Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman has talked openly for years about wanting to work in an NFL front office. He took a half-step in that direction last year, becoming a consultant to the Dolphins and continuing to work for the team while also working for Monday Night Football.<\/p>\n
In March, Aikman spoke openly about the Cowboys\u2019 historical lack of interest<\/a> in pursuing his services. Now that Aikman\u2019s time with ESPN is by all appearances moving toward a conclusion, Aikman seems to be extending an olive branch toward Cowboys owner and G.M. Jerry Jones.<\/p>\n Asked by Mike Fisher whether Aikman would break bread with Jerry Jones, Aikman said this: \u201cI would have lunch, breakfast, or dinner with Jerry any time he wants it. And it wouldn\u2019t necessarily have to be because it\u2019s a job interview.\u2029Just because, you know, we go back a long way. . . . I came in, I was 22 years old. I was his very first draft pick. There\u2019s a lot within that relationship, both from the beginning, when he began as the owner, when I began my NFL career as a quarterback for 12 years of my life, playing for him, and then, even in the years that have followed, you know, we\u2019ve been through a lot. We\u2019ve been through the highest of highs, we\u2019ve been through some pretty tough moments as well. Our relationship is complicated. I think he would agree with that, but it is one that\u2019s built, I believe, on respect. \u2029This week, he said some really kind things, which meant a lot to me, quite honestly. So, yeah, I would welcome any conversation with Jerry, and quite honestly I don\u2019t know if there would be, or if there ever would be an opportunity. But if Jerry came to me and felt that, in his heart, I could lend some services that would help make them better, I would \u2014 I\u2019d have a hard time not taking a good look at that<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Jones did indeed speak glowingly about Aikman during this week\u2019s quarterly NFL ownership meetings.<\/p>\n \u201cTroy is very capable<\/a>, and he\u2019s so, really relatively speaking, he\u2019s in his youth as careers go,\u201d Jones said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s very capable of doing any one of a number of things, certainly anything to do with football. \u2029I don\u2019t know of any area short of getting that kind of feeling, I don\u2019t know of any area that Troy Aikman wouldn\u2019t be qualified and competent to go into.\u201d<\/p>\n Aikman\u2019s current role with the Dolphins remains fluid and undefined, but it was enough to prompt the NFL to place Tom Brady-style restrictions on his ability to enter the facilities of other teams or to attend practices before Monday night games.<\/p>\n Despite Aikman\u2019s unfulfilled aspiration to work in a front office, he seems to be realizing that his time as a broadcaster could be ending \u2014 and he\u2019s apparently feeling some regret over that.<\/p>\n