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The Dallas media actually provided him plenty of support in the wake of his dismissal. For those who want some perspective on what might have really gone on behind the scenes, and why his firing a decade ago from his only other HC gig in the NFL does not mean he's doomed for failure, read on:
Aikman Bears Part Of The Blame
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Aikman bears part of blame
By Jim Reeves
Knight Ridder Newspapers
IRVING, Texas — Jerry Jones came up with a horribly ludicrous reason for firing head coach Chan Gailey yesterday — the devil made him do it.
A devil, if you read Jones' rather broad hints, named Troy Aikman.
At a hurriedly called news conference to confirm what everyone knew 48 hours ago, the Cowboys' owner did everything but unfurl an Aikman poster and use a pointer to blame Gailey's demise on his quarterback and other players who either couldn't or wouldn't adjust to the head coach's offensive system.
Misdirection play or not, it was another shameful chapter for an organization that has had far too many such moments over the past five years.
It was a football decision, Jones stressed, but if the boys from the forensic lab had been present, I suspect they would have found that the knife in Gailey's back bore many fingerprints.
Were Aikman's there? Not intentionally, I'm sure — that's just not Aikman's style — but it was clear that Jones had talked to his quarterback and other key players and assistant coaches before making this decision.
Aikman Bears Part Of The Blame
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Aikman bears part of blame
By Jim Reeves
Knight Ridder Newspapers
IRVING, Texas — Jerry Jones came up with a horribly ludicrous reason for firing head coach Chan Gailey yesterday — the devil made him do it.
A devil, if you read Jones' rather broad hints, named Troy Aikman.
At a hurriedly called news conference to confirm what everyone knew 48 hours ago, the Cowboys' owner did everything but unfurl an Aikman poster and use a pointer to blame Gailey's demise on his quarterback and other players who either couldn't or wouldn't adjust to the head coach's offensive system.
Misdirection play or not, it was another shameful chapter for an organization that has had far too many such moments over the past five years.
It was a football decision, Jones stressed, but if the boys from the forensic lab had been present, I suspect they would have found that the knife in Gailey's back bore many fingerprints.
Were Aikman's there? Not intentionally, I'm sure — that's just not Aikman's style — but it was clear that Jones had talked to his quarterback and other key players and assistant coaches before making this decision.
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