It was mutually agreeable. Witten decided he would rather play football than report it and ESPN agreed.
The team knows they're not getting a shot at either of the two blue chip TE's in the draft and Witten is better than anything they have and he knows most of the offense. Don't know what wrinkles Moore will add but I do not think that will affect the TE positions as much as WR and RB anyway. Moore knows they need to move the ball down the field and he has what looks like a top 5 WR corps and could be even better than that.
Witten brings a couple of things to the party, leadership and stability. Not many QB's get their #1WR and TE taken away in the same season and then a new #1 WR at the halfway point. One thing I've not seen mentioned as much is the acclimation of Cooper into the offense that fast. I don't think Owens did it that quickly and know Williams didn't. Laurent Robinson did and I do notice some similarity in their route running.
I really do think no one, including Witten, wanted him to hang it up last season. The opportunity was there and would not remain open and he was the best they had audition. Makes me wonder about just how bad the others were. No shame, that's not an easy job when they have a vet alongside them and a seasoned director and Witten had neither.
And I think he was getting some nudging from Garrett and Booger to come back beginning in the season.
I am glad he's back on the team and not on MNF. I call that a win-win for me. And the fact they got Cobb makes this work all the better. The receiving corps is an upgrade and that #2 is going to be fun to watch take his sophomore steps.