Troy Aikman has built a successful broadcasting career since retiring from the NFL, becoming one of the most prominent voices in football.
However, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback also has his share of critics, with viewers and analysts often accusing him of showing favoritism toward certain teams.
Former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel joined those critics after watching the Monday Night Football matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams.
Troy Aikman Under Fire for His Commentary in Bills-Rams MNF Broadcast
Aikman signed a five-year contract with ESPN in 2022, with the deal set to run through the 2026 season. His longtime broadcasting partner, Joe Buck, has already agreed to an extension with the network.
As questions about Aikman’s future with ESPN continue, so does the criticism of his commentary. The latest backlash came after the Bills edged the Rams 37-34 in a thrilling overtime finish.
“Almost every week, Troy Aikman goes into a game with a predetermined favorite. His analysis, which is often way off, follows that bias closely,” former NFL scout Greg Gabriel remarked.
“Stop lying, Troy Aikman,” Samuel wrote alongside a laughing emoji.
“His contract is up. I hope they don’t retain him. Nothing is worse than an analyst who doesn’t prepare. CBS loved it when Tony Romo screwed up. It gave them an easy out on a huge contract,” Gabriel wrote in another tweet.
One of the broadcast’s interesting talking points came in the second half, when Josh Allen threw an incomplete pass intended for Dalton Kincaid. Rams defensive back Quentin Lake appeared to hold Kincaid on the play, but the officials did not throw a flag.
SET YOUR LINEUPS:PFN’s Free Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer
Aikman, Buck, and ESPN rules analyst Russell Yurk all questioned the decision not to call a penalty, making the play a topic of discussion during the broadcast.
However, some viewers criticized the commentary surrounding the contact.
“Why is Troy Aikman acting like Kincaid didn’t just throw the dude into him?” one user on X asked.
“Troy Aikman does not have the same energy for some of the bad throws that Josh Allen has had tonight as he did for the Falcons’ primetime game last Sunday,” another said.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON:PFN’s Free NFL Playoff Predictor
Bills analyst Ryan Talbot criticized the officiating on a separate play involving a fumble that initially appeared to benefit the Rams. He questioned how official Scott Novak handled the sequence, arguing that the officials ruled on the play before clearly determining who had possession of the ball.
When a fan pointed out that Aikman had also called the decision bad, Talbot took a shot at the analyst’s credibility.
“If you’re using Aikman in your argument, you’ve already lost,” Talbot wrote.
“Listening to Buck and Aikman actively call for DPIs in favor of the Bills is infuriating,” another remarked.
“Troy Aikman got roasted for the ‘Best…. In all of football’ line, and he still can’t quit it,” Tony Farmer, host of the “Last Men Standing” podcast, wrote.
With Aikman’s future at ESPN uncertain, questions have emerged about who could replace him if the network cannot agree to a new deal.
Front Office Sports media analyst Michael McCarthy recently suggested Pat McAfee could be an option, with his upcoming Super Bowl alt-cast potentially serving as an audition for a bigger role.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.