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

[Alexander]

Wait, was he a Steeler?

No?

Well, prepare to wait.

 

[JakeCamp12]

Haley has 5 rings and can't get in and was in his playing days one of the most feared defensive ends in the league, and he isn't in yet. So Super Bowl rings can't mean that much or Haley would be in.

 

[Hoofbite]

Has any TE ever gone first ballot?

I don't see why that matters. Does he deserve it, or does he not?

 

[jobberone]

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

Shannon Sharpe and Winslow are the only hybrid TEs in the HOF. Gates, Witten and even Gonzales are more traditional. Guys like Gronk are redefining the position.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Witten should get in eventually. 10 pro bowls is pretty awesome. But Witten was never the consensus best TE in the league in any given year. It was always Gonzales or gates and now gronk. He isn't flashy. It's his longevity and consistency over a decade that will get him in.

Witten wasn't always a good blocker or as willing to block. He's mastered that in the last few years. He was a receiving TE, now he's become a more traditional all around TE.

 

[percyhoward]

If fans want somebody to blame for Cowboys players that did not get in the HOF, look no further than Gosselin.

Yes.

Forget the Hall of Fame voting, I would not even trust this person with sharp objects.

10+ Pro Bowls, 2+ AP 1st Team All-Pro
skill position players
Manning
Favre
Unitas
Rice
Gonzalez
Sanders
Witten

I only count seven players on that list, but that's just me.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Wait, was he a Steeler?

No?

Well, prepare to wait.

That would be funny if it weren't so true.

 

[jobberone]

Witten should get in eventually. 10 pro bowls is pretty awesome. But Witten was never the consensus best TE in the league in any given year. It was always Gonzales or gates and now gronk. He isn't flashy. It's his longevity and consistency over a decade that will get him in.

Witten wasn't always a good blocker or as willing to block. He's mastered that in the last few years. He was a receiving TE, now he's become a more traditional all around TE.

I think Witten has been considered one of the best all around TEs to ever play the game. Gonzales is further along the spectrum toward a hybrid TE although I'm not prepared to go that far. I'd still call John Mackey the greatest all around TE ever, Gonzales #2 and Witten a close third. I think Witten is more of a receiving TE than Ditka or Mackey although Ditka had one year when the Beats WR was out he was the top receiver. But for a modern day TE, he, Gates and Gonzales are all around TEs IMO. Sharpe and Winslow were the first hybrids again IMO.

Witten was always a decent blocker although I'd not sing those praises until the last few years. Calahan et al did a great job with him, Hanna, and to a lesser extent Escobar.

 

[CCBoy]

Goose currently is throwing a lot of words into print right now, that have a solid foundation in common sense and directions.

 

[jobberone]

http://i641.***BLOCKED***/albums/uu133/CCBoy-1/dealio_zps2b98ccbb.png


Love this. Which one of these is different?

 

[Irvin88_4life]

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

Ya only because the hall of fame voters are biased against Dallas players

 

[joseephuss]

Ya only because the hall of fame voters are biased against Dallas players

What does that have to do with them voting Gates in the HoF? He will get there on his own merits. He will probably retire before Witten. I wouldn't be surprised if this is his last year in the league. He is in that final year of his contract.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

What does that have to do with them voting Gates in the HoF? He will get there on his own merits. He will probably retire before Witten. I wouldn't be surprised if this is his last year in the league. He is in that final year of his contract.

Witten is much better then Gates, not sure why you can't understand what I'm saying so thus conversation is over

 

[joseephuss]

Witten is much better then Gates, not sure why you can't understand what I'm saying so thus conversation is over

It was clear that you think Witten is better than Gates. Everything else didn't make sense. Witten being better doesn't prevent Gates from being a first ballot Hall of Famer. Gates being a first ballot Hall of Famer has nothing to do with a anti-Dallas bias.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

If he plays another ~3 more seasons with similar production to this year he will be a first ballot HOFer

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Shannon Sharpe and Winslow are the only hybrid TEs in the HOF. Gates, Witten and even Gonzales are more traditional. Guys like Gronk are redefining the position.

Gates is not in the same area code as Witten when it comes to blocking

 

[SportsGuru80]

He's a hall of fame TE however winning the Super Bowl will cement his legacy...

 

[mldardy]

Gates is not in the same area code as Witten when it comes to blocking

He isn't but he gets in the end zone and his numbers are HOF worthy.

 

[erod]

Goose is way off here.

Tight ends are much more crucial to the passing game these days then back in the day. Wittens' production wildly surpasses what guys like Dave Casper, Billy Jo Dupree, Mark Bavaro, and those guys used to put out.

Tight ends like Gates, Gonzalez, Witten, Gronkowski, Heath.....they are part of the new-age group of tight ends.

And what makes Witten so special is that he is both new school AND old school.

First ballot, or a very short wait.

 

[Risen Star]

If Percy Howard was the Cowboys' presenter, Alundis Brice would be a hall of famer.