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QB Aikman’s career
with Dallas finished
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.
“We always shared a mutual
respect for what was in the best
interest of Troy and the Dallas
Cowboys,” owner Jerry Jones
said. “In the end, it was in the
best interest for him to have a
timely opportunity to entertain
all of his options.
“He’ll be missed on the field at
Texas Stadium. He’ll always be a
Dallas Cowboy and always be a
very important part of this organi
zation,” Jones said.
“As far as what’s in the best in
terest of this club long-term, the
right thing was done,” Aikman
said in a conference call.
“My desires are to continue to
play,” said Aikman, who spent 12
seasons with Dallas and suffered
10 concussions.
The 34-year-old couldn’t say if
he’d be playing in 2001 or who
that team might be.
Jones had to make the move by
Thursday or else pay Aikman a
$7 million bonus and extend his
contract through 2007. He will
still take up $10 million of Dallas’
$67.4 million salary cap this sea
son.
“This was as much a salary-cap
casualty as it was anything else,”
Aikman said. Jones also said the
salary cap was a factor in the de
cision.
Aikman said that if it were as
simple as a health issue “a deci
sion would have been reached
long ago.”
“I believe it’s more to do with
how do you work the pure num
bers that were involved where it
makes sense to not jeopardize the
future of the Cowboys down the
road,” Aikman said.
“Troy’s loyalty to this organiza
tion was involved. The future
makeup of our team’s roster was
involved,” Jones said.
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Dallas also agreed to re-sign
linebacker Dexter Coakley for $25
million for six years, with a $5.5
million signing bonus. To clear
cap room, the Cowboys were ex
pected to release veterans Erik
Williams and Chad Hennings.
As much as Jones might have
wanted to keep Aikman — the
first player he ever drafted — the
owner apparently decided the
Cowboys couldn’t prepare for the
2001 season with such a fragile,
expensive quarterback.
The six-time Pro Bowler, who
holds practically every Dallas
passing record, sustained two
concussions in 11 games last sea
son and twice needed epidural
injections to relieve back pain.
The last play of his career in
Dallas ended with a concussion
in the first quarter of a Dec. 10
victory over Washington. With
the Cowboys deep in Redskins
territory, Aikman rolled out to his
right and was slammed to the turf
on a crushing, leaping tackle by
linebacker LaVar Arrington.
Other teams might be scared off
by Aikman’s past injuries, which
could then prompt him to retire.
However, tests done before last
season showed no long-term
damage from his previous con
cussions. The fact that his wife is
pregnant with their first child ap
parently hasn’t added to his fear
of severe injury.
One possible landing spot is
San Diego, where close friend
Norv Turner is the offensive coor
dinator. The Chargers also could
use Aikman to groom Michael
Vick, should they make him the
first pick in the upcoming draft.
San Diego’s starting job is open
because Ryan Leaf was released
last week.
Once the highest-paid player in
NFL history, Aikman is coming
off his worst season since the
Cowboys went 1-15 his rookie
year.
The Associated Press