Smitty
DCC 4Life
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 22,592
Not pining for a Jimmy Johnson thread, but I thought Aikman's commentary on Jerry's role while Jimmy was around, was interesting.
...................
Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman joined 1310 The Ticket's Musers recently to talk Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson and his Hall of Fame experiences. Here are some highlights:
On Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson reuniting first at his 1992 Super Bowl reunion: I think it went the entire way [to mending things]. I really do. Prior to that event they weren't speaking and it's a credit to both of them. I think they both went into saying that they were going to see each other and try to put their best foot forward and it worked out really well. From that night was when Jerry asked Jimmy to come to his party and be there for the weekend going into the Hall of Fame.
At that point Jimmy would've just been in the audience. It was a short time thereafter Jason Taylor asked him to be his presenter. So I thought it worked out really great that Jimmy got to be on stage as well. By all accounts watching those two interact in Canton they seem to be in a good place. We all know how that relationship goes: They can be fine and then next thing they're not. I think they've finally gotten beyond all that. And certainly Jerry going into the Hall of Fame, which, well-deserved, probably should've happened sooner - I think maybe that helped soften him, looking back on the relationship and the years gone by. He's been recognized at the highest level and I'm sure it'll help with their relationship going forward. I hope it does.
Will Jerry put Jimmy in Ring of Honor? I sure hope so. There's a couple people right now I can't imagine not being in the Ring of Honor and one is Gil Brandt. And I've said this many times: When you think of the Cowboys, for the most part, at least for the '70s but you think of Tom Landry, Tex Schramm and you think of Gil Brandt. Those were the architects of this franchise, and then of course Roger Staubach and what he did. I can't imagine Tex Schramm and Tom Landry being in the Ring of Honor and no Gil Brandt. And he's around - the fact he can be honored and recognized and he's still here to see it, I think would be terrific and he's very deserving.
And then Jimmy Johnson: I've said all along. If I'm in and Michael's in it and Emmitt in it, anyone from those teams, Jimmy's place should be there as well and what he meant to those teams. None of us would have had the success if it weren't for him.
Could Jimmy get consideration for the Hall? I felt there was this weekend because he was there. It's the first time he's ever gone to the weekend and there were some people talking about his candidacy. He has been one of the finalists in years past and I guess what's hurt him is I believe there's only one coach who's in the Hall of Fame who did not win at least 100 games ... which seems kind of crazy to me if that's the reason, with what he was able to do. But yet at the same time, and I love Jimmy, I say, Look: The guy wanted to go fishing. He wanted to go to the Florida Keys and fish and that was his decision. Because of that, that's probably what's going to keep him from going into the Hall of Fame.
I think he'd say it's not important, I think he'd say it's not important to him to go in the Ring of Honor but I know that's not accurate. It would mean everything for him to go into the Ring of Honor and I know it means everything to anyone who goes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
I admire the fact that he knew what was going to make him happy very early in his life. But had he stayed in football five years longer, he'd have been a lock.
On when Jerry and Jimmy's friction escalated: The understanding from us as players was that Jimmy was in charge of football, Jerry handled the business side of things and I sense Jerry realized nobody really cared about sponsorships and those types of things. The attention was on the field and who was making the trades [so] he wanted to then be a part of that. I think Jerry was involved in everything from the beginning but it was a matter of whether he was initiating those moves, making those trades or whatever was taking place. In my opinion, Jimmy built those teams, drafted those players, did a hell of a job and then Jerry wanted to be more a part of it on that side.
That's fine but I think that friction is ultimately what led to the unraveling of the relationship.
Did you see them arguing? No. We didn't see a lot of Jerry during those years. When Jerry would come down to the field to watch practice, he never even walked onto the field - he'd stand on the sidelines and when Jimmy was ready to go talk to him, he'd walk over to see him.
I'd pass Jerry in the hall but really didn't have much of a relationship with him. We would visit but most of my relationship with Jerry came after Jimmy left. Then Jerry was much more visible, in the locker room, players' areas, practice field, everything going on.
