News: DMN: Gosselin: Sizing up Jason Witten's odds to get to Canton

[romothesavior]

The tight end position has changed drastically in the past two decades, so this historical discussion about tight ends in the hall is fairly irrelevant.

It's a far sexier position and I think you'll see more tight ends making it in sooner as a result (e.g., Gonzelez, Gates, Grimm, Witten, etc.)

 

[Danger]

Witten is a shoe in IMO. Has a case for the best tight end of all time.

 

[AbeBeta]

100% chance.

Win a Super Bowl = lock on 1st ballot.

Before Written is eligible, there will be one more TE in the hall. And he never won a SB. In fact, his teams won a total of 1 playoff game

 

[cml750]

100% chance.

Win a Super Bowl = lock on 1st ballot.

I agree it should be that way but the anti-Cowboy HOF bias will probably play a part.

 

[joseephuss]

Before Written is eligible, there will be one more TE in the hall. And he never won a SB. In fact, his teams won a total of 1 playoff game

Gates will probably get in before Witten as well and Gates doesn't have a Superbowl ring, either. I say Gates will get in sooner because he will probably retire earlier. They started their NFL careers the same year, but Gates is 2 years older and has had to deal with more injuries than Witten. Gates will have more TD receptions than Witten, but he will have fewer receptions and yards than Jason.

 

[perrykemp]

If Gonzo isn't first ballot, just shut the hall down.

Has any TE ever gone first ballot?

 

[burmafrd]

Witten is probably the best all around TE in NFL history. Sure gates and gonzales were better receivers but neither one could hold his jock as regards blocking.

Kirwin is sometimes a complete moron but no one ever really calls him out. Glad someone did.

Goose ought to be barred from having anything to do with Cowboys players as regards the HOF.

 

[xwalker]

Goose can be wrong about a lot of things, but since he's the NFL rep for the HOF, his opinion holds a little more value.

If fans want somebody to blame for Cowboys players that did not get in the HOF, look no further than Gosselin. The HOF voters that cover a team are the ones that push for "their" players to get inducted. With all the hate that Gosselin spews towards the Cowboys, I'm sure he is more of an obstacle to them going in to the HOF than anything.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Exactly. Wittn and Gonzo are first time ballot guys. Who retired along with Gonzo last year that would keep him out? Who do we have playing right now that could retire the same year as Witten that would keep him out on the first ballot?

I remember getting into a debate with a guy that said Antonio Gates is a first ballot but not Witten. Even years ago i said Witten is more worthy then Gates. The same is true today

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

If fans want somebody to blame for Cowboys players that did not get in the HOF, look no further than Gosselin. The HOF voters that cover a team are the ones that push for "their" players to get inducted. With all the hate that Gosselin spews towards the Cowboys, I'm sure he is more of an obstacle to them going in to the HOF than anything.

Seriously, I can imagine his speech for Witten.

Well even though most consider him to be one of the best to ever play his position, he never led his team to the Super Bowl. Look at all these other tight ends who have. Note that we already let in Tony Gonzalez and he didn't win a SuperBowl either. And his numbers, while far exceeding others at his position, don't include as many touchdowns. In closing, screw what you previously thought about this player, nevermind that he is referred to as future Hall of Famer Jason Witten so often that you'd think its on his birth certificate, he's clearly not a HOFer.

 

[RS12]

News: DMN: Gosselin: Sizing up Jason Witten's odds to get to Canton

Guys a lock. Should be first ballot.

 

[joseephuss]

I remember getting into a debate with a guy that said Antonio Gates is a first ballot but not Witten. Even years ago i said Witten is more worthy then Gates. The same is true today

I think they are both equally deserving.

 

[Phoenix]

I would think that Witten, as well as those others mentioned, compare pretty well to the eight already in, and I think all three of them will eventually end up on this list, first ballot or not.


Modern Era: Tight Ends (8)
Dave Casper 1974-1984
Mike Ditka 1961-1972
John Mackey 1963-1972
Ozzie Newsome 1978-1990
Charlie Sanders 1968-1977
Shannon Sharpe 1990-2003
Jackie Smith 1963-1978
Kellen Winslow 1979-1987
- See more at: http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/positions.aspx#sthash.u2bbWIKM.dpuf

 

[mmohican29]

Witten has a 100% chance to get to Canton if he walked away from the game TODAY.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I think they are both equally deserving.

I don't, Witten is a first ballot. Gates is not

 

[Derinyar]

If fans want somebody to blame for Cowboys players that did not get in the HOF, look no further than Gosselin. The HOF voters that cover a team are the ones that push for "their" players to get inducted. With all the hate that Gosselin spews towards the Cowboys, I'm sure he is more of an obstacle to them going in to the HOF than anything.

Yes I think once a lot of the current crop of HOF voters ages out and is replaced you will see a larger chance of Cowboys getting in. It really feels like there's a block of voters that basically won't vote on any Cowboy but the super elite. And from what I can tell Gosselin isn't a particularly good advocate.

 

[Eskimo]

Here is an interesting Witten stat: 3 fumbles in the last 10 years which included over 800 receptions.

If he is healthy he should go over 1000 catches next season (currently has 943).

Since his sophomore year he has averaged about 82 catches a season and just over 900 yards.

I really don't think he is going to catch Gonzalez for yards or receptions but I think his resume is still going to be very impressive SB or not. He gets an added boost because he has been considered to be such a class act on and off the field.

 

[Risen Star]

How is it that the second best receiving TE in history, and assuredly the best all around TE in history, is anything but an absolute lock for the hall of fame? It's not the hall of "really good players that happened to be on super bowl winning teams."

Because not many voters will agree that he's the 2nd best receiving TE in history nor the best all around TE.

 

[joseephuss]

I don't, Witten is a first ballot. Gates is not

You entitle to your opinion. I think many of the HoF voters are going to disagree with you on Gates.

 

[lwehlers]

Question: Heard a lot of talk this year about Jason Witten as a sure thing for Canton, do you agree?

Gosselin: Tight ends are not a priority in Canton. There are only 8 of them in the Hall of Fame and even the best of them had to wait. John Mackey was chosen by the Hall of Fame selection committee in 2000 as the only tight end on the NFL's all-time team -- and even he had wait 15 years to get in. Also, 83 percent of all Hall of Famers either played, coached or owned championship teams. So it would behoove Witten to win a Super Bowl before he retires.

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this is bs in my opinion. that's one of the things that bother me about the hall of fame is just because you do not have a ring some of the great players are punished and have to wait until they are almost to old to enjoy getting elected. then the ones who have multiple rings and have lesser numbers then the ones that have more almost get in on their first try. witten is a hall of famer in my mind. one of the best tightends in nfl history and he may have to wait until his late fifties or sixties because he may not be able to win a superbowl that's stupid.