News: Darren Woodson: Jason Witten greatest tight end ever

[joseephuss]

If Gronkowski keeps it up he will probably leave everyone in the dust. He's pretty much already halfway to Gonzalez's TD record and he's only in year 5.

I don't think Gronk can keep it up. He parties too much in the off season and also has an injury history. And it isn't as if he is outpacing the receptions and yardage that Gonzales or Witten put up. I think Gronk has 5 years left. They may be 5 very good years, but it won't be enough to catch the top marks.

 

[JDSmith]

Everything about that video except that part at the beginning that says 'created at onetruevideo.com' came from me. I made that video ages ago.

Edit: And it's only a 4 minute video, they just added the part where they lied about who created it and then played it twice to make it longer. Notice that none of the footage is recent, that's because I made it a long time ago - I have it in a zip file on my computer that's from 2005.

 

[perrykemp]

I don't think Gronk can keep it up. He parties too much in the off season and also has an injury history. And it isn't as if he is outpacing the receptions and yardage that Gonzales or Witten put up. I think Gronk has 5 years left. They may be 5 very good years, but it won't be enough to catch the top marks.

Very good chance Gronk breaks the record for TDs for a TE. He already has 54 and he is only 26 years old.

 

[landroverking]

Wit is the greatest of his time. But history can't overlook the guy that invented the modern TE. Iron Mike Ditka.

 

[jrumann59]

• 10× Pro Bowl (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014)

• 2× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2010)

• 2× Second-team All-Pro (2008, 2012

and talk about an Iron Man of the NFL he has never missed a game

missed one his rookie year with a broken jaw.

 

[JDSmith]

missed one his rookie year with a broken jaw.

And that was Parcells. Even in the game where Witten broke it (was it Arizona?), he tried to go back into the game and Parcells had to grab him on the sideline and stop him. Then he made him sit the next game, but Witten didn't want to. Probably a good call by Parcells, but think how close Witten came to never having missed a game.

 

[jazzcat22]

He's the best I've ever seen for sure.

Although those false starts.....

He's like Billy Jo Dupree and Jay Novacek rolled into one.

Throw is some Doug Cosbie....the player that Tex Schramm was talked into drafting over Joe Montana. Because they needed a TE as they had Danny White at QB taking over for Roger.
Gil Brandt and Tom Landry talked Tex out of Joe Montana....

Not knocking anything, as Cosbie was a great player for us.

 

[jazzcat22]

Depends on which stats you are talking about. Winslow as only 12 less TD catches in half the overall catches and also averages about 7 more yards per game in again about half the catches. John Mackey's numbers came on only 331 catches. He had 38 TDs and averaged about 16 yards per catch.

Can't just look at stats. Look at all the dirty work he does, the blocking, the attention he demands at times, opening things up for other players. He there as romos outlet when he needs to get a first down, or just needs to dump the ball off.
He changes the way a defense plays.

Other TEs were great stats people for averages of TD's or yards per catch, or how ever wants to spin fantasy stats. Which fantasy football,is the downfall,of some fans . But as an overall team player and contributions, yes Witten is one of the top 3 easily, if not the top or soon will be considered that.

 

[jazzcat22]

If Gronkowski keeps it up he will probably leave everyone in the dust. He's pretty much already halfway to Gonzalez's TD record and he's only in year 5.

Gromks production will fall off once Brady is gone.

 

[Silver N Blue]

Can't put him above Ozzie Newsome or Shannon Sharpe, or Kellen Winslow. Definitely not as good as Mackey or Gonzalez. He's a sure hall of famer though. Definitely top 10 in NFL history. I'm not sure if he'll go down as good as Antonio Gates or Jimmy Graham in this era but those are different TEs.

To be named in this group is an honor unto itself. 82 has been the face of this organization since he put on a helmet...imo.

 

[Longboysfan]

Witten is one of my favorite Cowboys ever, and a future HOFer no doubt. Better than Tony Gonzalez or John Mackey is questionable though.

Better than Gonzalez in blocking.

 

[Scotman]

To be named in this group is an honor unto itself. 82 has been the face of this organization since he put on a helmet...imo.

82 has been the face of this organization since he put on a helmet...imo.

Even more so since his helmet came off.

 

[rynochop]

There are posters on this board (you know who you are) who have wondered if Witten is a HoF. Those discussions frankly were some of the most ridiculous ever to be had on the zone.

