Troy Aikman makes it abundantly clear he’s entertaining a career change, and it’s not because he’s tired of sitting next to Joe Buck. Some of us, happy to find one thing we can do, cling to it for dear life. Aikman, 53, is a talented, restless sort. Having made star turns as a quarterback and broadcaster, he thinks if there’s a third act, time to get on with it.

And because he’d like to be a general manager and there’s been a vacancy going on three decades in the NFL franchise nearest his house, it’s only natural to consider the possibilities.

Natural for fans and some media to assume, apparently.

And to those gentle souls I can only say this:

Let me introduce you to Jerry Jones.

Aikman has heard of him, anyway, and that’s why he knows he’s got zero shot at GM of the Cowboys. Nothing personal. Bill Belichick could knock on Jerry’s door. Ron Wolf could come out of retirement. George Halas and Paul Brown could clamber out of their graves and arm wrestle for the opportunity. Nothing doing.

The reason there’s not a name big enough for the job is that none of the names is “Jerry Jones,” nor is any of the above related to Jerry.

As far as I can tell, those are the only qualifiers for the job.

Just the same, disgruntled customers seem sure the parameters would change if only the media demand it. Sure we could. I suppose I could write it every day. For references, it’d be like standing outside Kim Jong-un’s palace tossing pebbles at his window. It might look symbolic on YouTube, but it’s not bringing any regime change. And I’ve even got a decent relationship with Dennis Rodman.

Once more: Jerry bought the Cowboys so he could run them, and even after all these years, he hasn’t gotten it out of his system.

Some of you argue that, because Jerry’s 77, and it’s been since middle age that he last won a Super Bowl, he should finally realize another’s not in the works in this lifetime. You cite the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Tell Jerry to hire a good man, you say. Maybe then he can sit back and polish another Lombardi Trophy in his dotage.

And that’s what you don’t get: If Jerry hires a GM and the Cowboys win it all, he knows the new guy will reap all the glory. Just like Jimmy Johnson did. The old Arkansas roommates famously broke up because Jimmy wouldn’t give his boss any credit.

Jerry’s been out to prove Jimmy and everyone else wrong ever since. Nothing in the interim has convinced him he can’t. Not bad drafts or bad coaches or bad reviews. His sun’s always rising. He’s got Fred Rogers’ optimism and a sweater made of Kevlar.

Frankly, if you really want to know, I find it all fascinating. My interests might be different from yours. The late, great Frank Luksa and I once came to the same conclusion about one of Jerry’s pals, Barry Switzer. Members of the media often professed indignation that the likes of Switzer held a position once occupied by Jimmy and Tom Landry. Listen, Frank had as much respect for Landry and Jimmy as any writer. He practically canonized both. But Frank also loved a good story. Say what you want about Barry, at least he makes for great copy.

God help me, so does Jerry. Why do you think we hunt him up after games? Can you name another GM in any sport who holds court after the results are in? No telling what he might say. Most times it’s fairly harmless. Occasionally, like his scolding of the coaching staff in Foxborough, it’s a revelation.

What other GM goes on his weekly radio show and says, no, we haven’t talked to Urban Meyer, but it doesn’t mean we won’t!

And he doesn’t even have the decency to mention he’s got a head coach, dangling in the breeze.

I mean, you can’t make this kind of stuff up. Not that I would, in case the boss is reading.

Of course, it’s just this type of foolishness that drives Aikman crazy as an alum. He believes any organization should have a single voice. Preferably a sober one. Not so subtly, he implied once again this week on 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket [KTCK-AM] that the Cowboys’ inability to get back to the Super Bowl is a direct result of the man in charge.

“I think in a lot of ways, until that changes,” he said, “this team’s going to have some problems.”

Probably right about that, too. He usually is. Right or wrong, though, he’ll never be GM of the Cowboys. The position is filled in perpetuity. You could say I’m resigned to it. Even so, I wanted to close by reciting the old blessing about living in interesting times, then I looked it up. Turns out it was a curse.