"Expert" quotes about Aikman before the '89 draft

On the weekend that Troy receives the greatest honor in pro football, I thought it would be fun to go back and review what everyone's favorite commentator said about the Cowboys taking Aikman with the first pick of the 1989 NFL Draft:

Apri 21, 1989, in USA Today, as quoted by columnist Rudy Martzke:
"They're taking Aikman to sell tickets . . . the Cowboys have done everything in their power to embarrass the greatest NFL franchise in the past 30 years."
-- Joe Theismann

BONUS QUOTE!!!
From the same article:
The Cowboy's NFC East opponents "hoped the Cowboys would take Aikman. If they took Tony Mandarich, he'd give Dallas a virtual 300-pound [per man] line for Herschel Walker to run behind."
-- Mel Kiper

(I don't have a link, but you can find the quotes in Brad Sham's book "Stadium Stories" on page 89.)

None of this is to put down Theismann or Kiper (that's just a happy coincidence). It's to look back fondly at 18 years (good God I'm getting old) and to publicly thank Troy Aikman for countless thrilling and happy Sundays. He wasn't always perfect, but he ALWAYS showed up ready to play, he ALWAYS picked himself off the turf after a big hit, and he ALWAYS made us proud.

Thank you, Troy, for everything you did in a Cowboys uniform. Enjoy wearing the gold jacket. You've earned it several times over.