Even without Aikman's input, Cowboys could do worse than Turner
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com
MIAMI -- While Dallas considers options for its next head coach, look for Cowboys legend Troy Aikman to stay out of the line of fire. The Hall of Fame quarterback said he has not and will not try to influence the team's decision.
That can't be easy. Aikman is close to Norv Turner, the leading candidate for the job. In fact, Aikman had the 49ers' offensive coordinator present him at last year's Hall of Fame induction in Canton, Ohio.
Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys' Super Bowl teams in the early 1990s. (Getty Images)
But Aikman will serve as a spectator now that Turner is up for the Dallas job, and that's the right thing.
"I think everyone knows how I feel about him," Aikman said Friday. "So it's almost counterproductive to say anything on his behalf.
"Selfishly, I'd like to see Norv get another opportunity, and if it were Dallas I'd like it because I know I'd see more of him. But the most important thing for me is for him to be happy. If he does become the head coach in Dallas, I think he would do well. But I'm not trying to influence in any way whom Dallas is going to hire."
The Cowboys don't expect to make a move on their head coach until next week, with Turner the front-runner. But there are indications that Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera might be a factor, too -- and he should be if the Bears win Super Bowl XLI.
But the Bears play a 4-3; Dallas plays a 3-4. And hiring Wade Phillips, San Diego's defensive coordinator and a virtuoso of the 3-4, would make more sense. Phillips was one of those the Cowboys interviewed after Bill Parcells announced he would not return.
But Turner remains the favorite, and it's easy to understand why. He was the offensive coordinator for Dallas when it won Super Bowls in the early 1990s. He helped build Aikman into a Hall of Fame quarterback. And he's a favorite of owner Jerry Jones.
The knock, of course, is that he's a good offensive coordinator and a poor head coach. I don't buy it. He led the Washington Redskins to the playoffs in 1999 and was 7-6 in 2000 when he was fired. Since then the Redskins have had one winning season with coaches Steve Spurrier, Marty Schottenheimer and Joe Gibbs.
"I agree that he probably didn't get the recognition he deserved for the job he did in Washington," said Aikman. "I think they've shown since he left that it's not easy, so there's probably a greater appreciation for what he's done because they've had some tough sledding."
Then, of course, there's Oakland. In two years Turner was 9-23, fired after a 4-12 finish last season. That was supposed to be the proof that he couldn't cut it as a head coach, but tell me: Can anyone win in Oakland? Turner actually looks good by comparison, with the Raiders sinking to 2-14 this year.
"As far as Oakland is concerned," said Aikman, "I don't know if anyone can be successful there."
Neither do I. But I know what Turner did for Aikman. I know what he did for Drew Brees. And I know what he did for Alex Smith. If you believe that Tony Romo is the answer in Dallas, then Turner makes sense -- for a lot of reasons.
CBS SportsLine.com
MIAMI -- While Dallas considers options for its next head coach, look for Cowboys legend Troy Aikman to stay out of the line of fire. The Hall of Fame quarterback said he has not and will not try to influence the team's decision.
That can't be easy. Aikman is close to Norv Turner, the leading candidate for the job. In fact, Aikman had the 49ers' offensive coordinator present him at last year's Hall of Fame induction in Canton, Ohio.
Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys' Super Bowl teams in the early 1990s. (Getty Images)
But Aikman will serve as a spectator now that Turner is up for the Dallas job, and that's the right thing.
"I think everyone knows how I feel about him," Aikman said Friday. "So it's almost counterproductive to say anything on his behalf.
"Selfishly, I'd like to see Norv get another opportunity, and if it were Dallas I'd like it because I know I'd see more of him. But the most important thing for me is for him to be happy. If he does become the head coach in Dallas, I think he would do well. But I'm not trying to influence in any way whom Dallas is going to hire."
The Cowboys don't expect to make a move on their head coach until next week, with Turner the front-runner. But there are indications that Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera might be a factor, too -- and he should be if the Bears win Super Bowl XLI.
But the Bears play a 4-3; Dallas plays a 3-4. And hiring Wade Phillips, San Diego's defensive coordinator and a virtuoso of the 3-4, would make more sense. Phillips was one of those the Cowboys interviewed after Bill Parcells announced he would not return.
But Turner remains the favorite, and it's easy to understand why. He was the offensive coordinator for Dallas when it won Super Bowls in the early 1990s. He helped build Aikman into a Hall of Fame quarterback. And he's a favorite of owner Jerry Jones.
The knock, of course, is that he's a good offensive coordinator and a poor head coach. I don't buy it. He led the Washington Redskins to the playoffs in 1999 and was 7-6 in 2000 when he was fired. Since then the Redskins have had one winning season with coaches Steve Spurrier, Marty Schottenheimer and Joe Gibbs.
"I agree that he probably didn't get the recognition he deserved for the job he did in Washington," said Aikman. "I think they've shown since he left that it's not easy, so there's probably a greater appreciation for what he's done because they've had some tough sledding."
Then, of course, there's Oakland. In two years Turner was 9-23, fired after a 4-12 finish last season. That was supposed to be the proof that he couldn't cut it as a head coach, but tell me: Can anyone win in Oakland? Turner actually looks good by comparison, with the Raiders sinking to 2-14 this year.
"As far as Oakland is concerned," said Aikman, "I don't know if anyone can be successful there."
Neither do I. But I know what Turner did for Aikman. I know what he did for Drew Brees. And I know what he did for Alex Smith. If you believe that Tony Romo is the answer in Dallas, then Turner makes sense -- for a lot of reasons.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:42 PM
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