FWST Blog: Witten talks T.O., finally

[WoodysGirl]

Tight end Jason Witten finally discussed the Cowboys decision to part ways with petulant receiver Terrell Owens.

Appearing at a charity event for the March of Dimes along with Nascar's Denny Hamlin, Witten initally feigned ignorance about the Cowboys making any notable roster changes.

"We made roster changes?" he joked. "I didn't hear about that."

But Witten, who has avoided media inquiries on the subject since Owens was released last month, got serious. He said he was disappointed his name got dragged into the muck last season when stories were written about infighting between him, Owens and Romo.

He said Owens was a great player for the Cowboys and wished him luck in Buffalo. But he said the Cowboys' main focus now was putting last year in the past and moving forward as a team.

Regarding all the talk of change this offseason from the roster to coach Wade Phillips changing his ways, Witten said the biggest change the Cowboys need is more wins after last season's embarrassing 9-7 finish.

"I think more than anything being 9-7 is unacceptable with this team," Witten said. "When you talk about change you want to find a way to get more wins."

Here are some selected questions and answers from his press conference today.
Are you better without T.O.?

"I don't know about that. Terrell was a great player. I think I was a better player because of him and what he brought to the team. His track record speaks for itself. He has been good wherever he has been. He is going to help Buffalo a lot. But we have to move on from that. I have benefitted tremendously from having him outside. I will be the first to say that I was a better player because of him. But decisions were made and we have to move on."

Owner Jerry Jerry said getting of T.O. makes Romo better, the lockerroom better?

"I don't know. A lot is made of chemistry. Chemistry is good when you win.
Everybody has got good chemistry when you win. For all of us it's something we have to evaluate and understand.I dont want to look at it and say we are a better lockerroom. We got a lot of good football players. I do think that. We got to go show it. We got to stop talking about it.

How will offense change without Owens?

"Roy (Williams) has proven himself. He is a good player. I knew about Roy and watched him on film before he came here. He is a proven player. Tony is a great quarterback.It's not just them. We got a lot of other guys. Felix (Jones) is a big key in that. Getting him back, what a weapon he can be along with the other guys like Marion (Barber), myself, Martellus Bennett, Miles Austin and Patrick (Crayton). We need to stop talking about the playoffs and Super Bowls and just become a better football team."


Clarence E. Hill Jr.
Posted at 03:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

 

[Chocolate Lab]

We need to stop talking about the playoffs and Super Bowls and just become a better football team."

:clap2:

IMO one of the problems with this team is thinking they are "so talented". They need to feel like they're an average team that has to play their best if they want to have a chance to win each week.

 

[NextGenBoys]

:clap2:

IMO one of the problems with this team is thinking they are "so talented". They need to feel like they're an average team that has to play their best if they want to have a chance to win each week.

Exactly. I wish every player could have the mindset of Jason Witten and Marion Barber. Throw DeMarcus Ware in there too, maybe.

 

[WoodysGirl]

DMN spin

Jason Witten on perceptions and T.O.

3:44 PM Wed, Apr 01, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Calvin Watkins E-mail News tips

Jason Witten was asked today: Are the Cowboys a better team without Terrell Owens?

"I dont know about that," Witten said. "Terrell was a great player. I think I was a better player because of him and what he brought to the team. His track record speaks for itself. He has been good wherever he has been. He is going to help Buffalo a lot."

Witten said he was bothered that many believe he had something to do with Owens getting released.

There's the hot rumor that Tony Romo, Jason Garrett and Witten conspired to get Owens cut.

Witten said it's not true and that perception bothers him.


"Personally getting thrown into the middle of that you would like to think you've been here six years and lay it on the line do all the right things hurt, injured healthy," he said. "To get perceived to be in the middle of that, that bothers you. I can take that. That has nothing to do with it. Tony is a good friend but he's the quarterback, he's a leader man. He's the quarterback of the team this is a professional football team you can't worry about that stuff."

