Fox analyst takes brutal shot at ‘average’ Troy Aikman as fans blast ‘cartoon character’
Craig Carton has never shied away from giving his opinion, but his latest outburst has left fans outraged.
In a recent appearance on WFAN on SNY, Carton made a bold claim about legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman.
“I think Troy Aikman was an average quarterback,” Craig Carton said, via Awful Announcing.
“He had a pop-gun arm, but he played behind the best offensive line in football, had the best running back in football at the time, arguably the best wide receiver in football, the best tight end in football, and a top-10 defense.
“Troy Aikman is thought of as one of the great quarterbacks of his generation because he won three Super Bowls. He did not have a strong arm.”
Aikman was more known for his precision rather than a big arm capable of throwing down field.
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He completed 61.5 percent of his passes and threw few interceptions.
Retiring in 2000 after 12 years with the Cowboys, Aikman accumulated 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
However, his numbers look rather paltry when compared to the likes of Tom Brady, who is widely-considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time, although the consensus NFL GOAT is hardly a fair barometer of a player’s excellence.
Canton’s claim that Aikman was an average quarterback drew extreme backlash from fans.
“This is the biggest clown a** take I have heard in a while. It could be absolutely argued he was the most accurate QB in history arm talent wise. And led a team of wild ass personalities to 3 f***** rings,” one said.
“Carton continues to build his case as the worst analyst in football, not wonder his shows keep getting cancelled,” a second added.
“Carton’s a cartoon character. All he craves is attention whether it’s positive or negative,” a third commented.
“Carton knows very little about sports. He’s paid to make outrageous statements so him and his co host can yell at each other. Crazy but for some that’s entertaining,” a fourth said.
Carton has been a staple on FOX Sports for a number of years, but FS1 have previously cancelled a number of his shows, including ‘The Carton Show’ and ‘Breakfast Ball.’
He is still under the corporate umbrella, transitioning to digital podcasts and flagship shows, and recently secured a new multi-platform show on FOX’s OutKick.
Aikman is widely regarded to be at the top of ESPN, working alongside Joe Buck to voice Monday Night Football broadcasts.
The legendary quarterback also holds a consultancy role with the Miami Dolphins, signing the contract in January 2026.
Carton’s dig at Aikman could be seen as another branch in the middle of the long-running ESPN vs FOX battle.
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