IRVING, Texas – As always, Troy Aikman came to Texas
Stadium with his game face on.
He brought an inch-thick stack of index cards and enough family
and friends to fill a ballroom. Banners from the three Super Bowls
he won hung from the hole-in-the-roof visible behind him.
|  | | Troy Aikman listens as Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones talks during a news conference Monday in Irving, Texas. |
Then, when it came time to talk about the end of his 12-year
career, the usually unflappable quarterback was overcome by
emotion.
A few sentences into his nearly 1 1/2-hour retirement news
conference Monday, Aikman put down the cards, took a breath and
dragged a finger beneath and above his left eye.
"You watch and you think your time will never come," Aikman
said slowly. "And my time's come."
Aikman called it a career 33 days after being waived by the
Dallas Cowboys.
While he believes he can still be a starting quarterback in the
NFL, the right job wasn't out there.
So rather than risk suffering an 10th concussion or taking
another hit on his aching back, the 34-year-old Aikman ended his
playing career and is preparing to start another as a broadcaster.
"I know it's the right thing for me because of my health,
concussions, the back problems I've had," Aikman said. "It took
its toll."
Aikman is close to finalizing a deal with Fox to replace Matt
Millen as the partner for play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton, an
industry source told The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity. An announcement could come as early as Tuesday, the
source said.
Without mentioning any specific networks, Aikman said a new job
in television "looks like something that will take place," with
an announcement in the next few days.
Aikman's life is rapidly changing. He recently moved to
California and in late August his wife is due to have their first
child. They're also raising an 11-year-old daughter from her
previous marriage.
"I'm OK with it, but I also know I can still play," Aikman
said. "I think when all things are considered it was the right
thing for me and my family."
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You watch and you think your time will never come. And my time's come. ” |
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— Troy Aikman |
Aikman bit his lip as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones introduced the
first player he ever drafted and reminisced about the rise of the
team and the quarterback.
Before Aikman spoke, Jones presented a video prepared by NFL
Films. It began with clips of a young Aikman and featured great
moments throughout his career.
Aikman told about hoping the Cowboys would have the top pick in
the 1989 draft, then became choked up talking about his rookie
class, which also included close friend Daryl Johnston.
"One of the most meaningful things in my career was coming in
with that group," he said.
He remembered the team's rocket ride from 0-11 in his 1989
starts to Super Bowl champions in 1992, '93 and '95. He emphasized
the character of the players as being a major part of their
success.
"The chemistry of that ballclub and unselfish manner – you
can't beat that combination," he said.
Then, showing the candor that will serve him well in
broadcasting, he added: "Maybe over recent years we've lost sight
of that. It's become a game of players showcasing themselves."
Aikman talked about the things he'll miss, such as the locker
room after a big win, and the things he won't, like facing
reporters after a big loss.
He also thanked scores of people, from every coach he's ever had
to practically every member of the Cowboys' organization. He broke
down again talking about "The Triplets" – himself, Michael Irvin
and Emmitt Smith.
"I loved it when they called us that," he said.
Sitting in the second row, Smith draped an arm around Irvin and
both bit their lips as they held back their emotions.
"All three of us stepped up," Smith said. "We all pushed one
another. He probably was the laid-back one, but he was the stubborn
one, too. His stubbornness was really his way of showing that
losing was not an option."
Irvin said Aikman's emotions Monday proved he wasn't always
frown-faced, as cameras usually caught him during games.
"He's a stoic kind of guy," Irvin said. "This shows what
football and the relationships he's built meant to him."
Jones said Aikman "restored or embellished our belief ... that
our athletes can be heroes."
Jones waived Aikman on March 7, a day before he was due a $7
million bonus and seven-year contract extension.
Aikman holds nearly every team passing record and was among the
best postseason quarterbacks in NFL history.
But he missed five games last season because of injuries and was
knocked out of three more, all in the first quarter. When he
played, he lacked his trademark arm strength and accuracy, sinking
him to the worst QB rating among NFC starters.
A few weeks into being a free agent for the first time, Aikman
told agent Leigh Steinberg he was finally ready to listen to job
offers from the broadcast networks that had been after him for
years.
Aikman did color commentary on NFL Europe games for Fox two
years ago. He enjoyed the experience more than he expected and
received rave reviews.
Aikman is a natural for television because of his good looks and
high profile. Aikman also is articulate and knows the game
extremely well, traits Fox executives said came through in his NFL
Europe work.
Aikman's legacy begins with his three Super Bowl titles. Only
Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw have won as many. His 90 wins in
1990s are the most by any quarterback in any decade. He also won
his first seven playoff games and 10 of his first 11, and he was
the MVP of his first Super Bowl.
Rather than joining Montana, Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas as
quarterbacks who ended their careers in seemingly foreign uniforms,
Aikman will forever be a Cowboy.
He also joins the list of NFL stars who have retired at least in
part because of concussions.
Other notables include Steve Young, another Steinberg client,
who reluctantly quit last summer, and Roger Staubach, who led
Dallas to two Super Bowl titles before retiring in March 1980 at
age 38.
"I'm looking forward to being a supporter of the Dallas
Cowboys," Aikman said. "I want to watch them win another Super
Bowl. I know it's going to happen."
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