CalifYanksFan
03-07-01, 04:36 PM
ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2001/0307/1136301.html)
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Wednesday, March 7
Aikman: 'I'd like to play somewhere'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
http://espn.go.com/i/nfl/profiles/players/0615.jpg
Aikman
IRVING, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys waived Troy Aikman on Wednesday, no longer convinced that the quarterback who led them to three Super Bowl titles is healthy enough to be their starter. Aikman, however, is convinced he can still play.
"This was a mutual and amicable decision," Aikman told ESPN's Ed Werder on Wednesday. "I'd like to play somewhere. Whether that's able to work out or not, I don't know. There's nothing definitive."
"This is really a cap deal. Waiting until June wasn't going to help me."
When asked if he'd like to play in San Diego, which recently hired Norv Turner, Aikman says "that's certainly a possibility."
"We will wait and see if he clears waivers and proceed from there," agent Leigh Steinberg said.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones probably would have preferred to see the 34-year-old Aikman retire after 12 seasons -- and numerous concussions -- but his desire to keep playing left the team with little choice.
Jones had to make the move by Thursday or else pay Aikman a $7 million bonus and extend his contract through 2007.
The move costs the Cowboys $10 million in salary cap money. Dallas, which was $1.2 million dollars under the cap, is now $8.8 million dollar over the cap. The Cowboys either have to restructure contracts or cut several players to get back under the cap
As much as Jones might have wanted to keep the first player he ever drafted, the owner apparently decided the Cowboys couldn't prepare for the 2001 season with such a fragile quarterback.
Aikman, who holds practically all the Dallas passing records, sustained two concussions in 11 games last season and twice needed epidural injections to relieve back pain.
Other teams might be scared off because of Aikman's injury problems, which could then prompt him to retire.
But Aikman still wants to play and believes he can at a high level. As for the health risks; tests done before last season showed no long term damage from his previous concussions.
Once the highest-paid player in NFL history, Aikman is coming off his worst season since the Cowboys went 1-15 his rookie year.
He was the lowest-rated starting quarterback in the NFC and threw a career-worst five interceptions against the New York Giants. Aikman also missed five games with injuries and was knocked out of three more, all in the first quarter.
Yet Aikman was intrigued about coming back in 2001 in part because he wanted a full season of throwing to speedsters Joey Galloway and Raghib Ismail. Galloway suffered a season-ending knee injury in last season's opener, and Ismail was later lost to a knee injury.
Aikman came to Dallas in 1989 as the top overall choice in the draft and the team's first pick under Jones and coach Jimmy Johnson. He was immediately labeled the franchise's savior and, sure enough, helped the Cowboys once again become the NFL's most loved and most loathed team.
Aikman was the triggerman in an offense that also featured running back Emmitt Smith and receiver Michael Irvin.
Known as the Triplets, the trio propelled Dallas to the top of the NFL three seasons after it was on the bottom. The Cowboys won an unprecedented three Super Bowls in four years, including consecutive titles in 1992-93.
Aikman was the MVP of the first one, a 52-17 victory over Buffalo. He later joined Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with at least three Super Bowl victories.
Records and statistics were incidental to Aikman, who liked to joke about being a horrible fantasy football quarterback.
Still, his numbers are impressive: 2,898-of-4,715 for 32,942 yards, 165 touchdowns and 141 interceptions.
A strong-armed, accurate passer, Aikman was often considered a "Robo-QB," which was mostly a compliment but sometimes a complaint.
Coaches loved his precise, fundamental style and he was at his best when the Cowboys were loaded with young players reaching their prime. As he and the team aged and rough times hit, some fans grumbled that Aikman was too rigid and lacked the playmaking ability of someone like Brett Favre.
Since Dallas' last Super Bowl championship, the Cowboys are 39-41 in the regular season and 1-3 in the playoffs. They were 5-11 last season.
Aikman understood the marketing opportunities and media obligations that went along with being the starting quarterback of the Cowboys.
He also took advantage of his status to do charity work, mostly through his Troy Aikman Foundation, which helps children's hospitals. In 1997, he was named the NFL Man of the Year.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
http://a12.g.akamaitech.net/7/12/621/000/espn.go.com/media/nfl/2000/1016/photo/a_aikman_ht.jpg
Troy Aikman has suffered nine concussions in his career.
