Would Troy Aikman make a good GM in Dallas?
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dragon_mikal
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Aikman seems like a smart guy but will that translate into a good GM and does he even want a front office position? Dude has a cake walk job right now.
In any case Jerry isn't going to give up GM duties until he lets out his last breath. Then we get Jerry Jr..
In any case Jerry isn't going to give up GM duties until he lets out his last breath. Then we get Jerry Jr..
Corso
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No and I ask:
Why would he be a great GM?
He's smart? So are a ton of people. Doesn't make them a great GM.
He played football?
So what?
Has he displayed an ability to scout talent before it has been unearthed?
Has he shown an ability to negotiate contracts with football players?
All he's done is be a Legendary QB and a pretty good commentator.
I don't get it. He has not once shown an interest to burn the midnight oil tirelessly to make the Dallas Cowboys or any other team better than they were-
Which would be his job description.
People need to get off this.
Jerry ain't goin' nowhere unless the Good Lord takes him and then the team is going to his kids.
Troy isn't walking through those doors- to semi-quote a basketball coach.
Not to spend 75 hours a week being the GM of the team, that's for sure.
Why would he be a great GM?
He's smart? So are a ton of people. Doesn't make them a great GM.
He played football?
So what?
Has he displayed an ability to scout talent before it has been unearthed?
Has he shown an ability to negotiate contracts with football players?
All he's done is be a Legendary QB and a pretty good commentator.
I don't get it. He has not once shown an interest to burn the midnight oil tirelessly to make the Dallas Cowboys or any other team better than they were-
Which would be his job description.
People need to get off this.
Jerry ain't goin' nowhere unless the Good Lord takes him and then the team is going to his kids.
Troy isn't walking through those doors- to semi-quote a basketball coach.
Not to spend 75 hours a week being the GM of the team, that's for sure.
Galian Beast
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Maybe I'm talking out of my bum, but it doesn't strike me as difficult to be an NFL GM. Being a GM on an NFL team is more about creating a theme for your team. The GM is generally just the trigger man, as there are Pro and College scouts who are doing much of the leg work. Many head coaches and coordinators bring former players along with them, either from other pro teams or from college teams.
When it comes to signing players much of this is just about accounting more than anything else. If you put together a 3,5, 7 year plan for a team it isn't difficult to come to terms with the accounting. Most serious fans can at the very least put together a 1-2 year plan just on the face of things.
The part that hurts Jerry more than anything else I think is that being GM isn't his only hat, and his job isn't in jeopardy. Most GMs will try to create a theme that meshes with a head coach and what they're trying to do, and understand that they generally won't last more than 1 or 2 coaches. This causes them to explore every avenue available to them. Jerry doesn't possess this fear. It's why we generally miss out on pretty opportune transactions that you see happening for a lot of other teams. The fact that the Cowboys have tarnished their legacy is also why we don't get more players that simply show up here wanting to come play so that they can win. Look at Revis going to New England under cost just so he can win.
When you put together a good football team your job as a GM basically takes care of itself. When you fail pretty badly, the job becomes more difficult, and when you're ill equipped to deal with it...
So I think Aikman would be successful, simply because he isn't Jerry. I think he could also lead the team dispassionately, unlike Jerry. I don't think Aikman would have hired Jason Garrett to be OC after what? 2 years as a QB coach? Just because he played for the Cowboys and appeared intelligent. I also don't think he would have gotten the job as a HC. Most GMs wouldn't risk their jobs on something so unproven.
What Jerry sees in Jason is Sean Payton. The last thing he wants to do is let Jason go to another team and for them to reap his newfound experience like the Saints did with Sean Payton. The only problem with this logic is that Sean Payton had a wealth of experience compared to Garrett before going to New Orleans. As a result of the Garrett tenure and the unwillingness to hire any coaches that would challenge him from an experience and quality stand point, we've seen this team become mediocre year after year.
Who were the major coaches that we've let go here since Garrett has been around? HC Wade Phillips... goes to coach defense in Houston... puts together a top defense quickly. Rob Ryan... leaves to New Orleans... puts together a top defense quickly... Garrett has been mediocre, and that stems from the GM who doesn't fear his job is in jeoprady. What GM would say what Jerry did in saying Garrett doesn't need to win this year to keep his job... Just stunning.
When it comes to signing players much of this is just about accounting more than anything else. If you put together a 3,5, 7 year plan for a team it isn't difficult to come to terms with the accounting. Most serious fans can at the very least put together a 1-2 year plan just on the face of things.
The part that hurts Jerry more than anything else I think is that being GM isn't his only hat, and his job isn't in jeopardy. Most GMs will try to create a theme that meshes with a head coach and what they're trying to do, and understand that they generally won't last more than 1 or 2 coaches. This causes them to explore every avenue available to them. Jerry doesn't possess this fear. It's why we generally miss out on pretty opportune transactions that you see happening for a lot of other teams. The fact that the Cowboys have tarnished their legacy is also why we don't get more players that simply show up here wanting to come play so that they can win. Look at Revis going to New England under cost just so he can win.
