This story has been updated with Troy Aikman's response to the petition
Troy Aikman is certainly a popular guy in Cowboys country, but apparently he and Fox broadcast partner Joe Buck aren't as well loved out in Green Bay.
As of noon Wednesday, more than 16,000 people have signed a Change.org petition seeking to ban the Aikman-Buck duo from calling Packers games from the booth.
The petition, started Monday by Andrew Dorff of Brookfield, Wis., is titled "Get Troy Aikman and Joe Buck banned from announcing Green Bay Packer's [sic] games"
"This is a petition to get Joe Buck and Troy Aikman banned from announcing/commentating on the Green Bay Packers," according to the petition's page.
"On behalf of the Green Bay Packers fans across the world, we would like action taken to prohibit them from giving their constant negative input about our team. We are sick of the biased announcing always coming from them."
On Thursday morning, Aikman broached the topic in an interview with The Musers on The Ticket (96.7 FM/1030 AM), saying "there's a long line they've got to get in to try to keep us from calling games."
He noted that the Packers have tried this before, as well as Seattle fans a few years back.
"I don't know if there's Cowboys fan petitions, but I get it from Cowboys fans too, saying that I'm against their team," Aikman said.
In taking the criticism, Aikman said he relies on advice he heard from another man who spent quite a bit of time in the NFL booth.
"I remember what Pat Summerall years ago told me back when I was still playing," Aikman said. "People didn't have social media, they would write fan mail. And he said, 'Hey as long as I'm getting fan mail -- hate mail I guess you could say -- from both sides, then I feel like I'm doing my job. But I think there's some truth in that.' "
Many of the petition's signees claim that the announcing duo are "too negative." Other signees show off their failure to grasp basic grammar by calling them "bias" when the proper adjective is "biased."
Aikman said he's a bit confused by that suggestion.
"It is pretty remarkable, though, especially for Packers fans," he told The Ticket. "We've had their games in recent weeks and they've played great, we've talked about how great they've been playing and how great Aaron Rodgers has been. So it's a little bit confusing, but it is what it is."
"I could not care less about that. I know Joe, he does get a little bit bothered by it. He's a little sensitive when he hears that people don't want us to broadcast their games."
There is no requirement for action to be taken based on Change.org petitions, especially not for a private company like Fox. But it has become a popular venue for airing grievances online and seeking out others who agree with you.
"Last I've heard, we will be there on Sunday, and we'll be calling the game and we'll try to do the best job we can," Aikman said.
. Did you hear Buck on Zeke's last TD run to seal the game against the Steelers?