Troy Aikman Comments on Greg Hardy, Jerry Jones, State of Cowboys

The 2-6 Dallas Cowboys are at the bottom of a mediocre-at-best NFC East and riding a six-game losing streak. It has been a miserable season both on and off the field for the team and its fans, and one of the franchise's icons recently discussed a handful of the issues Dallas is facing.

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman joined The Musers on KTCK-AM 1310 The Ticket in Dallas on Thursday and talked about the Cowboys (via SportsDayDFW.com). While Cowboys fans would love to reminisce about the three Super Bowls Aikman won during the team’s glory days alongside Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, the former quarterback instead talked about Greg Hardy and owner Jerry Jones.

Aikman suggested that, as long as Hardy remains an effective pass-rusher, Jones will tolerate the noise that surrounds him off of the field:

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I guess the line is when he's no longer productive, you know? I think that's always been the line for Jerry Jones, is he's one to pretty much accept everything as long as a guy's productive. There's not many owners in this league like that. Obviously, (Carolina owner) Jerry Richardson isn't like that. They could certainly use Hardy in Carolina even though they're undefeated. As far as a pass rusher, they don't have that type of guy, but (Richardson) wasn't going to keep him. I think over the years, if you just look at the history of the moves that have been made and the players that have come through, the indiscretion's that if at some point he's not productive, then he won't be on the team any longer regardless of whatever it is that's going on off the field, and if he is productive, then he'll be here as long as he is.

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Hardy was a Pro Bowler for the Carolina Panthers, but “he was arrested and charged with assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, Nicole Holder,” in 2014, per the Associated Press and ESPN.com. A judge found him guilty, but all charges were eventually dropped “because Holder refused to cooperate with the district attorney’s office after receiving a financial settlement from Hardy.”

Hardy was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list in 2014 and eventually received a four-game suspension upon his return in 2015 after the Cowboys signed him to bolster their pass rush.

While Dallas’ decision to sign Hardy and continue to play him has been met with plenty of backlash, including recent criticism for his actions on social media, per Eric Prisbell of USA Today, and his inability to get through an interview without any verbal gaffes, it isn’t the only concern surrounding the team.

Todd Archer of ESPN.com recently noted “Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant left the locker room Thursday during the open media access session after a prolonged rant aimed at reporters.”

What’s more, the Cowboys released running back Joseph Randle, and he was subsequently suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy. The running back was arrested twice in four months last year—once for unlawful possession of marijuana after the police received a call regarding a potential domestic violence issue, per ESPN.com.

The charges were eventually dropped, but the NFL still investigated and punished him.

Aikman also talked about the team’s running back situation during the radio interview in light of the Randle news, especially since the former Oklahoma State Cowboys star was seen as the replacement for DeMarco Murray after the latter led the league in rushing yards in 2014:

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Forget losing DeMarco Murray for a minute. I think the evaluation of Joseph Randle, as the heir apparent, I think was the miscalculation on their part. Clearly they were wrong on that assessment. They picked up McFadden, but they didn't maybe have a great report on him as far as, 'OK, is he the starter or Joseph Randle?' They went with Joseph Randle. Now, Randle's out of football.

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With so much going on, it is starting to feel like a lost season for the Cowboys, even if they are still within striking distance in the NFC East (they are two games behind the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in the loss column). In fact, the Elias Sports Bureau (via NFL on ESPN) noted the team is in the midst of its first six-game losing streak since Aikman’s rookie season in 1989.

Injuries have derailed the on-field product, and plenty of unwanted noise is surrounding the team. The eventual return of quarterback Tony Romo will help, but the Cowboys are fighting an uphill battle both on and off of the field.