Should Aikman Get His Way?
I seem to remember the talk in 1997 was that Troy Aikman openly campaigned for Norv Turner to be hired as head coach once Barry Switzer was fired. The Cowboys instead hired Chan Gailey, and Aikman was largely responsible for Gailey’s failure in Dallas (I don’t think I’ll get into a debate about that, but who knows?). As it turns out, Wikipedia provides support for what I remember!
Turner was the offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys on Jimmy Johnson’s staff when Dallas won back to back Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993. Turner got much of the credit for not only their success, but for helping shape quarterback Troy Aikman into a Hall of Fame player. However, he was also labeled as a problem. After Barry Switzer’s firing following the successful 1997 campaign, QB Troy Aikman made many urgent demands that Turner be named head coach. When Chan Gailey was named coach, Aikman was famously unhappy, stating “They’re screwing this team up”.
This has been run into the ground, but Turner went 58-82-1 in nine seasons as a head coach, with one playoff appearance and three winning seasons (not counting the 7-6 record he had in 2000 when he was fired). I’ve read all sorts of excuses for why his teams performed the way they did and why it was really Daniel Snyder’s fault for his eventual failure. Excuses are, however, the last thing about which some of us want to read. I realize he has had recent success as a coordinator, but this team has holes to fill on both sides of the ball, and Turner hardly gives me confidence that he can do it.
Blogging the Boys has more on this, and it is worth reading.
Now Aikman is apparently arguing on Turner’s behalf again, as well as on Jason Garrett’s behalf. I can’t help but to recall that Aikman advocated for the drafting of tight end David LaFleur in 1997, which was the same year that Kansas City took Tony Gonzalez. In four seasons, LaFleur caught a total of 85 passes for 729 yards (and, yes, he had 12 touchdowns). Gonzalez? 721 receptions for 8710 yards and 61 TDs. While I think Aikman is turning out to be a pretty good commentator, I am not convinced that he has all of the answers for the current franchise.
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Quickly: where were you when Dallas beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta? Next question: how long is fourteen seasons? Well, the Super Bowl following the 1993 season is the last time that Norv Turner was a coach with the Dallas Cowboys, and so at the start of the 2007 season, fourteen years will have elapsed. Maybe you can see where I’m going with this.
Anyway, just for fun, here are highlights of the last game during which Turner was a coordinator with Dallas:
“I can’t help but to recall that Aikman advocated for the drafting of tight end David LaFleur in 1997, which was the same year that Kansas City took Tony Gonzalez. In four seasons, LaFleur caught a total of 85 passes for 729 yards (and, yes, he had 12 touchdowns). Gonzalez? 721 receptions for 8710 yards and 61 TDs. While I think Aikman is turning out to be a pretty good commentator, I am not convinced that he has all of the answers for the current franchise.”
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1997 NFL Draft - Round 1
13 Kansas City Tony Gonzalez TE California
January 31st, 2007 at 1:09 am22 Dallas David LaFleur TE Louisiana State
Thanks, Jeff. I should have noted that Gonzalez was not available anyway. If I recall, though, LaFleur was Aikman’s choice above all others, including Gonzalez. That was the point I was trying to make.
January 31st, 2007 at 1:13 am