Witten didn't seem angry but you could tell it upsets him when people think he has all this power to get players released.

"The bottom line is when you're losing all those things get brought out and rightfully so because you got expectations that's why you have a good team," he said. "You let the owner down and let the team down. To get thrown into that, it doesn't matter. It came out of left field on me a little bit just because you felt like you know how you prepare and how to play. Hey, I'm the first guy all along I was a better player because of [Owens] and other guys around me, it's a team game and you have to do that."

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Exactly. I wish every player could have the mindset of Jason Witten and Marion Barber. Throw DeMarcus Ware in there too, maybe.

The goofs in the media were saying that Barber 'had changed' due to Owens' influence and that Witten was hoping Owens would be released. I think the reality is that Witten wanted Owens on the team, but will move on without him and Barber never really changed, he just wasn't afraid to say he liked Owens as a teammate and many in the media didn't want to hear that, thus the 'he's changed' crap.

I think we need more/better leadership from the QB position and the secondary. Witten, Barber and Ware I have never been worried about, but they are not really vocal leaders either. I think in football you do need some vocal leaders because of the nature of the sport.


YAKUZA

 

[Woods]

Now, Witten knows how to talk to the media, IMO.

He says the right things.

Complements TO, talks about the players having to move on and having to win, and focus on winning (not Super Bowls).

 

[Hypnotoad]

Barber was a quiet, high work ethic guy before owens was released... Barber is now an outsider who doesn't communicate with anyone. It's sad how hes put himself on an island like that.



I think they learned what it takes to win in the middle of the season. I remember practice reports during the rams week were the players were standing in groups, having a good time, talking, and laughing instead of practicing. They learned what it takes to win, unfortunately it was too late.

 

[Doomsday101]

Witten is right, this game is not about day dreaming of what could be in Jan it is about the here and now and if you don't do enough in Oct, Sept,Nov and Dec then Jan is not going to happen. It may be an old saying but this team needs to focus on 1 game at a time anything beyond that is wasted time

 

[Bob Sacamano]

:clap2:

IMO one of the problems with this team is thinking they are "so talented". They need to feel like they're an average team that has to play their best if they want to have a chance to win each week.

they need to feel like they need to play more than their best

not going above and beyond seemed to be the problem last year, all they told us, most noteably Romo, was all they had to do was play their best...not true, they need to be doing more than just that

 

[Everlastingxxx]

If i was the owner id handcuff Crayton to Witten and make him spend a week listening and hearing how he deals with the media and team sports. Witten is a class act and has never let me down as a fan.

 

[THUMPER]

Ya know, I didn't think I could like Jason Witten more than I already did but... What a great guy to have on our team!
:starspin

 

[CF74]

Towards the end there he practically said the exact same thing last year.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The goofs in the media were saying that Barber 'had changed' due to Owens' influence and that Witten was hoping Owens would be released. I think the reality is that Witten wanted Owens on the team, but will move on without him and Barber never really changed, he just wasn't afraid to say he liked Owens as a teammate and many in the media didn't want to hear that, thus the 'he's changed' crap.

But even late last year during the season, some of the local guys were saying TO was influencing Barber the wrong way.

 

[WoodysGirl]

More DMN...

It's time to put up or shut up

4:04 PM Wed, Apr 01, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Calvin Watkins E-mail News tips

That's not me talking, it's Jason Witten.

Final Witten post of the day. Witten said it's time for the team to move on from the 2008 season and worry about 2009.

I couldn't agree more.

"I don't want to look at it and say we are a better locker room," Witten said regarding the release of Terrell Owens and a few other players. "We got a lot of good football players.
I do think that. We got to go show it, we got to stop talking about it and it started this offseason in the way we are working. We are trying to move forward and not replay all that. Decisions were made and we have to move on."


