IRVING, Texas -- Quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Steve Young
have similar Hall of Fame credentials. Soon, they might have
something else in common: retirement.
Aikman went to six straight Pro Bowls and led Dallas to three
Super Bowl titles in the 1990s. Young was a seven-time Pro Bowl
selection in San Francisco and won the Super Bowl in 1995 -- the
only one not won by Aikman and the Cowboys between 1992 and 1996.
|  | | Troy Aikman leaves the field in the first quarter Sunday against the Redskins. Will it be for the final time? |
On the NFL's career passing yardage list, Young is 18th with
33,124 yards, followed right behind by Aikman's 32,926 yards.
But like Young last year, Aikman is facing serious questions
about his career after a series of concussions. When he sits down
after this season to assess his future, Aikman will be talking to
Leigh Steinberg, his agent, who also represents Young.
"When the season is over, Troy and I will sit down for a long
discussion about his health and what makes sense for his future,"
Steinberg said Monday. "The season has never been an ideal time
for long-term decisions."
Aikman's 12th NFL season almost definitely over.
His already uncertain future was clouded even more Sunday when
he suffered his second concussion of the season, and ninth of his
career after being tackled in the first quarter by Washington
linebacker LaVar Arrington.
Young retired in June after suffering three concussions in four
seasons.
Now, Aikman has four concussions in his last 20 starts -- over
about 14 months.
Aikman didn't talk to reporters after the 32-13 victory over the
Redskins on Sunday or at the Valley Ranch practice facility Monday.
On Tuesday, coach Dave Campo confirmed that Aikman will not play
Sunday's final home game against the New York Giants. He said the
decision was based on medical evaluations and discussions with
doctors and team officials.
"We have to be on the cautious side with the injury he has. But
we are not going beyond this game right now," Campo said. "We
will continue evaluating him."
Anthony Wright, a second-year pro, will get his first NFL start
Sunday against the Giants in the ESPN game. Wright replaced Aikman in the
32-13 victory over the Redskins and completed 3 of 5 passes for 73
yards.
Rookie Clint Stoerner will move up from the practice squad to
give the Cowboys three quarterbacks for the game. Randall
Cunningham, who started the other three games Aikman missed this
season, is still hampered by a groin injury but should be
available if needed.
Campo said the decision on Aikman was made after medical
evaluations and discussions with the quarterback, doctors and other
team officials. He would not elaborate.
"The No. 1 thing in our minds is his health," Campo said.
"There are no other considerations. It is a health issue for
sure."
After the Giants, the Cowboys (5-9) play their season finale
Christmas night at Tennessee. Campo wasn't ready to count Aikman
out for that game.
"I'm not going to speculate on that. That's the way we do
business around here. That is partially Troy and partially us," he
said.
"We certainly want to err on the side of caution," Steinberg
said. "Obviously, that many concussions gives rise to concern."
Dr. Hal Unwin, an associate professor of neurology at the
University of Texas Southwest Medical Center in Dallas, said some
studies have shown that concussions can have a cumulative impact,
but individual effects vary.
"The brain moves around and parts of the brain move in
different speeds than other parts of the brain, kind of like
whipped cream on Jell-O. Sometimes you can have some of the nerves
torn if you get hit hard enough," Unwin said.
Even if Aikman wants to come back, Dallas owner Jerry Jones
faces a March 8 deadline on whether to pay Aikman a $7 million
bonus.
Aikman, the first player Jones ever drafted, can be released
before the deadline without being given any money. Regardless of
what happens, however, he will count at least $10 million against
Dallas' salary cap next season.
Unlike the concussions that have come later in his career,
Aikman has a chronic back problem that stems from the pounding he
took early, including his 1-15 rookie season of 1989. The back got
so bad this season that for the first time in his career he needed
painkilling shots to play a game.
Aikman has missed part or all of six games this season, four
because of concussions and two with back pain.
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VIDEO
  Dave Campo reports on the health status of Dallas QB Troy Aikman. avi: 1993 kRealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1  ESPN's Chris Mortensen talks about the possibility of Troy Aikman retiring this season. wav: 343 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Mort looks at the future of Troy Aikman and his place in history. wav: 329 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 ESPN's Merril Hoge says Troy Aikman has nothing to gain by returning for the Cowboys' final game. wav: 1218 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Former Cowboys teammate Nate Newton tells Troy Aikman to hang it up. wav: 895 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Is the career of Troy Aikman over? Randy Galloway of the Forth Worth Star Telegram answers. wav: 1186 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 |
