Cowboys: Why Troy Aikman Might Be Right
Former Cowboys QB, Troy Aikman, may have hit the nail on the head as to the future of the the team.
During media week it is always interesting to hear what bubbles up from the interviews. It isn’t always the players playing in this game, sometimes it is former Super Bowl champions who have some interesting things to say.
This week, former starting Cowboys quarterback and three time Super Bowl winner, Troy Aikman gave his opinion on the Dallas Cowboys by saying, “This team, for 20 years, really has been so inconsistent. And unless practices change, I don’t see that changing any time soon.” The question people are asking is what “practices”?
Looking at what Troy could mean could be deeper than the actual statement itself. While it is pretty accurate to think he isn’t talking about the way the team itself practices, he is talking about the way the team operates. Further than the players, it seems he is talking about the coaching staff all the way to the owner. Here is where Aikman hits the nail on the head. It is the time procedures and the way this team operates that needs to change.
We could all go back into the cycle of arguing about head coach Jason Garrett and his .500 record and whether he should be the coach of the Cowboys or not. I think it goes deeper than just Jason Garrett.
Although Aikman does point toward Garrett by saying, “You look back at last year and 12-4 and get excited about that, but was 12-4 really what this team is or is 8-8?” This could be seen as a dig toward his former backup quarterback by saying this team under him is nothing more than a .500 team.
I think beyond the much-reported and opined flaws of Garrett, there is a much more blame directed toward the owner, Jerry Jones. Since former head coach Jimmy Johnson left and took his personnel decisions with him, the Cowboys have been mediocre at best. Jones has stated that he could win without Johnson, and so far, he has not only been wrong, he has been horribly wrong.
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While there has been some good moves made by Jones, it doesn’t ever feel like he is building toward much. If he boosts the offensive line, he leaves the secondary alone. If he boosts the defensive line he leaves wide receiver alone. If you listen to Jones, it is always a one piece away from a championship talk. The Cowboys have been one piece away for twenty years if you want to believe Jones. We all know differently.
No matter what you think of Troy Aikman, post-Cowboys, he is honest and frank. While it doesn’t always come off well to many Cowboys’ fans, it is hard to argue he is wrong. There has been nothing the Cowboys have done to prove his words both wrong or misconstrued. With this latest statement, maybe it is time someone listens. Unfortunately, Jerry Jones still doesn’t listen, he still thinks he can do it.
If the Cowboys want to move forward, it is time to find a football mind to manage the team. Someone who can understand how to build a team, where the gaps lie, and apply that to the draft and free agency. A real General Manager. I wonder if Troy would like a job, maybe beg Johnson to return, someone, anyone other than Jones. It took just about everyone on staff to include his son Stephen to convince him to avoid Johnny Manziel.
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The time has come for the Cowboys to decide the direction of the team. While everyone talks about what needs the Cowboys have to fill in the draft or in free agency, there needs to be discussion on how the team can usurp Jerry Jones. It is these practices that have to change, this is exactly what Aikman was talking about. Now, if only Jones would listen, sadly, it is doubtful he will. Let’s all pray Aikman is wrong.