Let me guess, his initials are KJJ?

 

[skinsscalper]

Depends on which stats you are talking about. Winslow as only 12 less TD catches in half the overall catches and also averages about 7 more yards per game in again about half the catches. John Mackey's numbers came on only 331 catches. He had 38 TDs and averaged about 16 yards per catch.

John Mackie was also the only legitimate passing threat on his entire team. Don't get me wrong. He was a bad, bad man. I wouldn't dismiss his skills or achievements for the sake of any argument but some perspective should be applied.


In fact, as far as an ACTUAL all around TE, only Ditka and Mackie are in Witten's class. Sharpe couldn't block to save his life and he'd be the first one to admit it. In fact, Sharpe is the guy that turned the position into what it is today (big guys who can stretch the field but can't block worth a damn). That fact alone makes Sharpe a HOFer (anyone who revolutionizes a position is a sure fire lock). But as far as traditional TEs? Very few can hold a candle to Witten.

 

[skinsscalper]

I don't know if lots of people will agree with me, but its a tie between Jason Witten and Jay Novacek in my opinion.

I loved Jay. He was as clutch as clutch can be when Troy needed a 1st down on 3rd and 7 but, honestly, Witten is twice the all around TE that Jay was. Jay will never sniff the HOF. Witten is actually in the conversation for the best ever. I'm just glad that we've all had the pleasure to have them both on our team.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think some of these so called TE should be compared to WR, some of these guys are TE in name only. They do not perform the job of a TE per say. They are for the most part oversized WR

 

[joseephuss]

John Mackie was also the only legitimate passing threat on his entire team. Don't get me wrong. He was a bad, bad man. I wouldn't dismiss his skills or achievements for the sake of any argument but some perspective should be applied.


In fact, as far as an ACTUAL all around TE, only Ditka and Mackie are in Witten's class. Sharpe couldn't block to save his life and he'd be the first one to admit it. In fact, Sharpe is the guy that turned the position into what it is today (big guys who can stretch the field but can't block worth a damn). That fact alone makes Sharpe a HOFer (anyone who revolutionizes a position is a sure fire lock). But as far as traditional TEs? Very few can hold a candle to Witten.

Sharpe wasn't even that big. He was 6'-2" and 225 lbs. He was too slow to play wide receiver, so he got moved to tight end. Kellen Winslow was 6'-5" and 240 lbs to 250 lbs. He was a big guy who could and did stretch the field. I don't think Sharpe revolutionized anything.

 

[joseephuss]

I loved Jay. He was as clutch as clutch can be when Troy needed a 1st down on 3rd and 7 but, honestly, Witten is twice the all around TE that Jay was. Jay will never sniff the HOF. Witten is actually in the conversation for the best ever. I'm just glad that we've all had the pleasure to have them both on our team.

I agree. Witten averages more receptions and yards per season than what Novacek compiled during his best individual seasons. Witten just had his second worst year in terms of yardage last season with 703 yards. In Jay's best season in Dallas he had 705 yards.

 

[NickZepp]

I agree. Witten averages more receptions and yards per season than what Novacek compiled during his best individual seasons. Witten just had his second worst year in terms of yardage last season with 703 yards. In Jay's best season in Dallas he had 705 yards.

Dallas back then ran about 55-60% of the time then threw to Michael Irvin when they passed it a large majority of the time. I'm not sure Witten would have great numbers if he played back then in that offense. Novacek isn't as good as Witten I agree. I would like to have seen Novacek in an offense more like the ones today that do use TEs more though. His YPC and TD's per catch numbers are pretty much the same as Witten's. Novacek probably averaged 2 or 3 targets per game if that.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

Can't put him above Ozzie Newsome or Shannon Sharpe, or Kellen Winslow. Definitely not as good as Mackey or Gonzalez. He's a sure hall of famer though. Definitely top 10 in NFL history. I'm not sure if he'll go down as good as Antonio Gates or Jimmy Graham in this era but those are different TEs.

I live in NE Ohio, & I can tell you that Ozzie couldn't block my mother. Loved his receiving skills, but if we're talking "Most Complete TE Ever", then the nod has to go to Witten. He takes just as much pleasure from sealing the edge for a 20-yard rushing TD, as he does making a TD reception. None of the TEs you mentioned, in fact, were blockers. Isn't that half of the game?