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The entry "It's time to put up or shut up " is tagged: Jason Witten

Categories: Jason Witten, Terrell Owens

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No T.O. helps Romo? Not so
3:53 PM Wed, Apr 01, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Calvin Watkins E-mail News tips

Jerry Jones said he believes cutting Terrell Owens helps Tony Romo.

Maybe Jones means it in a sense that Romo doesn't have to worry about throwing to Owens and can focus on other players.

Jason Witten doesn't buy it.

"I don't," Witten said. "A lot is made of chemistry. Chemistry is good when you win. Everybody has got good chemistry when you win. I heard Danny Ainge say with the Celtics chemistry got better when they got better players, I'm there."






Comments (9) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

No T.O. helps Romo? Not so
3:53 PM Wed, Apr 01, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Calvin Watkins E-mail News tips

Jerry Jones said he believes cutting Terrell Owens helps Tony Romo.

Maybe Jones means it in a sense that Romo doesn't have to worry about throwing to Owens and can focus on other players.

Jason Witten doesn't buy it.

"I don't," Witten said. "A lot is made of chemistry. Chemistry is good when you win. Everybody has got good chemistry when you win. I heard Danny Ainge say with the Celtics chemistry got better when they got better players, I'm there."

Comments (9) Leave comment | E-mail entry

Of course he doesnt.

He's not a fool. He knows his looks wont be as good without TO drawing coverage. He knows there goes their Big play threat. He knows this team isn't as good without him. Players wont playmakers on their team. Fans want their 'guy' wearing the star, whether or not their team isn't as good.

 

[NextGenBoys]

The goofs in the media were saying that Barber 'had changed' due to Owens' influence and that Witten was hoping Owens would be released. I think the reality is that Witten wanted Owens on the team, but will move on without him and Barber never really changed, he just wasn't afraid to say he liked Owens as a teammate and many in the media didn't want to hear that, thus the 'he's changed' crap.

I think we need more/better leadership from the QB position and the secondary. Witten, Barber and Ware I have never been worried about, but they are not really vocal leaders either. I think in football you do need some vocal leaders because of the nature of the sport.


YAKUZA

I agree whole heartedly. I have not like Bradie James as our vocal leader in years past because he was always part of the problem. Blown coverages, missed tackles, or whatever. But he's been doing it for so long that it's his job. I would like a vocal leader on the Dline or the secondary though.

I think Romo will be much more vocal this year. Last year was an enormous learning session for him. Will only make him better in the long run.

 

[poke]

wait a minute....where are all the posters who just yesterday in a Crayton
thread were screaming " our players just need to shut-up" ????

now i like Witten...always have. thats not my point.

just find it funny that so many were telling our players to shut up but not so much in this instance.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If i was the owner id handcuff Crayton to Witten and make him spend a week listening and hearing how he deals with the media and team sports. Witten is a class act and has never let me down as a fan.

That is a great idea.

Your comments about Witten on right on the money also.

 

[AKATheRake]

:clap2:

IMO one of the problems with this team is thinking they are "so talented". They need to feel like they're an average team that has to play their best if they want to have a chance to win each week.

That makes good sense. One of the many things the players seemed to lack was intensity and when you think you're superior there isn't much of that fear aspect like in boxing that brings up your intensity level.

I remember Parcells using a boxers fear to make him focus and bring his intensity level up as an example when he was coaching here. Could be something that lingers since he was here.

 

[RCowboyFan]

wait a minute....where are all the posters who just yesterday in a Crayton
thread were screaming " our players just need to shut-up" ????

now i like Witten...always have. thats not my point.

just find it funny that so many were telling our players to shut up but not so much in this instance.

Then what the heck is your point dude? How does what Witten is saying compare to Crayton? The point, seems like you entirely missed is, that if you talk to Media, make sure you be careful in what you say.

Witten clearly knows what to say and never has anything negative to say, about teammates etc. But Crayton has put his foot in his mouth way too many times. THere is a huge difference.