Troy Aikman is both the color commentator on Monday Night Football and a consultant for the Miami Dolphins. He said recently that that’s not a conflict of interest — while acknowledging that the team he works for is in for a bad season.
Aikman said on Dallas Dialogue with Dale that ESPN gets good teams on the Monday night schedule, and the Dolphins are not expected to be a good team, so he won’t be announcing their games this year.
“The Dolphins are not expected to be very good this year. They’re getting out of cap hell, so there’s no Monday night game with the Dolphins this year,” Aikman said.
But that doesn’t mean there’s not a conflict of interest. As a broadcaster, Aikman gets unique access to the teams whose game he calls, and he could give the Dolphins valuable information that he learns about other teams. The issue has also been raised about Raiders minority owner Tom Brady serving as the top commentator on Fox.
Still, Aikman says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is OK with him working for the Dolphins and for ESPN.
“I’ve talked to the commissioner and he’s fine with what I’m doing and my role,” Aikman said.
Aikman claims that every broadcaster is conflicted because every broadcaster has friendships in the league.
“Anyone behind a mic that’s calling a game, there’s a conflict of interest because you have relationships in this business,” Aikman said. “I have friendships every week that I call a game, whether with a head coach or offensive coordinator or player or whoever it is. I would argue that every broadcaster has a conflict when they’re calling a game.”
Aikman says he will be transparent if he ever does call a Dolphins game and make sure the viewers know that he also works for the Dolphins.
“As long as you’re up front with the viewer and let them know the deal, they can take away from that whether you’re biased in your analysis,” Aikman said.
Aikman gave an accurate and unbiased analysis when he said the Dolphins are not expected to be good this year. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t valid concerns about the conflicts between his work for the Dolphins, and his work that gives him access to the 31 other teams.
