Blake Jarwin speaks up to defend Jason Witten

[DandyDon52]

well jason might have taught the te's things, and about the snaps, that really isnt on JW, it is on JG, kellen, and the jones boys. They all factor in
on what players will get the snaps.
For example if JG had said This next game I am going to start jarwin and let shultz be # 2 and see how it goes, witten wasnt going to throw a fit about it.
And he isnt going to say hey coach I am getting too many snaps, let the young guys have more snaps.
But the 3 I mentioned above decided all that.
I think witten is in vegas, because the jones boys felt they didnt have the money to keep him and just go with the cheaper TE's.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Sorry Jarwin! Don’t you know we hate our legends once they stop producing like they did in their prime? Don’t worry, if you play well and earn a bigger contract, we will hate you for that too.

 

[AKATheRake]

Jarwin is a real dude.

A real teammate.

Witten is HOF on its way hooper can hoop it.

Yes hooper.

Scooper pupper.

 

[Buzzbait]

Jarwin im sure knows the deal but hes being professional.
Everyone knows Witten shouldnt have taken all of those snaps away from him last year

Witten didn't take those snaps away from anyone, the coaches did. There's no reason to personally blame that on Witten. Those decisions are not made by the players, they're made by the coach. Everyone knows that. Yes Witten was slower than he used to be but he still got open and it's still the coach's call.
Kudos to Jarwin.
Witten was always a 1st class guy and a 1st class Cowboy.

 

[plasticman]

Its been almost 25 years and this is still an aspect of free agency that I'm not used to. I'm not used to treating a former star player like he's dirt in less than a year.

Okay, he didn't have his former skill set. Who's fault was it for not recognizing that and taking the necessary actions, Witten? What was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to tell the coaches, "Naw, I'm just too old for this, go ahead and send in Blake."

In his 16th season, Jason Witten, the 11 time Pro Bowler, Cowboys all time leader in receptions, 2nd place among TE's in NFL history for receptions and yardage, was a measly 8th place among 61 TE's in receptions, as well as the top quarter in yardage, TD's and completion percentage. That's how everyone new it was time for him to go?

This is the way we respect and honor one of the best players in Cowboy history? The guy was a warrior. he made players around him better just by being there. I guarantee you that every NFL players that was on his team as well as his opponents, understand that he was special in many ways, his intensity, professionals, competitive spirit, leadership.

I guess it can happen, but I will never understand how a fan can love his team but be so dismissive of one of the team's greatest players.

This team has had some pretty darn good TE's, Ditka, Dupre, Fuget, Cosby, Novacek, but Witten was the best, most complete in Cowboy history. Blake Jarwin will have some good seasons for the Cowboys and he's a great story but if anyone believes that he will even come close to what Witten accomplished then I greatly admire their amazing, but naive optimism.

Let's see if Jarwin can improve upon Witten's numbers from the "terrible" season Witten had last year. I'm simply hoping he can do once what Jason did ten consecutive times, start every single game this year.

 

[Diehardblues]

Witten, the true class of Cowboys Football in our worst era.

 

[aria]

This can’t be true, it doesn’t support the haters narrative that Witten is selfish. If it were the other way around and Jarwin bashed him they would run with it as if it were gospel.

 

[Chuck 54]

I think the comments about Witten were probably true earlier in his career. I’m sure when he came back from retirement and the announcing booth, he was likely a very different teammate.

 

[Whyjerry]

Blake Jarwin took exception to comments made by Cleveland’s Austin Hooper about Jason Witten’s reported unwillingness to help. “You talk about a leader in the tight end room. He taught me a lot,” Jarwin said. “I know there’s been rumors that may be he wasn’t the best teammates to the tight ends and I couldn’t disagree more. Me and (Dalton) Schultz talked quite a bit about that lately, just what we’ve learned from him the respect for the game he has and what he’s taught us as players.”

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

I can't believe how many Cowboys fans rip on this guy. 1st ballot HOFer. Another talent wasted in Dallas. They actually take Bennett's words seriously. What fools.

 

[Hennessy_King]

Witten didn't take those snaps away from anyone, the coaches did. There's no reason to personally blame that on Witten. Those decisions are not made by the players, they're made by the coach. Everyone knows that. Yes Witten was slower than he used to be but he still got open and it's still the coach's call.
Kudos to Jarwin.
Witten was always a 1st class guy and a 1st class Cowboy.

