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Aikman rides into sunset

The quarterback who won three Super Bowls calls it a career after 12 years with Cowboys.

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 10, 2001

IRVING, Texas -- As always, Troy Aikman came to Texas Stadium with his game face on.

He brought an inch-thick stack of index cards and enough family and friends to fill a ballroom. Banners from the three Super Bowls he won hung from the hole-in-the-roof visible behind him.

But when it came time to talk Monday about the end of his 12-year career, the usually unflappable quarterback was overcome by emotion.

A few sentences into his nearly 11/2-hour retirement news conference, Aikman put down the cards, took a breath and dragged a finger beneath and above his left eye.

"You watch and you think your time will never come," Aikman said slowly. "And my time's come."

Aikman called it a career 33 days after being waived by the Dallas Cowboys.

While he believes he can still be a starting quarterback in the NFL, the right job wasn't out there.

So rather than risk an 11th concussion or taking another hit on his aching back, the 34-year-old Aikman ended his career and is preparing to start another as a broadcaster.

"I know it's the right thing for me because of my health, concussions, the back problems I've had," Aikman said. "It took its toll."

Aikman is close to finalizing a deal with Fox to replace Matt Millen as the partner for play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton, the Associated Press reported. An announcement could come as early as today.

Aikman's life is rapidly changing. He recently moved to California and in August his wife is due to have their first child. The couple is raising an 11-year-old daughter from her previous marriage.

"I wanted to play. I just can't do that anymore," Aikman said.

Aikman bit his lip as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones introduced the first player he drafted and reminisced about the rise of the team and the quarterback.

Before he turned the microphone over to Aikman, Jones presented a video prepared by NFL Films. It began with home movies from Aikman's youth and featured great moments from his career.

Aikman told about going to the Green Bay Packers' final game in 1988 and rooting for them to win so Dallas would have the top pick in the draft. The Packers won and, before leaving the stadium, Aikman bought a Cowboys cap.

Dallas made Aikman the first pick in 1989 and also drafted Daryl Johnston, Mark Stepnoski and Tony Tolbert.

"One of the most meaningful things in my career was coming in with that group," Aikman said.

He recalled losing the first 11 games of his career and thanked former teammates and coaches for propping up his confidence during that time. He said that type of character was the hallmark of Dallas' Super Bowl champion teams in 1992, '93 and '95.

"There was no animosity, no selfishness, nobody wanting any more credit than the next guy," he said. "We just wanted to win."

Then, showing the candor that will serve him well in broadcasting, Aikman added: "Maybe over recent years we've lost sight of that. It's become a game that everybody's in it for themselves."

Aikman talked about the things he'll miss -- the locker room after a win -- and the things he won't -- facing reporters after a loss.

He had trouble talking about specific teammates, especially "The Triplets" -- himself, receiver Michael Irvin and running back Emmitt Smith.

"I loved it when they called us that," Aikman said, teary-eyed. "I told Emmitt when I saw him earlier, "There's nothing I would've loved more than to be on the field when you break Walter Payton's record.' "

Sitting in the second row, Smith draped an arm around Irvin and both bit their lips as they held back their emotions.

"All three of us stepped up," said Smith, who is 1,561 yards behind Payton's career rushing mark. "We all pushed one another.

"He probably was the laid-back one, but he was the stubborn one, too. His stubbornness was really his way of showing that losing was not an option."

Aikman never lost his desire to win, but age and injuries sapped his ability. He missed five games last season with injuries and was knocked out of three more in the first quarter. He had four of his 10 concussions in his last 20 starts.

The Cowboys waived him March 7, one day before owing him a $7-million bonus and seven-year contract extension

Aikman's legacy begins with his three Super Bowl titles. Only Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw won as many.

His 90 wins in the 1990s are the most by any quarterback in any decade. Aikman also won his first seven playoff games.

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