I was reading (and actually purchased ) the NFL Legends book and in it - it not only listed Troy Aikman as one of the Legends - but even went as far to have like a feature of him --which was only reserved for a few players throughout league history.
I mean his stats I guess were great for the time - they hardly seem to be anything special for nowadays. I mean 11 TDs I guess was acceptable for Hal of famers now it's like I want to run Jones out of town for only 11 TDs. But I don't remember any special anything from Troy Aikman. I remember Deon Sanders making plays thoughh. THey show a picture of Eli and had the Giant's '07 SB win as top games of all time. Other Giants of note were obviously L.T. as game legend.
My insult related to him was that he was the biggest myth in NFL history.
My compliment related to him was that when given all day to throw in perfect weather, he threw a really nice ball and didn't turn it over.
I will have to say that he wasn't a douche either.
He was a very efficient quarterback but nowhere near what I would call a legend.
That has always mattered most to me.
His talent was also off the charts good. He made throws most cannot make. There's a few reasons why teams couldn't stop dallas. Their OL was awesome and so was their QB. Smith was a good RB that was extremely durable.
QB and HC is often about the talent around you. You have to capitalize when you have it and he did.
He was exceptionally accurate and often made deep throws in a very small window on a line. This is one area so many QB's miss the mark and what takes the good to great imo.
His talent was also off the charts good. He made throws most cannot make. There's a few reasons why teams couldn't stop dallas. Their OL was awesome and so was their QB. Smith was a good RB that was extremely durable.
One of the most underappreciated players I've ever been around.
All the QBs mentioned by BB56, including Aikman had great talent AND played in the fashion that gave their team the best chance to win.
Bradshaw is the best example. The first 2, they ran on offense, had 2 1000 yard backs in one year. The second 2 when the rules changed were passing offenses.
His talent was also off the charts good. He made throws most cannot make. There's a few reasons why teams couldn't stop dallas. Their OL was awesome and so was their QB. Smith was a good RB that was extremely durable.
I agree. Aikman was one of the best to play the game.
That has always mattered most to me.
+1. A winner and a leader.
end of story.
Those Cowboys teams that Jimmy Johnson built were the most complete NFL teams I ever saw. They had talent everywhere because Jimmy had a gift for spotting talent and for coaching talent. Jimmy Johnson isn’t always in the conversation of best ever football coaches but he clearly should be. There’s a strong case to say he’s the best football coach ever.
Sure, he was on a all-time great team, but his output was rather laughable. He broke 20 TDs in a season once. Just look at his TD/INT ratio 165/141. That's was pedestrian for that era in the '90s.
Dammit.
Bw: Aikman played in a big play offense. Not fair to group him with the West Coast QB's and offenses which were the rage in the 90's once Walsh's tree started taking more root in the league imo.
Of course now if you look back now and hawk the stats it doesn't look impressive, but this is another case of the stats do not tell the whole story.
Aikman's intangibles, clutch ability, leadership, smarts, and arm didn't need to deliver all the time with the league all-time leading rusher, strong o-line and defense. But whenever those Dallas teams needed him to, Aikman came through way more often than not.
He was a thorn in the side for sure, but hard not to respect that he was a big part of those championships.
Bw: Aikman played in a big play offense. Not fair to group him with the West Coast QB's and offenses which were the rage in the 90's once Walsh's tree started taking more root in the league imo. [/quote]
Do you remember any signature plays by Aikman?
I remember one time he fell on the snap from Stepnoski, handed the ball to Emmitt, and Emmitt scored from the two. That was a great hand-off... ;)
Sure, he was on a all-time great team, but his output was rather laughable. He broke 20 TDs in a season once. Just look at his TD/INT ratio 165/141. That's was pedestrian for that era in the '90s.
There you go, losing sight of what this game is all about to you..FF stats over winning it all..
On top of that, they had a top five D for at least five years on a PPG basis.
It was 1935 football that Gettleman craves - run the ball, block, stop the run.
On top of that, they had a top five D for at least five years on a PPG basis.
It was 1935 football that Gettleman craves - run the ball, block, stop the run.
Aikman did what he was called upon to do..He made the clutch throws when he had to, mostly in games of championship importance..We measure QBs differently. You take your Rodgers and Brees type QBs who were/are FAR SUPERIOR stat QBs than Aikman ever was and I’ll take Aikman all week long with the title on the line.
I can remember signature throws by Simms, Montana, Kelly, Favre, Young, Cunningham, Moon, etc.
But I can't remember any great plays by Aikman that stand out.
When the beat the Bills for their first SB, I guess you can mention some there. But the Bills turned the ball over 9 times and Dallas had incredible field position for nearly the entire game. Dallas won 52-17 and had two defensive scores. They would have had a third if Leon Lett wasn't such a clown...
Hell, that's the play I remember from that game - Beebe walking down Leon Lett. ;)
I can remember signature throws by Simms, Montana, Kelly, Favre, Young, Cunningham, Moon, etc.
But I can't remember any great plays by Aikman that stand out.
