Hall of Famer and current analyst Troy Aikman has solidified his status in the hearts of Dallas Cowboys fans with 12 seasons of service under his belt. The former quarterback recently pointed out the issues with the squad, and the fans can’t help but agree with him.
After the Cowboys’ embarrassing 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions, America’s Team has been under criticism from all corners of the football world. However, none of the voices speak louder than Aikman’s.
Troy Aikman Calls Out Cowboys Receivers, Including CeeDee Lamb
On Thursday, Oct. 17, the three-time Super Bowl winner appeared on 96.7 “The Ticket” sports radio. Aikman dug deep into the issues surrounding the Cowboys this season with the wide receivers.
“I think the routes are terrible,” said Aikman. “I think they run terrible routes. And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running.”
Aikman stressed the point that the unpredictability of the routes makes the job of the quarterback harder than it already is. The 57-year-old defended current Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as well.
“I’m not speaking for Dak (Prescott). Dak may say, ‘Hey, I think (their routes) are amazing.’ But as a former quarterback watching it, it’s gotta get a lot better,” said Aikman.
Former Cowboys QB Troy Aikman on @dfwticket on Dallas' wide receivers: "I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes. And I've thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running. As a quarterback, if you're not…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 17, 2024
Cowboys fans who are already frustrated with their team’s 3-3 record on the back of Week 6’s terrible performance jumped on Aikman’s assessment.
“Pure dumpster fire in Dallas,” tweeted one fan.
Pure dumpster fire in Dallas 😬 https://t.co/4QfBB9n2TO pic.twitter.com/Dhq0GsXl7U
— Old Man B Double (@JerseyGentleman) October 17, 2024
“The whole team has an effort issue,” another fan replied.
“It was horrible. Dallas had receivers running into each other,” added one fan.
“Oh look someone that actually knows ball points out the lack of effort. Something the coaches and GM can’t recognize,” tweeted someone else.
Oh look someone that actually knows ball points out the lack of effort. Something the coaches and GM can’t recognize
— Chris Flores (@Chrisflores_57) October 17, 2024
Several fans took this opportunity to criticize head coach Mike McCarthy.
“Translation: Mike McCarthy is toast,” wrote one fan on X.
“Shocked that a fat and lazy coach has…. lazy a** players,” tweeted another.
“Should have never hired McCarthy,” added another fan.
Should have never hired McCarthy
— Jay Houghton (@snu155) October 17, 2024
Aikman’s Words Could Hurt Mike McCarthy’s Future With the Cowboys
McCarthy joined the Cowboys in 2020 and is in the final year of his contract with the franchise. Unlike some of Dallas’ players, he was not awarded a deal in the offseason, and his future is dependent on this year’s performance.
However, Aikman’s words could have fueled the fire of his impending doom. McCarthy has been successful in the regular season, taking the Cowboys to the playoffs three out of four times. But with a record of 1-3 in the playoffs, a disaster in the regular season could cut his job short in Dallas.