Time to go by way of Steve Young Troy and hang it up before you burn out more brain cells. Word has it he's going to be talking to the Chargers. Both he and Eric Lindros have to get real and get out while they can still function. It's not like they need the money.
http://espn.go.com/i/nfl/header.gif
Wednesday, March 7
Aikman: 'I'd like to play somewhere'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
http://espn.go.com/i/nfl/profiles/players/0615.jpg
Aikman
IRVING, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys waived Troy Aikman on Wednesday, no longer convinced that the quarterback who led them to three Super Bowl titles is healthy enough to be their starter. Aikman, however, is convinced he can still play.
"This was a mutual and amicable decision," Aikman told ESPN's Ed Werder on Wednesday. "I'd like to play somewhere. Whether that's able to work out or not, I don't know. There's nothing definitive."
"This is really a cap deal. Waiting until June wasn't going to help me."
When asked if he'd like to play in San Diego, which recently hired Norv Turner, Aikman says "that's certainly a possibility."
"We will wait and see if he clears waivers and proceed from there," agent Leigh Steinberg said.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones probably would have preferred to see the 34-year-old Aikman retire after 12 seasons -- and numerous concussions -- but his desire to keep playing left the team with little choice.
Jones had to make the move by Thursday or else pay Aikman a $7 million bonus and extend his contract through 2007.
The move costs the Cowboys $10 million in salary cap money. Dallas, which was $1.2 million dollars under the cap, is now $8.8 million dollar over the cap. The Cowboys either have to restructure contracts or cut several players to get back under the cap
As much as Jones might have wanted to keep the first player he ever drafted, the owner apparently decided the Cowboys couldn't prepare for the 2001 season with such a fragile quarterback.
Aikman, who holds practically all the Dallas passing records, sustained two concussions in 11 games last season and twice needed epidural injections to relieve back pain.
Other teams might be scared off because of Aikman's injury problems, which could then prompt him to retire.
But Aikman still wants to play and believes he can at a high level. As for the health risks; tests done before last season showed no long term damage from his previous concussions.
Once the highest-paid player in NFL history, Aikman is coming off his worst season since the Cowboys went 1-15 his rookie year.
He was the lowest-rated starting quarterback in the NFC and threw a career-worst five interceptions against the New York Giants. Aikman also missed five games with injuries and was knocked out of three more, all in the first quarter.
Yet Aikman was intrigued about coming back in 2001 in part because he wanted a full season of throwing to speedsters Joey Galloway and Raghib Ismail. Galloway suffered a season-ending knee injury in last season's opener, and Ismail was later lost to a knee injury.
Aikman came to Dallas in 1989 as the top overall choice in the draft and the team's first pick under Jones and coach Jimmy Johnson. He was immediately labeled the franchise's savior and, sure enough, helped the Cowboys once again become the NFL's most loved and most loathed team.
Aikman was the triggerman in an offense that also featured running back Emmitt Smith and receiver Michael Irvin.
Known as the Triplets, the trio propelled Dallas to the top of the NFL three seasons after it was on the bottom. The Cowboys won an unprecedented three Super Bowls in four years, including consecutive titles in 1992-93.
Aikman was the MVP of the first one, a 52-17 victory over Buffalo. He later joined Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with at least three Super Bowl victories.
Records and statistics were incidental to Aikman, who liked to joke about being a horrible fantasy football quarterback.
Still, his numbers are impressive: 2,898-of-4,715 for 32,942 yards, 165 touchdowns and 141 interceptions.
A strong-armed, accurate passer, Aikman was often considered a "Robo-QB," which was mostly a compliment but sometimes a complaint.
Coaches loved his precise, fundamental style and he was at his best when the Cowboys were loaded with young players reaching their prime. As he and the team aged and rough times hit, some fans grumbled that Aikman was too rigid and lacked the playmaking ability of someone like Brett Favre.
Since Dallas' last Super Bowl championship, the Cowboys are 39-41 in the regular season and 1-3 in the playoffs. They were 5-11 last season.
Aikman understood the marketing opportunities and media obligations that went along with being the starting quarterback of the Cowboys.
He also took advantage of his status to do charity work, mostly through his Troy Aikman Foundation, which helps children's hospitals. In 1997, he was named the NFL Man of the Year.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
http://a12.g.akamaitech.net/7/12/621/000/espn.go.com/media/nfl/2000/1016/photo/a_aikman_ht.jpg
Troy Aikman has suffered nine concussions in his career.
Time to go by way of Steve Young Troy and hang it up before you burn out more brain cells. Word has it he's going to be talking to the Chargers. Both he and Eric Lindros have to get real and get out while they can still function. It's not like they need the money.