Coming off a 3-13 season in 1988, many Cowboys fans looked to first overall pick Troy Aikman out of UCLA. They got nothing but disappointment. Aikman lost every start he made; the Cowboys lone win came with backup Steve Walsh under center while Aikman recovered from a broken finger.
Jimmy Johnson, Steve Walsh's former college coach at the University of Miami (Fla.), considered going with Walsh full time following the 1-15 season, but "Troy's dichotomy," as Leigh Steinberg mentioned on Newy Scruggs' Voices of the Game radio show, was so tough that it "resolved itself."
He also mentioned how strenuous the relationship between Jimmy and Troy was, early on. Steinberg said Aikmen and Johnson "weren't very close the first year ... when it came to a matter of trust," to say the least.
Regardless, the Cowboys stuck with it because of Troy's mental makeup and the rest was history. Three Super Bowls later I think we would all agree they made the right choice.
Listen to Newy Scruggs' full interview with Leigh Steinberg below.
