Is/was there any good, practical reason for Witten to return to football?

Section446 · Jul 23, 2019

He wasn't well received in the booth and I'm sure he simply missed it, it's all he knows. That along with the fact that this might be the best team he's seen in his career.

CouchCoach · Jul 23, 2019

Blackspider214 said:
And yet majority of Cowboys fans are so blind they relished when he came back. It will be the same old junk from Witten. 2 and 3 yard routes and then he falls down. He's not a team player at all. He is selfish and does not care about the development of any one else. He will suck the life out of this offense once again.

Disagree, I think he believes he can help this team and the QB. It was Witten that smoothed the rough water when Prescott took over. It was Witten that came to Bryant's aid, more than once, a player and man far different from himself and why should he care about the development of anyone else? Is that his job?

Witten's job is to be the best TE he can. It is someone else's job to develop other TE's and make the decision if they're better than he is.

Are you saying that you would not come back? You would take one for the team by staying retired?

I have no idea how effective he's going to be and I agree that he's been a little too 3 yards and short of the sticks but he's doing the best he can. Don't fault him, fault those that stayed after him, even after he retired, for they think he's a better solution than developing another TE and had a year to develop his backups.

CouchCoach · Jul 23, 2019

Section446 said:
He wasn't well received in the booth and I'm sure he simply missed it, it's all he knows. That along with the fact that this might be the best team he's seen in his career.

And after the career he's had, who could blame him for going for the gold one more time? He didn't retire because he wanted to.

OmerV · Jul 23, 2019

If Witten wants to play, and the Cowboys are willing, then that alone is a good reason. It doesn't have to be any more grand or complex than that.

Section446 · Jul 23, 2019

CouchCoach said:
And after the career he's had, who could blame him for going for the gold one more time? He didn't retire because he wanted to.

I don't blame him at all, good for him. But, my expectations are virtually nothing, he should have retired 3 years before he did.

CouchCoach · Jul 23, 2019

Section446 said:
I don't blame him at all, good for him. But, my expectations are virtually nothing, he should have retired 3 years before he did.

Can't argue that but with the playmaker talent on the offense now with Elliott, Cooper, Gallup, Cobb and the unknown effect of Pollard, how important is he to the offense? Does he need to be the Witten of 5 years ago or help with the line blocks more than anything else?

I didn't watch the TE's line blocking last year so I don't have an opinion on that but he should still be an adequate line blocker.

If this offense is relying on Witten too much for 1st downs, there are bigger problems than him coming back.

The worst thing that can happen, because he's a Booger and Garrett favorite, is that they dictate touches to the OC for him. And I am not saying that cannot happen. They did that with Bryant.

Bohuntr97 · Jul 23, 2019

We have first year OC, Witten has the experience and is an on field coach as well. Makes sense to me.

Section446 · Jul 23, 2019

CouchCoach said:
Can't argue that but with the playmaker talent on the offense now with Elliott, Cooper, Gallup, Cobb and the unknown effect of Pollard, how important is he to the offense? Does he need to be the Witten of 5 years ago or help with the line blocks more than anything else?

I didn't watch the TE's line blocking last year so I don't have an opinion on that but he should still be an adequate line blocker.

If this offense is relying on Witten too much for 1st downs, there are bigger problems than him coming back.

The worst thing that can happen, because he's a Booger and Garrett favorite, is that they dictate touches to the OC for him. And I am not saying that cannot happen. They did that with Bryant.

Honestly, I think he's been a hindrance to the offense for the better part of the last 5 years.

This is pushing the "way back" button, but I think he should shoulder a lot of the blame for Romo never taking the next step. It's no fault of his, but he was the safety valve that Romo trusted the most, unfortunately, he was a safety valve that caught five yard passes and fell down. There's nothing dynamic about him, he's simply not the modern-TE that DC's have to stay awake at night planning for. If anything, DC's would prefer to let the Cowboys try to beat them by passing to Witten, as long as it means we aren't throwing to guys like Dez or Cooper.

I don't foresee Witten being very involved in the passing game this year, I think he was brought in to fill the void left by Swaim, to be a blocking TE that can catch the occasional pass. My hope is that either Jarwin or Gathers (insert laugh here) become the threat that keeps DC's awake at night, while Witten is a reliable run blocking option.

kskboys · Jul 23, 2019

Witten is 273 yards away from being in the all time top 20 for receiving yards.

JayFord · Jul 23, 2019

Sometimes you get the itch to play ball again

I’ve gotten it.....at age 32..played did well but I don’t miss playing it actually I do I just don’t miss practice and getting in shape

OmerV · Jul 23, 2019

Section446 said:
I don't blame him at all, good for him. But, my expectations are virtually nothing, he should have retired 3 years before he did.

My expectation is for him to be one of the TE's, not THE TE. There is no reason he can't be a solid contributor as part of the overall TE group, he just can't be the guy carrying the group anymore. Obviously the key is for the Cowboys to understand that, and use him accordingly.

gjkoeppen · Jul 23, 2019

Red Dragon said:
Like many Cowboys fans, I was surprised at Witten deciding to return to the Cowboys, and felt that this kind of took away the dignity of what had been a very graceful retirement in 2017. I am not sure what he gets out of this - unless he is simply itching so badly to play more football that it's in his blood and he just can't bear to not be on the field.

He presumably has all the money he could ever need and this extra season isn't going to pay him much additionally. The Cowboys, despite being a playoff team last year, aren't likely to win a Super Bowl in this one last season of Witten's career. He is running a real risk of needless injury, especially given his old age. He isn't likely to break any career records in one last season, although he might pad his existing records a bit further. Indeed, it's not even likely that he would get the ball thrown his way much.

