Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman insisted Friday that he would not attempt to use his power within the organization to pressure owner Jerry Jones into replacing coach Barry Switzer.
"I don't even know if I have any clout within this organization, and, if I did, I certainly would not exercise that," Aikman said. "Those people make the decisions they feel they have to make, and I make the decisions I feel I have to make."But no way would I try to use any weight that I have in this organization to get somebody a job or make somebody lose their job."
Aikman's remarks were in response to the perception that he could prematurely retire because of an apparent philosophical conflict with Switzer.
A person close to Aikman said the quarterback is disappointed that Switzer has reneged on an off-season promise to be more of a disciplinarian. Aikman has refused to criticize Switzer, perhaps because of the potential detrimental impact to a slumping team that nonetheless could clinch another NFC East title Monday night.
Switzer said that his relationship with Aikman is devoid of serious problems and that they share a common denominator.
"My relationship with Troy is built on one thing - he's committed to winning, and I'm committed to winning," Switzer said. "I can't understand why there is a perception around here that I'm not committed to winning. I cannot understand that."
Aikman, who had a failed partnership with Switzer at Oklahoma and transferred to UCLA, often has said he prefers the methods of former Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson. Johnson was a control-oriented coach with a commanding presence who led the team to back-to-back Super Bowl championships. Despite initial distrust, Aikman developed tremendous respect for him.
While Switzer seems the antithesis of Johnson, Aikman said he personally likes Switzer and called their relationship professional.
"He's the head coach, and I'm the quarterback," he said. "With that we have a common goal, which is to win football games. As far as our relationship beyond that, I would consider Barry somebody I get along with and someone that I like."
But Aikman, the only active starting quarterback with multiple Super Bowl championships to his credit, is ultra-competitive and has been disappointed as the Cowboys have lost two of their last three games to inferior opponents.
Aikman, under contract to the Cowboys through the 2001 season, continues to say it will be difficult for him to keep playing when Dallas cannot compete at the highest level.
"I will continue to play the game as long as I'm enjoying it, and as long as I feel the organization is making a commitment to winning," Aikman said. "If I ever feel there is not a commitment in this organization to win and do what is right, then I don't want to be a part of that. . . .
"I've also said all along that I'm not going to continue to play the game to collect a paycheck. It goes beyond collecting a paycheck for me. But none of that has changed. I have been like that all along."