Troy Aikman extends olive branch in legal battle with Lamar Jackson

Jersey numbers are big deals for players. We've all heard the stories about players going to new teams with new teammates who already have their numbers, and those new players paying actual money to retrieve the rights to wear them.

The drama of Troy Aikman vs. Lamar Jackson has taken this to a new level.

As reported by ESPN's Michael Rothstein , Jackson is looking to clear the way for the trademark use of the jersey No. 8, which Jackson wears for the Baltimore Ravens, and Aikman wore for the Dallas during his Hall of Fame career that lasted from 1989-2000. Jackson owns or has applied for several trademarks incorporating the No. 8, including "Era 8 by Lamar Jackson," "Era 8," "You 8 yet?" and a logo of a "stylized wild dog" over a shield with "2018 Era 8 by Lamar Jackson 2018" around the dog.

Meanwhile, FL101, a company that lists Aikman among its directors in SEC filings, is applying for the use of "EIGHT" on apparel and bags.

From Rothstein's article:

Jackson "has expended considerable time, effort, and expense in promoting, advertising, and popularizing the number 8 in connection with his personality and fame" and "is well-known by this number due to his notoriety and fame, along with his promotion of this number in his trademarks and in media coverage," according to the appeals.

On Friday, Aikman, who also endorses EIGHT Elite Light Lager, asked Jackson if the two star quarterbacks could settle things over a couple beers.

Steve Young, who had his own Hall of Fame career with the San Francisco 49ers wearing the No. 8, received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School.