FEATURED Twitter: Mike and Witten had a great conversation

[starfan1]

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WittJa00.htm

When exactly was Witten a threat?

That is not what his career has been about. He has been a chains mover, always. We have Cobb, Gallup and Cooper for big plays, we don't necessarily need a big play TE, we need a good checkdown option for Dak. Someone who can be relied on to have a bit of space when nothing else is open. His yards per target is 6.4.

I get that but look at the successful teams in the league and and good passing games so while agree he was never a a threat my point is he needs to be or his position needs to be the league has changed. It would open things up more for Zeke as well.

The old regime is gone I hope the new one dont duplicate their nonsense

 

[Valkyr]

I want to see a 40-yard dash race between McCarthy and Witten.

 

[aikemirv]

I get that but look at the successful teams in the league and and good passing games so while agree he was never a a threat my point is he needs to be or his position needs to be the league has changed. It would open things up more for Zeke as well.

The old regime is gone I hope the new one dont duplicate their nonsense

I do understand the position could be improved and I think he should retire as well but this vitriol against him is pretty disheartening to see. I think he still has a good use for the right OC and playcaller and I like Jarwin as well. Honestly, a QB like Brady would move the chains all day with Witten. They thrive on the short passing game and make it work.

 

[Sydla]

Would I prefer Witten be a part of the team? Sure. As the third TE.

But we all know that won't happen. If he's here, he's going to lobby for #1 snaps and Jerry will probably be in McCarthy's and Moore's ear about it. So while I loved Witten and what he did in Dallas, it might be time to move on.

I just worry that him coming back results in a few things................. he ends up again eating up most the starting snaps, Jarwin continues to not get enough reps to see if he can develop, and we might head into the draft or FA passing on better options at TE simply because Jerry has his love affair with Witten and can't quit certain guys. I'd break crap if Kmet was sitting there in the draft in Rd 2 and we passed because hey, we have Witten back!

 

[OmerV]

so he can pout about lack of pt and quit again?

I don't recall Witten every doing that. And really, I don't think you do.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

How about a player/coach? An assistant coach with a few situational plays on game day ( 3rd down and/or red zone). Mike obviously sees some value left, otherwise, this decision already made.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I think you are right on track
He’s one of the all time greats so I think MM respects that and his leadership
But he sees it time to hang it up and is letting witten do so with options and dignity
No HC would just come in and cut him

Exactly right.......in fact with Jason being such an icon, this something any new coach would let GM handle if he had no place for him on the team. The fact Jason is mulling a decision tells me he didn't exactly what he wanted from Mike and wasn't totally rejected either.

 

[Tabascocat]

Dallas needs to part ways with Witten, time for the offense to evolve. This offense can be so much better with a dynamic TE like Kittle, Kelce, etc. If Dallas does indeed move towards a more horizontal offense, Jason doesn’t have the ability to get YAC and that is very important in a WCO.

If Witten does play in 2020, it should be situational and/or in the redzone only. Dallas needs someone better between the 20’s and I am not sure even Jarwin fits that bill.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I dont understand the hate in here on Witten. Was it a good team decision to bring him back? Probably not, but why hate on him for that? We don't know the backstory on why he came back. As far as we know, Garrett and JJ begged him to return and he obviously still had the desire to play.

Of all the Bozos past and current that have played for the Cowboys, Witten was and is about a good as a Cowboys representative as you can get. I would have zero issues with him staying on in some sort of coaching capacity.

 

[Ranched]

Parcells didn't want veteran hold over from the dynasty teams, maybe McCarthy feels the same way about some older veterans? We'll see I guess.

I would take Witten back as a backup TE and short yardage specialist, but has to be made clear what his role is.

Good post. It's my understanding Witty came back thinking Dallas was going to make a Superbowl run, unfortunately for him, they did just the opposite. I truly believe he will retire from playing, but continue being on Jerry's payroll somewhere.

 

[OldJarhead]

It's really sad to see this hate for a for sure first ballot HoF player. While he has lost a step or two, he was NEVER known as a speedster. He was a solid, find the right place to be and make a play type TE. He was (and still is) a good blocking TE and he is still one of the better TE in this league not named Kelce or Kittle, but their style of play is not what Witten is known for.
I for one thought he left too soon, but I also thought he left due to the knowledge that the QB of this team wasn't suited for his style of play. His return was not a thing I enjoyed as I still believe that he and Dak don't mesh. His skills don't play well with what Dak is used to. If he stays as a player he will be an asset but in a limited sense.

 

[starfan1]

I do understand the position could be improved and I think he should retire as well but this vitriol against him is pretty disheartening to see. I think he still has a good use for the right OC and playcaller and I like Jarwin as well. Honestly, a QB like Brady would move the chains all day with Witten. They thrive on the short passing game and make it work.

Just an FYI Witten is one of my all time favs not trying to dump on him. I have his jersey somewhere with holes in it

I just think it’s time

 

[noshame]

Thanks for a helluva career - but please......it's time.

At this point if you still want Witten on the team, you do not understand the negative impact he has on the offense.

Thanks for the great years buddy.

 

[links18]

Maybe this will be the year he gets a ring? Or the year after or the year after that?

 

[xwalker]

so he can pout about lack of pt and quit again?

He played 98.3% of the snaps the season before he "retired". How is that pouting about lack of "pt".

 

[CowboysBravesSpurs]

Back to the booth where they don’t want you cause you sucked. Good ole Jason Qwitten was all in on the hair piece too. Never seen such a 180.

The hell is wrong with you? I get not wanting Witten on the team, but you people bashing him are straight pathetic.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Witten is a plague that won't go away.

 

[xwalker]

People keep talking about moving on like we have a stable of great TEs available.

Truth is, despite all the hate he gets here, Witten doesnt need athleticism to find soft spots in short yardage zones. He can also still block.

Witten at his age is better than a whole lot of TE2s and TE3s in the league.

Y'all should play more sports, old man game is a thing and you dont underestimate it.

We need a young guy... a solid rookie plus Jarwin plus Witten isnt bad at all.

The problem is that they prefer to carry 3 TEs; although they've carried 4 some years.

The "2nd TE" in terms of snaps played needs to be a blocking TE.

Witten as a blocker:

• In his prime, as compared to other starting TEs, he was a very good blocker.
• In his prime as compared to blocking TEs, he would be an average blocker as best.
• In 2019 as compared to other starting TEs, he was average to below average as a blocker.
• In 2019 as compared to blocking TEs, he would have been terrible. Schultz was a better blocker than Witten.

In 2019 with Kellen Moore wanting to play Jarwin more and Garrett as always wanting to play Witten on all the snaps, they ended up with the blocking TE (Schultz) playing a minimum number of snaps. The lack of playing time for a blocking TE hurt the run game.


Sean Lee on the other hand plays a position where they carried 7 players the majority of the years since they went back to the 4-3 in 2013. Keeping Lee makes much more sense than keeping Witten.

 

[DenCWBY]

Parcells didn't want veteran hold over from the dynasty teams, maybe McCarthy feels the same way about some older veterans? We'll see I guess.

I would take Witten back as a backup TE and short yardage specialist, but has to be made clear what his role is.

I get it but we don't have the luxury of keeping diminishing players to keep from hurting Jerry's feelings. Honestly I have never seen Witt as much of a leader/coach for that side of things. He's a great locker room guy and awesome TE in his day but obviously physically declined at this point. We had one decent TE in Jarwin last year and the rest would not make 3rd string on any other NFL team.

 

[Rockport]

so he can pout about lack of pt and quit again?

You’ve got the morals of a rock.