud his comments. He has shown up to every Cowboys event that he has been able to attend and still says "us" at times when referring to the current team.

I would have hated seeing Aikman in ANY other uniform. I hated it when Unitas played for the Chargers. I hated it when Dorsett played for the Broncos or Emmitt for the Cards. I like to see players stay with the team they have been with their entire career so it would have sucked for Troy to play elsewhere but if someone would have offered him a starting job I would have been mad at Jerry Jones, not Aikman.

It was Jerry's decision for Aikman to leave, not Troy's. I understand the decision and even agree with it to a large degree. Aikman was a TEAM player all the way and supported his teammates and the team at every opportunity. How people get the idea he is somehow against us is beyond ridiculous.

QFT. Aikman was really forced into retirement.

 

[THUMPER]

Great post.

I would not have liked seeing Aikman in an Eagles uniform, but it wouldn't make me hate him. I don't think he owed it to the Cowboys to find somewhere besides Washington, New York, or Philly to play. They sent him packing, and he thought he still had the opportunity to play. If one of those teams were the only team willing to give him that shot as a starter, why wouldn't he take that opportunity?

As for Troy as an analyst, I'll never understand the hate he gets from Cowboys fans. Broadcasting is his career now, he's no longer the Dallas Cowboys QB. It's his job to be objective and to call it the way he sees it. He wouldn't be taken seriously as an analyst if he just gushed over the Cowboys and/or hated on the Giants, Skins, Eagles with no basis for reality. It doesn't appear to me that he goes out of his way to bash the Cowboys, as he often has very good things to say about the team and the players. But he is critical of them when he should be, just like he's critical of Panther, Rams, Bucs, etc players when he should be. He's doing his job as an analyst, which is to have absolutely no rooting interest in either team and to call the game as he sees it.

Great post yourself.

I guess some Cowboys fans would like it if Aikman was a team shill like Sonny Jurgensen is for the Commanders.

 

[THUMPER]

QFT. Aikman was really forced into retirement.

Yep. Here's a blurb from Aikman's Wikipedia page:

After he was waived a day before he was due a $70 million/7-year contract extension, Aikman announced his retirement on April 9, 2001 after failing to find another team.

 

[Monster Heel]

I thought I remembered him potentially coming back for the Dolphins.

 

[big dog cowboy]

He retired because once Irvin and Novacek were gone

Not really.

 

[ZeroClub]

There is a reason why Aikman failed to find another team when his career was over in Dallas: He had become a shell of his former self.

It is just as well that his career ended when it did.

 

[tunahelper]

I think he is just saying the fanbase didnt influence his decision. Aikman is not an idiot and when you consider the fact you piss off your HUGE fanbase; it will affect your after football career. Aikman is also a businessman following in the footsteps of Roger Staubach and he would be gambling a lot of money for a few days back in the saddle.

 

[CATCH17]

I thought I remembered him potentially coming back for the Dolphins.

The Chiefs were the team most interested at 1st.

 

[jazzcat22]

It figures. He has no loyalty to the Cowboys, you can hear it in his broadcasts. Why would he have any after retiring? I would have thought though he wouldn't consider it because of his concussions. That's why he retired wasn't it?

Aikman does have loyalty to the Cowboys. Listen to him to the local media. He even said he wants the Cowboys to do well. At the same time he keeps it real and what he thinks is his honest opinion. He comes across on the National level as a little biased against the Cowboys.

Do I get ticked off at him and complain about him. Yes sometimes I do. But overall he is pretty good.

 

[CowboyMike]

*******. He's said in the past that he is closer to the Eagles organization than he is the Cowboys anyway and that he's 'moved past the star'. So frak him. This is it for me and Aikman.