'Same Old Story!' What's Troy Aikman Mean?

That comment, though, needs context. It is being painted as being a "bold'' take and a criticism, fueling the notion that Aikman, who won three Super Bowls in Dallas and who despite his ESPN media perch holds a place in his heart for Jerry Jones' Cowboys, "dislikes'' the team and the owner.

But again, to that "context'' ...

“It’s the same old story,'' Aikman said carefully, adding, "and I don’t mean that as a criticism.''

The second part of that sentence is as important as the first. He's not being "bold.'' He's not even being "critical.'' Rather, as he explains in full, he's rather mystified by it all.

“I’m asked about the Cowboys as to why they have struggled,'' Aikman said. "They’ve put together some really great regular seasons and they just have not for whatever reasons (played) their best football when the games matters most. That’s what you have to do. That’s the key to winning in the postseason and then getting into the Super Bowl.''

No disagreement there. So, amid the annual calls for Jerry to "hire Troy as the GM!'' and the like, we have identified the illness. The next issue, though - and this requires less talk of Aikman's remarks being "bold'' and more examination of his true feelings - what is the cure?

And this is where Troy Aikman isn't trying to be "bold.'' He's just being honest.

"What the answer to that is,'' Aikman said, "I’m not sure.”