[Bette]

Please publish this letter to all of our fans. I am so fatigued with being slighted over the past 10 years as far as the way media views our championship teams of the '90s. Am I the only one in America who is outraged at the utter disrespect shown to Troy Aikman? ESPN, go to its website, has rated the top 10 quarterbacks of all time, and it's not the first time. How can any self-proclaimed football expert possibly leave Troy Aikman out of the top 10, let alone the top five quarterbacks of all time? I see it over and over again. One of the most prolific quarterbacks with three Super Bowl rings cannot pierce the top five quarterbacks of all time? Oh, and by the way, Terry Bradshaw doesn't seem to get his rightful placement either. I mean, stats are good, but they're easier to come by than a Super Bowl victory! Just ask Brett Favre! Mickey: OK, you got your wish, and maybe because I was sort of thinking the same thing the other day when listening to several discussions on top 10 quarterbacks. Yeah, Favre has the numbers. But he should. The guy played 17 years in the league, and most of those years for a team with no running game. He had to do it all. Now don't get me wrong, I'd vote Favre into the Pro Football Hall of Fame tomorrow. But I do tend to think his flamboyance earns him higher rungs on that argument ladder. What Favre had in flamboyance, Aikman had in efficiency, and that trait should not be discounted in a quarterback. Aside from his rookie year, Aikman won big time, not to mention three Super Bowls, and he should not be docked credit points because he didn't have all these come-from-behind victories. That's because he usually had his team ahead. Some people are too anal to look beyond mere numbers.


DallasCowboys.com - News

I am not putting Favre down here, but it seems to me that the fan in the first letter makes a point. There was nothing flashy about Troy Aikkman, but he was dead on accurate. He wasnt a come from behind qb, like Staubach or Elway, and he didnt steal those last minute plays like Brett.
Like Mickey replied, he didnt need to come from behind because he usually had his team ahead.
And I dont want to hear about the talent surrounding them, this is about the quarterbacks and what they did with the talent they themselves possessed.
Any comments?

[simple simon]

first i fully agree come from behind wins is one of the most over rated stats there is ..... if you go 100-0 and have no come from behind wins are you a bad QB

it is so tough to compare Troy and Brett to me ..... i believe Troy had better teams for most of his career

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I have been a life long Cowboys fan...but I would not rate Troy Aikman in my top ten of all-time...I don't even rate him the best Cowboy QB ever either...Like Bradshaw, I think his wins were more team victories than Aikman victories...

Having said that, the fact that Smith was piling up TDs kept Troy's stats low.

[simple simon]

i think the 90's Cowboys are a perfect example of the well rounded team

star QB .... star WR ... star RB .... stars on defense

so many teams must do without in atleast one of those categories

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i think the 90's Cowboys are a perfect example of the well rounded team

star QB .... star WR ... star RB .... stars on defense

so many teams must do without in atleast one of those categories

Yep, and that is part of the reason that it's hard to rate Troy...though if you are starting a team from scratch...I doubt anyone would take Troy over some of the other HOFers.

[Lefty Noob]

Yep, all I can pretty much do is echo the points that have already been made. Aikman doesn't get the love because he played with two other Hall of Famers at the skill positions. Hard to know how things might've been different had he and Favre switched places.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I have been a life long Cowboys fan...but I would not rate Troy Aikman in my top ten of all-time...I don't even rate him the best Cowboy QB ever either...Like Bradshaw, I think his wins were more team victories than Aikman victories...

Having said that, the fact that Smith was piling up TDs kept Troy's stats low.

I agree with all of that. I still think Staubach is the best Cowboy QB ever. If he hadn't served his counry after college, he'd have even better numbers. And his leaderhip puts him over the top, if you ask me.

He could also move around the pocket, and even scramble, unlike many QB's of hi time. Hell, Aikman didn't even QB sneak until Switzer got there!

I do think Troy was a great QB, but there have been a lot of great ones. I might still put him top 10, might, but not top 5.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Aikman didn't even QB sneak until Switzer got there!

I do think Troy was a great QB, but there have been a lot of great ones. I might still put him top 10, might, but not top 5.

Aikman didnt really need to phils. He was one of the most accurate passers in history.
Some quarterbacks, like Favre, are actually more dangerous when they roll out of the pocket. When he started moving, defenses started getting worried.
But give Aikman just a bit of a window, or maybe not any at all, and he delivered.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Phils20

I agree with all of that. I still think Staubach is the best Cowboy QB ever. If he hadn't served his counry after college, he'd have even better numbers. And his leaderhip puts him over the top, if you ask me.

He could also move around the pocket, and even scramble, unlike many QB's of hi time. Hell, Aikman didn't even QB sneak until Switzer got there!

I do think Troy was a great QB, but there have been a lot of great ones. I might still put him top 10, might, but not top 5.

No arguement there...though he drove Landry crazy early on with his scrambling.

[Dusty]

Troy had the defense focusing on Emmitt Smith so much that he could pass all day on the secondary of the other team. Plus with that line Troy had all day to pass. The post above the likened him to Bradshaw that his victories were team victories is one I agree with 100%.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Troy had the defense focusing on Emmitt Smith so much that he could pass all day on the secondary of the other team. Plus with that line Troy had all day to pass. The post above the likened him to Bradshaw that his victories were team victories is one I agree with 100%.

The only thing I see wrong with that theory is that means if you put Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Quincy Carter,-----(fill in your own here) the teams in question would still be great winners, right??

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Bette

The only thing I see wrong with that theory is that means if you put Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Quincy Carter,-----(fill in your own here) the teams in question would still be great winners, right??

No, I just mean that Troy had a dynasty and the greatest offensive line in football history. Brett didn't have those luxuries and won a Super Bowl and an NFC Championship and had way better stats than Troy. Troy appeared a lot of times like a game manager with that running game and Brett was a lot of things but not a game manager. You won or lost on his arm! Put me down for Brett Favre.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Dusty

No, I just mean that Troy had a dynasty and the greatest offensive line in football history. Brett didn't have those luxuries and won a Super Bowl and an NFC Championship and had way better stats than Troy. Troy appeared a lot of times like a game manager with that running game and Brett was a lot of things but not a game manager. You won or lost on his arm! Put me down for Brett Favre.

Exactly! Aikman was part of the reason the Cowboys won, but he didn't carry the team...and as much as I am a Cowboy fan, he was a bit of Game Manager...steady but not spectacular.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Exactly! Aikman was part of the reason the Cowboys won, but he didn't carry the team...and as much as I am a Cowboy fan, he was a bit of Game Manager...steady but not spectacular.

Let's face it, the Cowboys offensive line and Emmitt were why they were a dynasty! Emmitt punished defenders and kept opposing defenses on the field and exhausted. I'll say this for Aikman though, he was probably the most accurate passer i've ever seen. I mean he could throw a pretty ball! Great QB, top 15 but not top 10 and Brett is better no disrespect to #8!

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Let's face it, the Cowboys offensive line and Emmitt were why they were a dynasty! Emmitt punished defenders and kept opposing defenses on the field and exhausted. I'll say this for Aikman though, he was probably the most accurate passer i've ever seen. I mean he could throw a pretty ball! Great QB, top 15 but not top 10 and Brett is better no disrespect to #8!

Yes very accurate but aside from the line and Emmitt he had Novack underneath and Irvin man handling the D...so how could he miss.