Troy Aikman unloads on Fox for hiring Skip Bayless

Troy Aikman has hated Skip Bayless since Bayless worked for the Dallas Morning News in the 1990s and started an unsubstantiated rumor about the former Cowboys quarterback. But now that Troy and Skip work for the same company, have Aikman’s feelings changed?

Not one bit.

With Bayless’ new show set to air on FOX Sports 1 Tuesday, Aikman spoke to Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated about Bayless joining the network Aikman has worked for since 2001. He did not hold back.

“To say I’m disappointed in the hiring of Skip Bayless would be an enormous understatement,” Aikman said. “Clearly, [Fox Sports president of national networks] Jamie Horowitz and I have a difference of opinion when it comes to building a successful organization. I believe success is achieved by acquiring and developing talented, respected and credible individuals, none of which applies to Skip Bayless.”

Aikman, who has been Fox’s lead NFL analyst since 2002, will call his fifth Super Bowl for the network in February. Given Aikman’s history with Bayless, the higher-ups at Fox had to have known the three-time Super Bowl champion would not react favorably.

In a column he wrote several years ago, Bayless speculated that Aikman is gay. Aikman hasn’t let it go, and he even made some regrettable remarks about it last year. We’re just guessing, but Troy and Skip probably won’t be hosting any shows together on Fox.