Troy Aikman was a guest on Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights Podcast” with Jason and Travis Kelce. The Pro Football Hall of Famer spoke about his first impressions of Jason as a co-worker, the current crop of young QBs, and more.

However, one conversation that stood out was Aikman’s reservations about the NFL’s quarterback protection rules.

“I don’t like the extent of some of the protection on the quarterback, said the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

“It is probably my biggest complaint, just because man, just the whole objective for a defense is obviously to get to the quarterback. I mean, if you do that, you get your chances of winning go up.

“These guys, man, I’ve never played defensive line or any of that, but I can only imagine that you’re fighting through 300-pound offensive linemen. You’re getting twisted and torqued in all kinds of directions, and yet you’re trying to get to the quarterback, and if you get there and you don’t do it exactly the right way, then there’s a penalty.

“I don’t like that at all, and what I see a number of times is defenders, they don’t know how to play it like they’re caught in no man’s land. They don’t know whether to try to make a play on the ball or just try to tackle the receiver. I feel bad for the players.”

Troy Aikman played the majority of his professional football career in the 90s. He was the starting quarterback for America’s team and one of the most popular players of his era. Aikman hardly missed games, but when he did, it was due to injury.

Modern NFL rules protect quarterbacks a lot more than in the past. Now there are strict “roughing the passer” regulations, limiting hits to the neck, head, and knees, while prohibiting defenders from landing on them with their entire body weight. There are also prohibitions against hitting a quarterback who slides out of the pocket and isn’t attempting to run.

Aikman has his reservations, as the work of a pass rusher seems to be significantly harder due to the quarterback protection rules. However, it’s likely the NFL will continue to make QB-friendly rules for the foreseeable future.

Troy Aikman won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys

Troy Aikman was one of the most successful quarterbacks of his era. The 1989 No. 1 pick won three Super Bowls, earned six Pro Bowl nods, and was the 1997 NFL Man of the Year.

Aikman was a key part of Jerry Jones’ famous Cowboys team of the 90s. He threw passes to Michael Irvin, handed off the ball to Emmitt Smith, and spent his entire 12-year career with America’s team.

Aikman was the last quarterback to inspire the Cowboys to a Super Bowl win. That happened at Super Bowl XXX as they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s been three decades, and the Cowboys played in a Super Bowl, and Jerry Jones is still searching for the missing formula. These days, Troy Aikman works for ESPN as a broadcaster and the Miami Dolphins in a consultant capacity.