Once upon a time, Troy Aikman delivered the Dallas Cowboys a dynasty on the field, but reality is sinking in that he may not ever be able to help the team win it all again.
For years, Cowboys fans have wanted the team to do what the Miami Dolphins have done with Aikman, which is to hire him as a consultant to help build out the roster or even make coaching decisions. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is doing what Cowboys fans wish Jerry Jones would do, but it just doesn't feel like that's ever going to happen.
And it seems like Aikman himself has yielded to that fact as well. Aikman was recently asked about whether or not he wishes he could have a consultant-type role with the Cowboys, and his statement in response is a tough truth to hear (h/t DLLS Cowboys).
"I won't be a general manager in the NFL, but with that said, I'll always wonder what kind of general manager I would have been. And I believe I would have been a good one...
I think the Dolphins were wise in understanding my relationships around the league, and knowing that I have information that they don't have, or can't get. I think they were smart in taking advantage of that, whether it was through me or through somebody else.
The Cowboys have never elected to do that, at least with me. Maybe they have with others..."
The Dolphins are living Dallas Cowboys fans' Troy Aikman dream
Aikman's comments here are rough to read, because for years, Cowboys fans have longed for his perspective and voice to be heard by Jerry Jones, if even just for the sake of optics. Aikman is sharp, he was a winner on the field, and he's great at what he does.
We've seen other former players make successful transitions into the GM world, notably guys like John Lynch and John Elway. And as a competitor, you can feel the way Aikman is talking about this subject in a way that he feels like he has a lot to offer. And he is willing to put his name on something and have a bit at stake.
But just like Aikman joked in that clip, even Will McClay doesn't get much say with the Cowboys. This is the Jerry Jones show, for better or worse.
Working in TV is much more than just the on-air production for Aikman. Folks who work for major networks like that get pretty unprecedented access to teams before they work games, so Aikman has extensive knowledge of things like he's talking about, which can provide a unique bird's eye perspective on how everyone around the league is operating and thinking.
His input could be extremely valuable to the Cowboys, but it's just never going to happen. And that feels more set in stone now than perhaps any other time before.