When you put together a good football team your job as a GM basically takes care of itself. When you fail pretty badly, the job becomes more difficult, and when you're ill equipped to deal with it...
So I think Aikman would be successful, simply because he isn't Jerry. I think he could also lead the team dispassionately, unlike Jerry. I don't think Aikman would have hired Jason Garrett to be OC after what? 2 years as a QB coach? Just because he played for the Cowboys and appeared intelligent. I also don't think he would have gotten the job as a HC. Most GMs wouldn't risk their jobs on something so unproven.
What Jerry sees in Jason is Sean Payton. The last thing he wants to do is let Jason go to another team and for them to reap his newfound experience like the Saints did with Sean Payton. The only problem with this logic is that Sean Payton had a wealth of experience compared to Garrett before going to New Orleans. As a result of the Garrett tenure and the unwillingness to hire any coaches that would challenge him from an experience and quality stand point, we've seen this team become mediocre year after year.
Who were the major coaches that we've let go here since Garrett has been around? HC Wade Phillips... goes to coach defense in Houston... puts together a top defense quickly. Rob Ryan... leaves to New Orleans... puts together a top defense quickly... Garrett has been mediocre, and that stems from the GM who doesn't fear his job is in jeoprady. What GM would say what Jerry did in saying Garrett doesn't need to win this year to keep his job... Just stunning.
Galian Beast
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- Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys): April 18, 1989[1] OWNER
- Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): August 5, 1991[2] OWNER
- Bill Belichick (New England Patriots): January 27, 2000[3] COACH
- Kevin Colbert (Pittsburgh Steelers): February 18, 2000[4] WON 2 SUPER BOWLS
- Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints): May 14, 2002 WON SUPER BOWL
- Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore Ravens): November 22, 2002 WON SUPER BOWL
- Ted Thompson (Green Bay Packers): January 14, 2005 WON SUPER BOWL
- Rick Spielman (Minnesota Vikings): May 30, 2006[5] GM SINCE 2012
- Rick Smith (Houston Texans): June 5, 2006
- Jerry Reese (New York Giants): January 15, 2007
- Thomas Dimitroff (Atlanta Falcons): January 13, 2008
- Martin Mayhew (Detroit Lions): December 29, 2008
- Bruce Allen (Washington Commanders): December 17, 2009
- John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks): January 19, 2010[6]
- Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles): January 29, 2010
- Trent Baalke (San Francisco 49ers): May 20, 2010[7]
- John Elway (Denver Broncos): January 5, 2011[8]
- Reggie McKenzie (Oakland Raiders): January 5, 2012
- Ryan Grigson (Indianapolis Colts): January 11, 2012
- Ruston Webster (Tennessee Titans): January 18, 2012
- Phil Emery (Chicago Bears): January 29, 2012
- Les Snead (St. Louis Rams): February 10, 2012
- David Caldwell (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 8, 2013
- Steve Keim (Arizona Cardinals): January 8, 2013
- Tom Telesco (San Diego Chargers): January 9, 2013
- Dave Gettleman (Carolina Panthers): January 10, 2013
- John Dorsey (Kansas City Chiefs): January 13, 2013
- John Idzik (New York Jets): January 18, 2013
- Doug Whaley (Buffalo Bills): May 16, 2013
- Jason Licht (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 21, 2014
- Dennis Hickey (Miami Dolphins): January 27, 2014
- Ray Farmer (Cleveland Browns): February 11, 2014
65fastback2plus2
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Nolan Ryan is another good example
Galian Beast
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One thing you have to credit Jones with is putting together an offensive line that could be one of the best in the league. This basically means that you're all set with skill position players probably for the next half decade or so. Jerry can now focus the next 5 or so years almost solely on the defensive side of the ball. The offensive line will make the skill position players look much better than they are. So after only a few additions here and there the offensive side of the ball is set. Even when we draft a QB to replace Romo or if Weeden steps in at some point as the starter, all the pieces are in place there. You want Romo to last as long as possible, but when that rookie comes in, you'll have a lot more money to spend on the defense when Romo is gone. This is how Seattle and San Fransisco were so sucessful. Baltimore too.
You keep this offensive line group dominant and everything else on offense will generally take care of itself.
It's much easier to put a defense together (though not so much when you're paying a QB 20 million a year). The problem with Jones is he didn't spread his risk around on defense at all. He had all the risk in Ware, Ratliff, and Carr... and look where that has gotten us.
