IRVING, TEXAS — The Dallas Cowboys waived Troy Aikman on Wednesday, no longer convinced that the quarterback who led them to three Super Bowl titles is healthy enough to be their starter.
"He'll be missed on the field at Texas Stadium. He'll always be a Dallas Cowboy and always be a very important part of this organization," owner Jerry Jones said.
"We always shared a mutual respect for what was in the best interest of Troy and the Dallas Cowboys," Jones said. "In the end, it was in the best interest for him to have a timely opportunity to entertain all of his options."
Aikman had no problem with the decision.
"As far as what's in the best interest of this club long-term, the right thing was done," he said.
"My desires are to continue to play," said Aikman, who spent 12 seasons with Dallas and suffered 10 concussions. The 34-year-old couldn't say whether he'd be playing in 2001.
Jones had to make the move by today or else pay Aikman a $7 million bonus and extend his contract through 2007. He will still take up $10 million of Dallas' $67.4 million salary cap this season.
"This was as much a salary cap casualty as it was anything else," Aikman said. Jones also said the salary cap was a factor.
Aikman said that if it were as simple as a health issue "a decision would have been reached long ago."
"I believe it's more to do with how do you work the pure numbers that were involved where it makes sense to not jeopardize the future of the Cowboys down the road."
Dallas also agreed to re-sign linebacker Dexter Coakley for $25 million for six years, with a $5.5 million signing bonus. To clear cap room, the Cowboys were expected to release veterans Erik Williams and Chad Hennings.
As much as Jones might have wanted to keep Aikman the first player he ever drafted the owner apparently decided the Cowboys couldn't prepare for the 2001 season with such a fragile, expensive quarterback.
The six-time Pro Bowler, who holds practically every Dallas passing record, sustained two concussions in 11 games last season and twice needed epidural injections to relieve back pain.
The last play of his career in Dallas ended with a concussion in the first quarter of a Dec. 10 victory over Washington. With the Cowboys deep in Redskins territory, Aikman rolled out to his right and was slammed to the turf on a crushing, leaping tackle by linebacker LaVar Arrington.
Other teams might be scared off by Aikman's past injuries, which could then prompt him to retire. However, tests done before last season showed no long-term damage from his previous concussions.
Bledsoe tops NFL pay list
Boston Drew Bledsoe signed the biggest contract in NFL history Wednesday, agreeing to a 10-year, $103 million deal that virtually guarantees he will spend his entire career with New England.
The deal surpasses the reported 10-year, $100 million contract signed by Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre only last Friday. It also gives Bledsoe a chance to do something Favre and most other athletes never could: stay with one team for their careers.
"I've expressed over and over again my desire to play my entire career with the New England Patriots," Bledsoe said.
Bledsoe was scheduled to make $7.6 million this season, but his contract would have counted for $9.8 million under the salary cap.
Stubblefield mulls Bengals
Cincinnati Cast aside by the Washington Redskins after three disappointing seasons, defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield met with his hometown team Wednesday to talk about a job.
Stubblefield, a Kansas University product who was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 with San Francisco, said he's interested in joining the Cincinnati Bengals, who haven't had a winning season since 1990.
"For any NFL player, it's a dream to come back home and play," Stubblefield said. "It's where you were raised. You know everybody, know what's going on. For me to see where the Bengals have come from and what they're trying to build, that's definitely a dream."
Molden joins Chargers
San Diego Alex Molden wants to be part of the San Diego Chargers' resurgence. Molden joined the Chargers as an unrestricted free agent from New Orleans on Wednesday, signing a $16.1 million, six-year deal that includes a $2.1 million bonus.
Titans add Nedney
Nashville, Tenn. Free agent kicker Joe Nedney agreed to contract terms with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Nedney made 34-of-38 field goal attempts for Denver and Carolina last year.
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