...................
Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman joined 1310 The Ticket's Musers recently to talk Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson and his Hall of Fame experiences. Here are some highlights:
On Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson reuniting first at his 1992 Super Bowl reunion: I think it went the entire way [to mending things]. I really do. Prior to that event they weren't speaking and it's a credit to both of them. I think they both went into saying that they were going to see each other and try to put their best foot forward and it worked out really well. From that night was when Jerry asked Jimmy to come to his party and be there for the weekend going into the Hall of Fame.
At that point Jimmy would've just been in the audience. It was a short time thereafter Jason Taylor asked him to be his presenter. So I thought it worked out really great that Jimmy got to be on stage as well. By all accounts watching those two interact in Canton they seem to be in a good place. We all know how that relationship goes: They can be fine and then next thing they're not. I think they've finally gotten beyond all that. And certainly Jerry going into the Hall of Fame, which, well-deserved, probably should've happened sooner - I think maybe that helped soften him, looking back on the relationship and the years gone by. He's been recognized at the highest level and I'm sure it'll help with their relationship going forward. I hope it does.
Will Jerry put Jimmy in Ring of Honor? I sure hope so. There's a couple people right now I can't imagine not being in the Ring of Honor and one is Gil Brandt. And I've said this many times: When you think of the Cowboys, for the most part, at least for the '70s but you think of Tom Landry, Tex Schramm and you think of Gil Brandt. Those were the architects of this franchise, and then of course Roger Staubach and what he did. I can't imagine Tex Schramm and Tom Landry being in the Ring of Honor and no Gil Brandt. And he's around - the fact he can be honored and recognized and he's still here to see it, I think would be terrific and he's very deserving.
And then Jimmy Johnson: I've said all along. If I'm in and Michael's in it and Emmitt in it, anyone from those teams, Jimmy's place should be there as well and what he meant to those teams. None of us would have had the success if it weren't for him.
Could Jimmy get consideration for the Hall? I felt there was this weekend because he was there. It's the first time he's ever gone to the weekend and there were some people talking about his candidacy. He has been one of the finalists in years past and I guess what's hurt him is I believe there's only one coach who's in the Hall of Fame who did not win at least 100 games ... which seems kind of crazy to me if that's the reason, with what he was able to do. But yet at the same time, and I love Jimmy, I say, Look: The guy wanted to go fishing. He wanted to go to the Florida Keys and fish and that was his decision. Because of that, that's probably what's going to keep him from going into the Hall of Fame.
I think he'd say it's not important, I think he'd say it's not important to him to go in the Ring of Honor but I know that's not accurate. It would mean everything for him to go into the Ring of Honor and I know it means everything to anyone who goes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
I admire the fact that he knew what was going to make him happy very early in his life. But had he stayed in football five years longer, he'd have been a lock.
On when Jerry and Jimmy's friction escalated: The understanding from us as players was that Jimmy was in charge of football, Jerry handled the business side of things and I sense Jerry realized nobody really cared about sponsorships and those types of things. The attention was on the field and who was making the trades [so] he wanted to then be a part of that. I think Jerry was involved in everything from the beginning but it was a matter of whether he was initiating those moves, making those trades or whatever was taking place. In my opinion, Jimmy built those teams, drafted those players, did a hell of a job and then Jerry wanted to be more a part of it on that side.
That's fine but I think that friction is ultimately what led to the unraveling of the relationship.
Did you see them arguing? No. We didn't see a lot of Jerry during those years. When Jerry would come down to the field to watch practice, he never even walked onto the field - he'd stand on the sidelines and when Jimmy was ready to go talk to him, he'd walk over to see him.
I'd pass Jerry in the hall but really didn't have much of a relationship with him. We would visit but most of my relationship with Jerry came after Jimmy left. Then Jerry was much more visible, in the locker room, players' areas, practice field, everything going on.