When the beat the Bills for their first SB, I guess you can mention some there. But the Bills turned the ball over 9 times and Dallas had incredible field position for nearly the entire game. Dallas won 52-17 and had two defensive scores. They would have had a third if Leon Lett wasn't such a clown...
Hell, that's the play I remember from that game - Beebe walking down Leon Lett. ;)
Signature plays are your barometer? I don’t remember one signature play of Aikman’s. What I do remember is saying, “oh fuck” way too many times during his career, especially in the playoffs and SBs where he made more clutch throws than not, much to my chagrin.
He remind me of Eli in a way. The organization really let him down in his later years.
And by the by no one said Aaron Rodgers is a legend yet --even though he is -- or Drew Brees. The book says they are future Hall of famers. I think Rodgers and Mahomes are the best QBs in football right now better than the so called Goat Brady. Some Goat. Can you remember ever being able to say there was a better QB than Montana during the time he played?
He remind me of Eli in a way. The organization really let him down in his later years.
Iirc, he also incurred a bunch of concussions during the back end of his career. There were little to no protocols in place at that time
Signature plays are your barometer? I don’t remember one signature play of Aikman’s. What I do remember is saying, “oh fuck” way too many times during his career, especially in the playoffs and SBs where he made more clutch throws than not, much to my chagrin.
For Aikman, yes if someone is asserting he's a legend or an all-time great. At the category, something needs to stand out...
Staubach with the Hail Mary to beat the Vikings in the playoffs. Staubach to Butch Johnson in the SB (granted, it was a fake catch).
Bradshaw to Swann and Stallworth for huge plays in the SB.
Montana to Clark with "The Catch". Montana to Taylor to beat Cincy to win the SB.
Elway with "The Drive" in Cleveland. Elway with the big run in the SB to beat Green Bay.
Simms to Bobby Johnson in Minnesota. Simms throwing for 500+ in Cincinnati. Simms to Bavaro on so many big moments (SB, against the 9ers).
Eli to Plax for the GW. Eli to Tyree. Eli to Manningham.
Brady - pick one of a hundred.
Etc.
Every QB who was truly a legend made signature plays. Aikman really has none...
Overrated.
God, those Dallas SF championship games were hell for me. I hate both teams with a passion.
Of course now if you look back now and hawk the stats it doesn't look impressive, but this is another case of the stats do not tell the whole story.
Aikman's intangibles, clutch ability, leadership, smarts, and arm didn't need to deliver all the time with the league all-time leading rusher, strong o-line and defense. But whenever those Dallas teams needed him to, Aikman came through way more often than not.
He was a thorn in the side for sure, but hard not to respect that he was a big part of those championships.
Nice post!
Quote:
Signature plays are your barometer? I don’t remember one signature play of Aikman’s. What I do remember is saying, “oh fuck” way too many times during his career, especially in the playoffs and SBs where he made more clutch throws than not, much to my chagrin.
For Aikman, yes if someone is asserting he's a legend or an all-time great. At the category, something needs to stand out...
Staubach with the Hail Mary to beat the Vikings in the playoffs. Staubach to Butch Johnson in the SB (granted, it was a fake catch).
Bradshaw to Swann and Stallworth for huge plays in the SB.
Montana to Clark with "The Catch". Montana to Taylor to beat Cincy to win the SB.
Elway with "The Drive" in Cleveland. Elway with the big run in the SB to beat Green Bay.
Simms to Bobby Johnson in Minnesota. Simms throwing for 500+ in Cincinnati. Simms to Bavaro on so many big moments (SB, against the 9ers).
Eli to Plax for the GW. Eli to Tyree. Eli to Manningham.
Brady - pick one of a hundred.
Etc.
Every QB who was truly a legend made signature plays. Aikman really has none...
Overrated.
Jeez. I'm a Giants fan and I don't cherish at all the moments that Aikman hit Harper or Irvin in stride. Pat Summerall said he was the most accurate passer he'd ever seen. The team was a dynasty that won 3 SBs and Aikman was a large reason why.
If you want a signature play, check out the career highlights on youtube. It doesn't much interest me because I am not a Cowboys fan and many were against the Giants, but to say Troy Aikman was not a great QB is just silly.
Yeah, his NFL work outside of the Pokes wasn’t ever as good. But he was ridiculous in his accomplishments as a college coach. The championship teams that Ericsson won with were JJ recruits. And the Switzer Super Bowl was basically Jimmy’s third Lombardi. I know it doesn’t work that way, but Johnson was one of the greatest football coaches ever.
Sure, he was on a all-time great team, but his output was rather laughable. He broke 20 TDs in a season once. Just look at his TD/INT ratio 165/141. That's was pedestrian for that era in the '90s.
His regular season stats from those years are relatively dull because Dallas didn’t need him to rack up big numbers, and he didn’t get many cheap TDs because the Cowboys were lethal running the ball in the red zone. Aikman’ speak was relatively brief, but he was outstanding.
Same goes for Roger Staubach. Hated him because he killed us, but he was a great one.
Same goes for Roger Staubach. Hated him because he killed us, but he was a great one.
It would be interesting see how Troy versus Roger would go. I think it's Roger by a good bit.