Troy Aikman isn’t buying that most NFL announcers have no conflicts of interests or biases while calling games.
The legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback turned NFL announcer is working with the Miami Dolphins front office as a consultant. Aikman was notified by the NFL that he would be limited in his access to opposing team facilities and practices, due to his role with the Dolphins.
But Aikman, who won three Super Bowls as a player, isn’t buying that people like himself and Tom Brady (who has an official ownership role in Las Vegas) are the only ones with apparent conflicts of interest.
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“I guess I’ve read; I’ve not been notified by the NFL. But to me, it really, it’s a lot to do with nothing,” Aikman said to sports media reporter Richard Deitsch on the latest episode of his podcast.
Aikman says that he “laughs” at the idea that he’s in a small group with apparent biases.
“I kind of laugh at those who act as though they have no conflicts,” Aikman said. “Anyone who speaks into a mic has a conflict of interest, because you have relationships. When I’m calling the game after 25 years in this business, I have relationships on both sidelines. Everyone who speaks has relationships, and how they then slant the story on what they’re reporting is affected by the relationships in which they have.”
Aikman previously praised the Dolphins for hiring him, though
As Awful Announcing pointed out, Aikman kind of already told on himself.
“I think the Dolphins were wise in understanding my relationships around the league and knowing that I have information that they don’t have or can’t get,” he told Clarence Hill Jr. earlier this year. “And I think they were smart in taking advantage of that, whether it was through me or through somebody else. The Cowboys have never elected to do that, at least with me. You know, maybe they have with others.”
Aikman might be right that most announcers and analysts have biases, but he’s one of a few with an official role with a specific team.
