By AJ Cadman
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
He didn’t want to end it this way.
But like his trademark roll out of the pocket, Troy Aikman
sidestepped his way out of the spotlight on Monday at Texas
Stadium, ending his twelve-year professional career with the Dallas
Cowboys.
A UCLA standout from 1987-1988, Aikman opted to walk away rather
than be helped off.
“I know its the right thing,” said an emotional
Aikman during his retirement press conference. “I know
it’s the right thing for me because of my health,
concussions, the back problems I’ve had. It has taken
it’s toll.”
The 34-year-old Aikman suffered his ninth career concussion
““ his fourth in his final 20 starts ““ when he took a
vicious hit from Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington on
Dec. 10 of last year.
Benching their All-Pro for the remainder of the 2000 season as a
precautionary measure, the Cowboys decided to end their marriage
with their No. 1 pick in 1989 by waiving Aikman on Mar. 7.
Aikman attempted to contact other NFL teams through his agent
Leigh Steinberg, but opted to sign a lifetime contract with the
team that matters most to him.
“I think when all things are considered, it was the right
thing for me and my family.
“But if it was just me, then I think it would be easier to
try to go on,” he said. “If I was single, I would still
be playing right now.”
Citing the Cowboy’s salary-cap woes, Aikman believes that
he would still be playing with Dallas, if not another team, if the
circumstances were different.
Aikman is likely to pursue a career in the broadcast booth, with
FOX and ESPN being probable suitors.
However, the legacy of the three-time Super Bowl champion will
extend far beyond his statistics. Winning 90 games, more than any
other quarterback, Aikman posted an 11-4 mark in the
postseason.
“This man has touched us all, and for that we’re
grateful,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Monday. “He
restored our belief that our athletes can be heroes.”
Aikman started his collegiate career at Oklahoma. But a leg
injury and the departure of Head Coach Barry Switzer gave him the
opportunity to transfer to Westwood.
His movement from the Sooners’ wishbone offense to the
Bruins’ pro-gun set allowed Aikman to flourish.
He notched a career 20-4 record at UCLA, including Aloha and
Cotton Bowl victories over Florida and Arkansas, respectively.
During his senior campaign, Aikman received the Davey O’Brien
Quarterback Award for best collegiate player at that position and
was third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
The 1988 consensus Associated Press All-American led UCLA to two
Top-10 finishes in the AP poll and sits third all-time in passing
yards behind Cade McNown and Tom Ramsay.