DALLAS -- While the decision about Troy Aikman's season was
made for him, it will take some time before the concussion-prone
Dallas quarterback decides if he will walk away from football for
good.
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"There seems to be a presumption that the day after the season
is over, Troy and I are going to meet, he is going to do some soul
searching and that day make a decision," his agent, Leigh
Steinberg, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
"That is simply not going to happen. Even if he arrives at the
decision that everyone thinks is obvious, it will not be with undue
haste."
While Steinberg wouldn't give a timetable on when he expects a
decision by Aikman, he said it would take more than a few days
after the Cowboys (5-10) play their season finale Christmas night
at Tennessee.
Steinberg doesn't think Aikman will take as long to decide as
did Steve Young, another future Hall of Fame quarterback he
represents. Young didn't announce his retirement last offseason
until June, just weeks before San Francisco went to training camp.
Cowboys coach Dave Campo said Tuesday that Aikman wouldn't play
against the Titans. Aikman suffered his second concussion of the
season and 10th of his 12-year NFL career against Washington on
Dec. 10, and didn't play against the New York Giants last weekend.
Steinberg said it was a coaching decision that Aikman wouldn't
play in the finale Monday night. Not that he disagrees with the
move.
"Troy always wants to play. There has never been a week since
1989 that he didn't want to play," Steinberg said. "Was he
thrilled? No. Did he accept it? Yes.
"I don't think there is a padded cell with quite enough padding
to contain a restless Troy who is not starting."
Aikman, 34, hasn't spoken to reporters since suffering the
latest concussion on a hit from Washington linebacker Lavar
Arrington. But he has maintained this season that he'd like to play
as long as he enjoys the game and isn't risking horrible injury.
His desire remains high, leaving his health as the main concern.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, meanwhile, has decide whether he
wants to keep the quarterback who brought him three Super Bowl
titles -- and at what price. Aikman is due $7 million if he's on the
roster March 8.
"Presently, March is a significant date. That might change,"
Steinberg said, indicating that the contract could change before
then. "If both parties are interested, there has never been a
problem negotiating in the past."
Jones anticipates sitting down with Aikman, the first player he
ever drafted, soon after the season.
Steinberg said the two sides would "check in soon after the end
of the season."
The agent said he wants Aikman to have some time away from the
field before seriously considering his future.
"He will need some time to process his options and come to a
decision that is right for the rest of his life. It certainly is
not something that will be settled in a day or day," Steinberg
said.
"Given how competitive he is, and the amount of time he's spent
with Dallas, any decision about leaving football is a traumatic
one."
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