As I said, as a GM you're basically an accountant. Let's say you spend A dollars on offense and B dollars on defense. What is the ratio of A:B? Is it 50:50? Okay let's assume for a second it is (it isn't with Dallas). How much do you spend on starters vs bench players? Is it 3:1? Understand that if you haven't drafted well it makes it much more difficult to put together depth. And that without depth when players become injured you've now been exposed to risk. This is what happened with the Dallas defense over the last few years. You had all the money tied up into aging veterans who would get hurt, and then who would replace them? Nobodies... Because we didn't have the money for depth and we didn't draft well enough on defense.
That's also been because of an overemphasis on offense in the last few years. Which also stems from the offensive line being largely ignored for entirely too long. It's also been due to questionable trades like the Roy Williams trade (more questionable when you look at the Anquan Boldin trade in the same time period).
Basically it boils down to Jerry Jones being poor at risk management and accounting, but to a larger extent his inability not to let his personal life effect his business.
You keep this offensive line group dominant and everything else on offense will generally take care of itself.
It's much easier to put a defense together (though not so much when you're paying a QB 20 million a year). The problem with Jones is he didn't spread his risk around on defense at all. He had all the risk in Ware, Ratliff, and Carr... and look where that has gotten us.
As I said, as a GM you're basically an accountant. Let's say you spend A dollars on offense and B dollars on defense. What is the ratio of A:B? Is it 50:50? Okay let's assume for a second it is (it isn't with Dallas). How much do you spend on starters vs bench players? Is it 3:1? Understand that if you haven't drafted well it makes it much more difficult to put together depth. And that without depth when players become injured you've now been exposed to risk. This is what happened with the Dallas defense over the last few years. You had all the money tied up into aging veterans who would get hurt, and then who would replace them? Nobodies... Because we didn't have the money for depth and we didn't draft well enough on defense.
That's also been because of an overemphasis on offense in the last few years. Which also stems from the offensive line being largely ignored for entirely too long. It's also been due to questionable trades like the Roy Williams trade (more questionable when you look at the Anquan Boldin trade in the same time period).
Basically it boils down to Jerry Jones being poor at risk management and accounting, but to a larger extent his inability not to let his personal life effect his business.
the_h0wey
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He might make a good GM, who knows? Jerry will never hand over the reins...
Galian Beast
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You generally want people who have gone through the scouting side of things.
Scout
Assistant Director of Player Personnel
Director of Player Personnel
GM
A GM is going to be the head of your front office, you want them to understand how front offices work from top to bottom. Generally you would like someone who has an accounting background and/or sports management background.
So the idea that the person shouldn't be a football person is a bit ridiculous.
The idea that a former player who is smart and comes from a football background can jump into the GM spot? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense though. Same as players becoming coaches. It's really a different realm of football, and doesn't necessarily carry over.
Scout
Assistant Director of Player Personnel
Director of Player Personnel
GM
A GM is going to be the head of your front office, you want them to understand how front offices work from top to bottom. Generally you would like someone who has an accounting background and/or sports management background.
So the idea that the person shouldn't be a football person is a bit ridiculous.
The idea that a former player who is smart and comes from a football background can jump into the GM spot? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense though. Same as players becoming coaches. It's really a different realm of football, and doesn't necessarily carry over.
Tawney88
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That distinction still rests with Dallas's GM
xwalker
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Is this a serious question? Jerry would never hire high profile GM. Aikman's ability or lack of is irrelevant.
Jerry is not giving up the GM Title, but if he did it would be a guy like Will McClay who is an unknown to 95% of football fans or media. Aikman is probably the last guy on the planet that Jerry would bring in to the front office. The media would flock to Aikman and leave Jerry standing around twiddling his thumbs.
tantrix1969
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Aikman was asked this very thing around the start of the year(iirc) and while he said he might be interested if he got the call that he really doubts they will be looking for a GM anytime soon
edit:found it
IRVING, Texas – It doesn’t appear that Troy Aikman will be in the Cowboys’ front office any time soon.
The former Cowboys star quarterback and current television sportscaster’s interest in a front office job has been a topic lately, but Aikman quelled some of those notions and mentioned how Dallas would be an unlikely fit if he eventually decides to work his way into a managerial role with a team.
“I answered the question on Sunday and it’s just, ‘Oh, that’s an easy question, that’s an easy story, let’s go ask Troy about this.’ It just continues, and there’s not a story there,” Aikman said Thursday on Sportsradio 1310 and 96.7 FM The Ticket. “As it relates to Dallas, which is where everyone here in the Metroplex goes with it is, ‘Oh, OK, Dallas.’ Well that’s not going to happen in Dallas because of the structure of this organization. I think everybody knows that.”
Aikman said it’s an easy question and story to ask him about a potential move to the front office and a potential general manager job, but he said his comments on that have remained consistent the last two weeks with his thoughts the last 10 years.
