Troy Aikman Quotations

We're going to have to fast-track it on some things, but we can put a team together and a competitive team. Everything has come together in a positive way.

Would we like to win? Absolutely. If we can finish in the top 25, I think everybody would feel real good about that. I hope it's not as difficult as my rookie season was. I was 0-11 as a starter.

Obviously, we were disappointed. We understand what happened and why NASCAR had to do what they did. I think most people recognize it was a mistake and not an attempt by anyone on our part to give us an unfair advantage on the racetrack.

One of the big things I believe about why the sport is so (big) is how accessible the drivers are. Right up until the race, they're signing autographs. You would never get that close to an athlete in any other sport.

I wouldn't want to get into why he didn't make it in. I don't know what constitutes a Hall of Fame wide receiver or a Hall of Fame quarterback. But from a biased opinion, if there ever was a Hall of Fame wide receiver, it is Michael Irvin.

I have gone to several races and been intrigued by the competitiveness of this sport -- the way they go out and compete each and every week. The thought of being involved in that at such a high level was exciting to both of us.

I'd met Sterling during a trip to Nashville. I invited him to the Super Bowl and he invited me to Daytona. I was in the pits when Sterling won his first race here that day it was the most exciting thing I've ever seen. I've been hooked ever since.

I don't agree with this call. I don't agree with this call and only because there's still time on the clock. And with Washington with two timeouts, they still have time to move the football down for a field goal. ... Boy, this is risky.

I'd be surprised if one quarterback in the league could compute his own rating. Peyton Manning is as cerebral as it gets, and I don't think he'd have a first clue.

I happen to think those things are going to happen for Indianapolis.

I feel wholeheartedly that our success was linked together in so many different ways. I think that all three of us, in a lot of ways, pushed aside our own egos and selfishness in order for the team to thrive.

From what I've seen of the 49ers while John York has been the owner, I've seen no commitment to bring any kind of talent into that organization and doing anything that it takes to go out and be successful.

From the time I first saw him play, up until even now, he still plays with that same enthusiasm and excitement. You can tell he just loves the competition and he's not concerned with the consequences. It's like he's still out there in the yard playing with his friends.

What I knew coming in has only been reinforced, is how competitive this sport is, and how much of a disadvantage a startup team is under. But I do think we're going to continue to do better.

He spent the first three hours of our conversation trying to talk me out of it.

It initially sounded strange to say the top 25 would be successful. Now after seeing the teams that have been in this for so long struggle, it's not hard to accept at all.

I think the game has changed, ... But I think you have to get great play at quarterback. I don't believe in what some say are game-managers.

I was with Michael last year before they did the vote, and I know how much it meant to him last year. I know how devastated he was when he was not elected.

It is amazing to me that, right up until race time, these guys are still accessible to the fans and signing autographs. You would never get that close to any other athlete in any other sport. I don't know that in football - while I was playing or even now m that players really understand or appreciate what drives the sport. In NASCAR, they seem to have a pretty good feel for it.

When I think of all the great players who have played the game over the history of it, to be considered one of the great players ... that helped define the game itself, it is a humbling experience.

We're both proud we played for the Cowboys and our history with the team. People know we played for the silver and blue.

We got them right where we want them. The stage may be set for one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history. He's clearly frustrated that they haven't really been able to get the ball to him.

Well, ... do you like college more or do you like pro more?

To go into the Hall of Fame, it continues the legacy of the Dallas Cowboys.

Even though he was just with me for three years, I felt he got my career on track.

I seriously doubt I would be standing here today.

I've made no bones about it, that if this would happen, it would be the greatest individual athletic achievement of my life. When I think of all the great players who have played, to be considered one of the players that helped define the game itself, it is a humbling experience.

I've never been a fan of this 'manage the game' stuff. It doesn't make sense to pay guys to make plays, then tell them to go out and not make mistakes. If that's truly your goal, why would you ever have your quarterback drop back and throw a pass?

Alex Smith is under no illusions as to why he was chosen where he was. It's not for him to go out there and make the Pro Bowl. That organization brought him in to bring a world championship to the city of San Francisco. Anything short of that, then that quarterback didn't fulfill the expectations of the organization. That's a tremendous burden. No one who's ever won a Super Bowl has ever done it by himself.

