Washington Redskins v Dallas Cowboys
IRVING, TX - SEPTEMBER 19: Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quaterback, greets Cowboys' team owner Jerry Jones during a ceremony inducting Aikman into the Cowbos ring of honor at half-time of the game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys on September 19, 2005 at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. Former Cowboys teammates Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin were all inducted during the half-time ceremony. The Redskins won 14-13. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Home » Blog » Troy Aikman: Jerry Jones Accepts “Pretty Much Everything”

Troy Aikman: Jerry Jones Accepts “Pretty Much Everything”

Jonathon Natsis News NFL

Never one to shy away from an obvious understatement, Troy Aikman has added to his resume, claiming that Dallas Cowboys owner and his former employer, Jerry Jones, will accept just about any off-field issues that come with being a productive and successful player in the NFL.

His comments came in the midst of another tumultuous week for the troubled franchise, in which damning photographic evidence of pass rusher Greg Hardy’s domestic violence claims were released to the public.

The incident caused tight collars and sweaty foreheads in boardrooms around the league, as well as a heated confrontation between Dez Bryant and team media in the Cowboys locker room.

Aikman told local radio listeners that Jones would only draw the line with Hardy once he was “no longer productive” and that, until such time, Jones will “pretty much accept everything.”

“There’s not many owners in the league that are like that. Obviously Jerry Richardson isn’t like that,” Aikman continued, referencing the Carolina Panthers’ haste in dumping Hardy when these allegations first surfaced. “[Hardy will] be here as long as he is [productive].”

That much was evident through the week when the franchise was essentially obliged to make a statement on Hardy’s place in the team given the horrific evidence against him. “Greg has a commitment to us,” Jerry Jones said earlier in the week. “He has a commitment to his teammates and our team…and in fact we wanted to give Greg a second chance.”

Disguised in all of that corporate-speak was a whole lot of hand waving. As fearsome a human being he may be off the field, Hardy remains equally as intimidating in pads and cleats. It appears Jones is willing to accept that compromise if it keeps Hardy in the Big D.

At 2-6 and on the verge of seeing the season slip away even with Tony Romo expected back soon, Dallas can’t afford to start dropping other key pieces along the way. Bad PR be damned; the NFL’s villains are sticking with the league’s most vilified player, at least until he stops racking up sacks.

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