“I think some people maybe hear my comments and they think, ‘Oh, well he thinks he can just step right into a GM role after having been a broadcaster like Matt Millen did,’” Aikman said. “That’s not it at all. In fact, what I have said to many people is that if it were something I wanted to pursue – and I’m not sure that it is and I’m not sure that it’s not – but if it was something I wanted to pursue, now would be the time to start preparing myself for that and get involved with an organization, start learning what has to be learned.”
Before that can happen, he said there are steps that have to be taken. First, the timing has to be right. In addition, he wants to be able to put in the amount of time it would require for him to do his job to the best of his ability.
“I don’t believe there are any shortcuts in anything in life,” Aikman said. “Then the question becomes, well, whenever the timing is right for me to do that, how old am I going to be and how much time do I want to then serve in an apprenticeship-type situation to ultimately go on and do what I’d like to do?
“There’s a lot of factors in there, it’s just, I guess where I could have maybe handled it differently is just said, ‘No, I have zero interest in it.’ But then that’s not being honest. I’ve answered the question as honestly as I could.”
He’s not sure if anything will materialize at this point with him eventually taking a front office position. But any talk of him jumping at a specific job in the near future or him being in talks with a team right now doesn’t appear likely.
With Jerry Jones as the owner and general manager of the Cowboys and him not relinquishing any of those titles in the near future, and with Jones’ son, Stephen, as the team’s executive vice president, it doesn’t appear likely Aikman’s future in the front office will be in Dallas.
“It’s a little bit like the question every year is, ‘Hey, all right, do you think Jerry the owner should fire Jerry the general manager?’ How redundant is that argument?” Aikman said. “So, it’s a little bit the same way, that nothing like that would happen in Dallas.”
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...n-Dallas/dac9cbfa-5673-4ed8-9f79-5e8db1f5c166
edit:found it
IRVING, Texas – It doesn’t appear that Troy Aikman will be in the Cowboys’ front office any time soon.
The former Cowboys star quarterback and current television sportscaster’s interest in a front office job has been a topic lately, but Aikman quelled some of those notions and mentioned how Dallas would be an unlikely fit if he eventually decides to work his way into a managerial role with a team.
“I answered the question on Sunday and it’s just, ‘Oh, that’s an easy question, that’s an easy story, let’s go ask Troy about this.’ It just continues, and there’s not a story there,” Aikman said Thursday on Sportsradio 1310 and 96.7 FM The Ticket. “As it relates to Dallas, which is where everyone here in the Metroplex goes with it is, ‘Oh, OK, Dallas.’ Well that’s not going to happen in Dallas because of the structure of this organization. I think everybody knows that.”
Aikman said it’s an easy question and story to ask him about a potential move to the front office and a potential general manager job, but he said his comments on that have remained consistent the last two weeks with his thoughts the last 10 years.
“I think some people maybe hear my comments and they think, ‘Oh, well he thinks he can just step right into a GM role after having been a broadcaster like Matt Millen did,’” Aikman said. “That’s not it at all. In fact, what I have said to many people is that if it were something I wanted to pursue – and I’m not sure that it is and I’m not sure that it’s not – but if it was something I wanted to pursue, now would be the time to start preparing myself for that and get involved with an organization, start learning what has to be learned.”
Before that can happen, he said there are steps that have to be taken. First, the timing has to be right. In addition, he wants to be able to put in the amount of time it would require for him to do his job to the best of his ability.
“I don’t believe there are any shortcuts in anything in life,” Aikman said. “Then the question becomes, well, whenever the timing is right for me to do that, how old am I going to be and how much time do I want to then serve in an apprenticeship-type situation to ultimately go on and do what I’d like to do?
“There’s a lot of factors in there, it’s just, I guess where I could have maybe handled it differently is just said, ‘No, I have zero interest in it.’ But then that’s not being honest. I’ve answered the question as honestly as I could.”
He’s not sure if anything will materialize at this point with him eventually taking a front office position. But any talk of him jumping at a specific job in the near future or him being in talks with a team right now doesn’t appear likely.
With Jerry Jones as the owner and general manager of the Cowboys and him not relinquishing any of those titles in the near future, and with Jones’ son, Stephen, as the team’s executive vice president, it doesn’t appear likely Aikman’s future in the front office will be in Dallas.
“It’s a little bit like the question every year is, ‘Hey, all right, do you think Jerry the owner should fire Jerry the general manager?’ How redundant is that argument?” Aikman said. “So, it’s a little bit the same way, that nothing like that would happen in Dallas.”
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...n-Dallas/dac9cbfa-5673-4ed8-9f79-5e8db1f5c166
Risen Star
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I don't know how good Aikman would be but I'd rather have you as the GM over the one we're stuck with now.
bark
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Sadly this is the truth
Risen Star
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