NFL: Good bye, Troy

In one of the worst moves in the history of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones cut quarterback Troy Aikman. This move assures that the Cowboys will have a terrible season next year and allows Aikman to wear another uniform before his playing days conclude.

It is a testament to the absence of loyalty in professional sports.

Cutting Troy Aikman means that the Dallas Cowboys will post a worse record next year than they did this season. Waiving Aikman cost the Cowboys $10 million against this year's salary cap and forced the team to waive tackle Erik Williams and defensive tackle Chad Hennings.

While the best days of these athletes are in the last century, they are better than the talent Dallas has on its roster now. Losing Williams diminishes the talent on the offensive line and offsets the ability of Emmitt Smith to run the ball. With Hennings gone, along with fellow defensive lineman Leon Lett and cornerback Ryan McNeil, assures Cowboys fans a worse defensive this year. That is saying something considering the Cowboys allowed three runningbacks to rush for more than 200 yards in a game last year.

More importantly, though, Troy Aikman should retire a Dallas Cowboy. He is the greatest quarterback that ever donned the blue and silver. Seeing him in another uniform does not seem right. He should have the foresight to follow Steve Young and Dan Marino and retire right now because of his injuries. The same applies to Jerry Rice. He, too, is the greatest wide receiver ever to play for the San Francisco 49ers, maybe of all time. Forty-niner fans should bristle at the thought of seeing Rice in the Oakland Raiders' silver and black or any other uniform. Cutting Aikman also means that Cowboys fans should prepare for the day when Jerry Jones bids farewell to Emmitt Smith. If Jones can cut Aikman, the first player Jimmy Johnson drafted after Jones bought the team, then Jones can cut anyone.

This incident also speaks to the lack of loyalty in professional sports. The high level of player movement means that we do not know who plays for out favorite teams. In the past, fans knew the men playing for their hometown or favorite team. Teams too participate in the open market. The previous Super Bowl champions - the St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens - are teams transplanted from other cities.

However, I may be waxing nostalgic. Great players in the NFL often end their careers with other teams. The most controversial quarterback in NFL history, Joe Namath, ended his career with the Los Angeles Rams. His conventional rival Johnny Unitas spent a season in San Diego (a team Aikman might have played for had it not signed Doug Flutie) before retiring. Joe Montana retired in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform, a possible end for Troy Aikman.

Nevertheless, Cowboys fans should grieve and even fume about the loss of Aikman. Besides losing the best quarterback associated with the franchise, they lost hope for this year's team. Oh well, the second pick in the 2002 draft might help.