A first class guy wouldn't retire suddenly after the draft and then come back and be a progress stopper because he sucked on MNF. Sorry I'll never side with Witten after the T.O. debacle which hurt our chances as a team. He is going into the hall, I respect Witt the football player I don't like Witten the person. Sorry. He should have told the staff to get the kid more reps.

 

[Hennessy_King]

I think the comments about Witten were probably true earlier in his career. I’m sure when he came back from retirement and the announcing booth, he was likely a very different teammate.

I would hope so.

 

[OmerV]

I respect what Whit has done as well, but he will look mighty nice standing next to Chucky over in Vegas. He is a well below average tight end at this point in his career, Jarwin is heads and shoulders the better player right now, and so is blake bell.

And this has to do with the topic how?

 

[Doomsday101]

Glad to see Jarwin speak out. Most of the rumors that are spewed are from those who are not part of the team and have nothing to do with the team. I have always had the utmost respect for Witten, a man who missed a single game in 16 years who gave his all to his team.

 

[OmerV]

A first class guy wouldn't retire suddenly after the draft and then come back and be a progress stopper because he sucked on MNF. Sorry I'll never side with Witten after the T.O. debacle which hurt our chances as a team. He is going into the hall, I respect Witt the football player I don't like Witten the person. Sorry. He should have told the staff to get the kid more reps.

He didn't wait until after the draft to tell the team he was retiring, but it was just before the draft. Not any real advance notice, at least not that we know from the reports (he could have told the team earlier than the media reported it). But if he just then found out about his broadcast opportunity, it was better to the team then then wait until after the draft.

As for being a progress stopper, that's on the coaches, not Witten. He just wanted to play football, just as countless other players have wanted to over time even though they were past their prime. The coaches are the ones that have to make the decision on what players to keep and cut, and what players to put on the field.

 

[Rayman70]

He didn't wait until after the draft to tell the team he was retiring, but it was just before the draft. Not any real advance notice, at least not that we know from the reports (he could have told the team earlier than the media reported it). But if he just then found out about his broadcast opportunity, it was better to the team then then wait until after the draft.

As for being a progress stopper, that's on the coaches, not Witten. He just wanted to play football, just as countless other players have wanted to over time even though they were past their prime. The coaches are the ones that have to make the decision on what players to keep and cut, and what players to put on the field.

good point. The coaches were feckless and allowed the players to dictate in some cases. THIS regime is in charge clearly and run the show on the field. Witten is not to blame, it was Garret and his ilk. The Jones' FINALLY gave the the team an enema. The culture is already way better. A work in progress, but better. I wish Witten well.

 

[Doomsday101]

good point. The coaches were feckless and allowed the players to dictate in some cases. THIS regime is in charge clearly and run the show on the field. Witten is not to blame, it was Garret and his ilk. The Jones' FINALLY gave the the team an enema. The culture is already way better. A work in progress, but better. I wish Witten well.

I think part of that was Witten ability as a blocker being much better than any of the TE on the roster. Dallas was a run 1st team and the role of TE as a blocker played heavy into Witten getting the playing time. I think TE will be used a bit differently than it has been

 

[Hennessy_King]

I think part of that was Witten ability as a blocker being much better than any of the TE on the roster. Dallas was a run 1st team and the role of TE as a blocker played heavy into Witten getting the playing time. I think TE will be used a bit differently than it has been

Witten's blocking grade has been below average for years now. from 2017 on.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Witten's YPT dropped a yard after Romo left. Even in 2016, when the running game was totally dominant. Probably always needed a guy who could throw him open.

So we DON'T have a guy now that can "throw people open".

Seems like a good thing but it sounds almost like an insult when you say it.

 

[Rayman70]

Witten's blocking grade has been below average for years now. from 2017 on.

but he could run a 3 yard route lol..when we need 10.

 

[8FOR!3]

Even Marty B came out later, after he matured some, and admitted his attitude hurt him with Witten.
Even TO scolded MB about it....telling him if wanted to be a real Pro, he needed to soak in what Witten had to offer and shut the heck up.
If Witten thinks you really want to listen and learn, and put in the time, he was always willing to teach and lead. But he wasn't going to kiss some young kids butt.

There's no doubt. Marty B was talented but he had a fairly average career with a few above average seasons. And at that time Jason Witten was still very much automatic and one of the best at his job. I'm not going to knock Bennett it seems like he's grown from it. I'm expecting Jarwin to be a killer in this offense.