Over the years, Troy Aikman has seen the Cowboys fight through their share of struggles. The Pro Football Hall of Famer admitted Thursday morning that this year’s problems in Dallas were different than those he has experienced in the past.
Aikman’s feeling hasn’t started during the 2024 season either.
“It was different at the beginning of the season, from how the offseason went. There didn’t seem to be as much optimism, I guess, at the beginning of this year,” Aikman said. Sports Radio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket (KTCK-AM). “Maybe it was because Dak [Prescott] hadn’t been signed and it was a really big topic of conversation in the offseason and then the status of Mike McCarthy and all that.
“It’s just a team that’s really in shock. Who knows what that might look like? I feel like we’re at a bit of a tipping point, not just within the organization but, I think, with the fans as well. We have the impression that they have reached their limits.
Aikman got a first-hand look at the Cowboys when they took on the Texans Monday night at AT&T Stadium. The three-time Super Bowl champion highlighted how the stadium had a strong Houston contingent that made its presence felt as the Texans closed out a 34-10 victory.
As Dallas’ struggles continue, various fans and critics have called for Jerry Jones to make a mid-season coaching change. According to Aikman, this would not be a favorable path to take.
Aikman said he was never a fan of clubs making coaching changes in the middle of a season. Why not?
“Usually what happens, there’s usually an uptick. This is what happened with Jason Garrett when he replaced Wade Phillips and then eventually got the job. Usually what I’ve seen when there’s been a shot during the season, we saw in New Orleans last week. The interim coach arrives, the players for some reason seem to be playing better. They win one game, they win another game, they get a little competitive and then the organization is like, “Okay, what are we going to do?” “, Aikman said. “Because usually when they hire the interim coach, that’s not the person the owner wants as coach in the future. But then they win games and then you’re like, “Well, the fans kinda like this guy.” And now ? He kind of earned this opportunity. So, I just didn’t like it.
Aikman also had questions about Jones’ “all in” approach during the offseason, where the owner wanted the team’s big players to prove they had earned their new contracts. THE ESPN Monday Night Football The analyst said he understood Jones’ original intent, but he had questions after the team extended Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb before the season started.
“What happened to all-in?” I mean, that’s all out the window now and now you’ve signed them without them really proving anything, if that’s what you wanted them to do. And now we didn’t have any money to sign guys in free agency,” Aikman said. “It was just weird for me. I’d like to know more about this year’s philosophy, but the rest, as far as young players who were going to develop, it just didn’t happen. The question marks as the year approaches remain question marks. Then you lose a few games and it snowballs.
Listen to the rest of Aikman’s radio show here.
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