When Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman went public with comments declaring Tony Romo"a better quarterback than I was," the immediate concern was for Aikman's mental well-being.
It sure sounded suspicious.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, who played with Aikman from 1993 to 1999, responded to the remarks on Saturday:
"I think that's a reflection on who Troy Aikman is," Garrett told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Troy Aikman was obviously an outstanding quarterback, first-ballot Hall of Famer, three-time Super Bowl winner, someone who was very talented, but also someone who was very modest. Troy understands the challenges of playing in the National Football League more than anybody else does, and I think his perspective on what Tony has done throughout his career is pretty dead on. He has a real appreciation for Tony as a player, as a person, as a leader in our locker room and on our football team, and I think those comments stem from that."
Aikman knows about the pressure of playing in Dallas, but it's his very success that's haunted every Cowboys quarterback since.
Romo's career is complex, with some remarkable games obscured by his flair for high-profile mistakes at key moments -- something we'd never say about Aikman, a cold-blooded killer on the field. Three-quarters of the league would swap their starter for Romo, but that isn't the issue here.
People in Dallas don't want Romo, they want another Troy Aikman. This happens once for a team, if that.
The comparison is ridiculous.