Yes, it's his decision and his decision alone, but since we are the peanut gallery and it's the offseason, does anyone see a good reason for #82 to have come back?

You said it yourself. My guess and that's all any of can do, is when he retired he thought that burning desire to play was gone but he realized that he still had it. With some people it's just to tough to put out.
.

NoLuv4Jerry · Jul 23, 2019

With all the speed Dallas has added at the WR position....and the speed they have at RB....Witten will be open a lot. But that is NOT a good thing. He has not been explosive in a LONG time...and it has only gotten worse. He will not get many yards of the catch and it will frustrate Cowboy fans to no end. But our ire will be directed at the wrong people. We should reserve our ire for the organization....for bringing him back...and for Dak NOT getting being confident enough to push the ball down the field or outside the hashes. Witten will be a safety net for Dak..and Dak will often take the easy way out and throw it to him....because he will be open. I think Witten's return is going to STUNT Daks growth. And of the numbers that I am hearing are true...in terms of the dollars Dak is asking for...you cannot ask for that kind of money and be a dink and dunk guy. Witten allows Dak to be a dink and dunk guy.

Diehardblues · Jul 23, 2019

CouchCoach said:
Disagree, I think he believes he can help this team and the QB. It was Witten that smoothed the rough water when Prescott took over. It was Witten that came to Bryant's aid, more than once, a player and man far different from himself and why should he care about the development of anyone else? Is that his job?

Witten's job is to be the best TE he can. It is someone else's job to develop other TE's and make the decision if they're better than he is.

Are you saying that you would not come back? You would take one for the team by staying retired?

I have no idea how effective he's going to be and I agree that he's been a little too 3 yards and short of the sticks but he's doing the best he can. Don't fault him, fault those that stayed after him, even after he retired, for they think he's a better solution than developing another TE and had a year to develop his backups.

Well said. Witten is our best TE despite his dwindling performance. I’m not sure if that bodes well for Him or our poor TE roster ? But since we needed talent and production at TE, I’ll take him.

Verdict · Jul 23, 2019

Blackspider214 said:
And yet majority of Cowboys fans are so blind they relished when he came back. It will be the same old junk from Witten. 2 and 3 yard routes and then he falls down. He's not a team player at all. He is selfish and does not care about the development of any one else. He will suck the life out of this offense once again.

Pay attention people! This guy gets it!

Diehardblues · Jul 23, 2019

CouchCoach said:
Can't argue that but with the playmaker talent on the offense now with Elliott, Cooper, Gallup, Cobb and the unknown effect of Pollard, how important is he to the offense? Does he need to be the Witten of 5 years ago or help with the line blocks more than anything else?

I didn't watch the TE's line blocking last year so I don't have an opinion on that but he should still be an adequate line blocker.

If this offense is relying on Witten too much for 1st downs, there are bigger problems than him coming back.

The worst thing that can happen, because he's a Booger and Garrett favorite, is that they dictate touches to the OC for him. And I am not saying that cannot happen. They did that with Bryant.

Witten biggest contributions could be in Redzone and converting 3rd Downs. Both areas we need drastic improvements.

Verdict · Jul 23, 2019

CouchCoach said:
I think his stint in the broadcast booth was tough on him. Not just the criticism but sitting up there and doing that Cowboys game and not being on the field.

I think he felt he made a mistake. The ESPN window was open and might not be again and it was either jump through it now or miss it. He retired before he was ready just like Aikman and Romo did. Aikman has talked about how rough it was for him and how much he missed it and even thought of coming back but deep down he knew he was one more knock on the noggin from asking directions to Waterloo. Steve Young, the same thing, he felt that he could still play at a competitive level.

I also think he felt he had walked out a little on Booger, Garrett and the team retiring the way he did and never felt good about himself. It was for all the right reasons, any man would have to strongly consider that, but the wrong reason was Witten is a team guy first. There were battles left to fight. And it didn't help that they kept after him to come back.

I think all of that criticism he received certainly accelerated his thinking because he was really poor at that job and he had to know it. While he says all the right things about staying with it and ESPN openly supported him, I think behind closed doors it was a different story. They had hoped putting him in the booth would help ratings, it did not. The Cowboys are calling and ESPN said "we understand", all the while breathing a sigh of relief.

Witten is NOT a team player. At all.

Verdict · Jul 23, 2019

Diehardblues said:
Witten biggest contributions could be in Redzone and converting 3rd Downs. Both areas we need drastic improvements.

We are trotting out 2 yard reception, but 3 yards short of the sticks Witten. Another team is trotting out Ertz. Who has the advantage there? Still think he was a great buy at 5M?

ShiningStar · Jul 23, 2019

from a winnig team perspective no.

to sell tickets or scream the whole veteran leadership mantra, sure.

will it be worth it after 1 year, no.

COwboys FO isnt looking to win it , the rest of yous will be flipping te card ad shocked to read "not a chance" for the 20th plus season again. Shocked i tell you

Diehardblues · Jul 23, 2019

Verdict said:
We are trotting out 2 yard reception, but 3 yards short of the sticks Witten. Another team is trotting out Ertz. Who has the advantage there? Still think he was a great buy at 5M?

Right. Witten might not be the answer but he could help us.

Is/was there any good, practical reason for Witten to return to football?

Section446

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CouchCoach

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OmerV

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Section446

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CouchCoach

Bohuntr97

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Section446

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kskboys

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JayFord

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OmerV

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gjkoeppen

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NoLuv4Jerry

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Diehardblues

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Verdict

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Diehardblues

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Verdict

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Verdict

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ShiningStar

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