He’s got the rings, so he’s got the right

As a former Dallas Cowboy quarterback and current NFL television commentator, Troy Aikman has had much to say lately about his old team’s preparations for the 2009 season.

First off, Aikman thinks the Cowboys will be better off without Terrell Owens. “Thats fine,” Owens said by way of response. “Troy, I think he has three Super Bowl rings, so he has the authority to say that. I’ve been called selfish pretty much throughout my career. I think I’m in good company. Jerry Rice has been called selfish before. So, other than that, it doesn’t bother me what he says.”

Aikman, however, isn’t sure the Cowboys have found the right go-to replacement for Owens in Roy Williams.

“If Roy Williams doesn’t turn out to be the player that they thought he would be when they made the trade, I think this would be one of the biggest busts in the history of the league,” Aikman said.

Dallas gave its first-, third- and sixth-round picks in this year’s draft to the Detroit Lions to get Williams midway through last season. But Williams, who led the NFC in yards receiving two years earlier, managed fewer than 200 yards and one touchdown in 10 games.

“I don’t think you can give up what the Cowboys gave up for somebody and not make that a sure bet,” Aikman said. “This isn’t like drafting a No. 1 receiver out of the college draft and then saying, ‘Well, we think he’s got all the skills to be a great player for us.’ I just think that when you have the chance to evaluate a player to the degree that the Cowboys were able to, and then to give up what you gave up, if he’s not a No. 1 receiver and not a highly productive player for this team, that’s a huge flaw within their scouting department.”

Trivia time

What piece of history eluded Gary Player at the 1962 Masters?

Carry that weight

Reigning NFL rushing champion Adrian Peterson wants to add some weight before next season, building up from 217 pounds to somewhere between 225 and 230.

Minnesota Vikings Coach Brad Childress is less than thrilled by the idea.

“Well, you know what? 230 is awful big,” Childress said. “From 17 to 30, just put a 10-pound sack of potatoes on your back and think of how that works for you.”

Makes all the difference

D.J. Gallo of ESPN.com thinks the Pittsburgh Pirates’ advertising slogan for the new season is missing a few critical components.

He writes: “The marketing slogan for the 2009 Pirates: Pride. Passion. Pittsburgh Pirates. Witness the power of punctuation. It would mean something entirely different if it were to read Pride? Passion? Pittsburgh Pirates?! And it would make more sense, too.”

Trivia answer

Player was attempting to become the first man to win back-to-back Masters championships. He finished runner-up in a three-man playoff won by Arnold Palmer.

And finally

Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Dick Pole, on what makes a good closer: “Good fastball and a short memory.”

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mike.penner@latimes.com