Howard Stern says Troy Aikman's frustration should be directed at ESPN

Howard Stern used his Monday morning SiriusXM program to comment on the ongoing tension between former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and veteran play-by-play announcer Joe Buck. The dispute stems from Buck's recent six-year contract extension with ESPN, which was reportedly finalized in May but announced in September, while Aikman's contract status remains unresolved.

Stern suggested that ESPN, not Buck, is responsible for the breakdown in communication, saying, "Maybe ESPN came to Joe Buck and said, ‘Look, it’s not your place to inform Troy about our plans, it’s ours.’ I would say, ESPN is who Troy should be mad at, not Joe."

Buck and Aikman have been paired as a broadcast team since moving from Fox to ESPN, and their on-air partnership has been described as a "package deal." However, the separate handling of their contracts appears to have strained their professional relationship. Stern, a frequent guest on Buck's shows, indicated a personal bias toward Buck in the matter.

The discussion also touched on Stern's own recent three-year agreement with SiriusXM, which reduced his on-air commitments and led to staff reductions, a change that co-host Robin Quivers was reportedly aware of.