This is going to be a great test for the Cowboys, because the Chargers are a good team again,

This is really unbelievable what Carolina has done to this Chicago defense. They have made the defense look very average here tonight.

They're probably talking about the new 96 car by Texas Instruments.

It's a challenge we have before us. We recognize that. We go in with eyes wide open and recognize there will be a lot of hard work involved. But we anticipate having success.

It's the greatest individual athletic achievement that's ever happened in my life. To be considered one of those players that made an impact or somehow, someway helped define the game itself is a very humbling experience.

It's the greatest individual athletic achievement that has happened in my life. To be considered one of those players who made an impact to define the game itself, it's a humbling honor.

It's like Peyton Manning after last year; if he doesn't throw for 49 touchdowns, then he had a down year. And I felt that people were going to be judging on that type of criteria. That's unfair. And yet no matter what criteria you're judging him on, he had as good or better a year this year than he had last year.

Everybody was hoping we would race our way in. That's why Terry is here, in case we had to use the provisional. I know there's been some discussion about it, but the rules are in place, and we took advantage of it.

It was made even more special going in beside Michael and Emmitt, ... I remember looking at the names, but no, I never in my wildest dreams ... I don't know what Michael and Emmitt thought. Knowing them, they thought they were going in.

Any analyst would tell you that being in a three-man booth is tough. It's just hard when you've got things to say and you're not able to say 'em.

The last area of this team you thought you'd be questioning is the defense, but they've given up an awful lot of yards tonight.

In my biased opinion, if there ever was a Hall of Fame receiver, it's Michael Irvin. Why he didn't get in - I don't know why he didn't get in.

I know Tony was disappointed in himself and Philippe (Lopez, the crew chief) was disappointed in himself. To me, I like that. I walked away saying not bad, a top 25 finish, but the fact that those guys expected more of themselves, that's encouraging.

I know Tony is feeling some pressure this week because Roger and I live here and our sponsor is based here. But I'd hate for Tony to put undue pressure on himself and try to do too much.

I know that Tony feels an enormous amount of pressure going into this week and I think our entire crew does, unfortunately. I'd hate for them to put undue pressure on themselves.

I know what it was like my rookie year, and I know how difficult this sport is. By no means do we think we can step right in and not have to learn our lessons.

If I were to be selected for induction, it would be the most meaningful individual achievement of my athletic career. I came into the NFL wanting nothing more than to win a championship. My career unfolded in a way that exceeded all expectations and I am grateful to those who helped me along the way and shared in that success.

I'm hoping more reasonable heads prevail. I don't know how this encourages new ownership and sponsors when penalties are handed down that affect the ability of people to bring in millions of dollars and see results. It's discouraging, to say the least.

If we went in together it would mean a lot. I'm biased. If there was ever a receiver that had a Hall of Fame career, in my opinion it's Michael Irvin.

I hope it's not that difficult. I was 0-11 as starter, but we didn't throw in the towel. We all pulled together to do whatever was necessary to succeed.

I played it to win championships and win as many games as I could. I feel like I did it as well as anybody that's played the game. I'm happy that we won three world championships.

He's still playing at a high level, and I still believe he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

If he's not, then somehow you have to be able to get Aaron Rodgers some playing time.

I do think you have to have a great receiver and a great running back, ... But really every position is critical.

The humbling part for me is going to be some kid or some fan that in years to come walks into Texas Stadium and sees my name and that will bring up an emotion or memory of something I achieved on the field, ... That's the humbling part of it, and to be alongside some of the great names in the history of this franchise. It means a lot.

No excuse for those mechanical errors to be happening.

I know how difficult my rookie year in the NFL was and I know how competitive this sport is.

I've always viewed myself as an achiever. I need to achieve for myself.

12 of the best years of my life - It will never be forgotten.

We go in with eyes wide open and recognize there will be a lot of hard work involved. But we anticipate having success. We feel like we have assembled a great group of people. If we were going to do it any other way, we would have made an announcement a long time ago. We were very diligent.

Losing doesn't eat at me the way it used to. I just get ready for the next play, the next game, the next season.

Just remember that nothing is as bad as it seems and nothing is as good as it sometimes appears.

Things are never as good as you think they are or ever as bad as you think they are.