Jason Witten could pass Shannon Sharpe as #2 all-time

joseephuss

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I think you guys are short changing the hall of fame...

Only 8 tight ends have been inducted in the modern era. Usually only a few tight ends from a generation go in.

Mike Ditka 1961-1972
John Mackey 1963-1972
Jackie Smith 1963-1978
Charlie Sanders 1968-1977

Dave Casper 1974-1984
Ozzie Newsome 1978-1990
Kellen Winslow 1979-1987

Shannon Sharpe 1990-2003

By the time it comes to induct Witten, a lot of guys are going to be coming up behind him with similar numbers or better projected numbers. His lack of touchdowns versus most tight ends in this range will be a problem for him. Vernon Davis has more TDs than Witten, as does Antonio Gates and Dallas Clark.

None of the younger guys will be from Witten's generation. They are the next generation.

Dallas Clark is retired and he trails Witten by around 400 receptions and 4000 yards.

Vernon Davis also trails Witten by nearly those same totals. He has already played a long time, so I don't see him catching or coming close to Witten's final numbers. He is only two years younger than Witten.

Antonio Gates will get in the Hall of Fame. He and Witten will be the tight ends of their generation to get into the club. I don't consider Tony Gonzalez as part of that same generation. He was playing for 6 years before Witten and Gates entered the league. Witten also has more receptions and yards than Gates. Gates is also 2 years older and has had to deal with injuries over the last few seasons. I think he will retire a year or few before Witten, but Gates is certainly deserving of going into the HoF.

There will not be a lot of guys coming up with better numbers. There may be one or two, but not a bunch.
 

percyhoward

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He definitely won't be a first ballot guy, and at this point I would be surprised if he got in.
It won't be on the first ballot, but Witten's a lock to get in.

Here's the list of all NFL tight ends with 5+ Pro Bowls and multiple first-team AP All-Pro selections. Bold = HOF
Gonzalez 14 PB 6 AP
Witten 9 PB 2 AP
Gates 8 PB 3 AP
Sharpe 8 PB 4 AP
Sanders 7 PB 3 AP
Casper 5 PB 4 AP

Christensen 5 PB 2 AP
Coates 5 PB 2 AP
Ditka 5 PB 2 AP
Jackson 5 PB 3 AP
Mackey 5 PB 3 AP
Winslow 5 PB 3 AP


23 of the 24 eligible offensive players in NFL history with at least 9 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro selections are in the Hall of Fame. The only exception is Will Shields, who will undoubtedly go in within the next few years.
 

Hostile

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Not for nothing, but Witten passed Sharpe for #2 on the all time TE receptions list last year. This year he could pass 2 Hall of Famers, Art Monk and Andre Reed.
 

DandyDon1722

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I don't care if he gets 461, Witten is not a HOF player.

In fact he along with : Can't win any big games Tony" are the definitions of "compilers"

I'd take Jay Novacek over Witten twice on Sunday.

Yes, finally! I completely agree with this! I hate those compilers like Walter Peyton and Marino and Bruce Smith and Warren Moon, etc. All they do is take up valuable space in the HOF who is anxiously waiting for Mary Rypien, Jeff Hostetler and Phil McConkey. Well done Biffy!
 

big dog cowboy

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With a great game sunday, Jason Witten might pass Shannon Sharp as #2 all time

Go JW ! ! !

Doubt he does that Sunday but he will get there eventually.

FWIW he will get into the HOF but prolly not 1st ballot.
 

TellerMorrow34

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He wont get 261 this Sunday. He will get beyond Sharp in the early part of the season and yes he will make the Hall of Fame. He likely won't be first ballot but he's going to get in without a doubt.
 

mldardy

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I think you guys are short changing the hall of fame...

Only 8 tight ends have been inducted in the modern era. Usually only a few tight ends from a generation go in.

Mike Ditka 1961-1972
John Mackey 1963-1972
Jackie Smith 1963-1978
Charlie Sanders 1968-1977

Dave Casper 1974-1984
Ozzie Newsome 1978-1990
Kellen Winslow 1979-1987

Shannon Sharpe 1990-2003

By the time it comes to induct Witten, a lot of guys are going to be coming up behind him with similar numbers or better projected numbers. His lack of touchdowns versus most tight ends in this range will be a problem for him. Vernon Davis has more TDs than Witten, as does Antonio Gates and Dallas Clark.

Davis is already 30 and outside of TDs(which he is ahead of Witten by 1 TD currently) doesn't have the near the numbers that Witten has. He's never had a 1000 yard season and only 2 seasons of over 900 yards. Gates is pretty close to being done and Witten has more catches and yards. Dallas Clark, please he's not worth mentioning in this discussion. The only other young TE's worth mentioning are Gronk and Graham. Gronk is having trouble staying healthy and Graham if he does stay healthy will broke a lot of records. Witten will go down as one of the best of his era for sure. He's a 9 time Pro Bowl and 2 time All Pro. That's going to be hard to keep out of the Hall.
 

Galian Beast

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Davis is already 30 and outside of TDs(which he is ahead of Witten by 1 TD currently) doesn't have the near the numbers that Witten has. He's never had a 1000 yard season and only 2 seasons of over 900 yards. Gates is pretty close to being done and Witten has more catches and yards. Dallas Clark, please he's not worth mentioning in this discussion. The only other young TE's worth mentioning are Gronk and Graham. Gronk is having trouble staying healthy and Graham if he does stay healthy will broke a lot of records. Witten will go down as one of the best of his era for sure. He's a 9 time Pro Bowl and 2 time All Pro. That's going to be hard to keep out of the Hall.

I hate when people make straw man arguments.

My argument isn't that all these other tight ends are going into the hall, my point is Witten only distinguishes himself by yards and receptions, and his TD numbers by comparison to most top tight ends is lacking. His lack of TDs combined with the lack of prestige for this generation of Cowboys will keep him out of the hall of fame at least initially.

Antonio Gates will get into the hall of fame before Jason Witten, as will Tony Gonzalez. You have to start asking yourself if the hall of fame will induct 3 tight ends in a similar time frame, when they aren't well known for allowing tight ends in the first place.

When you look at the numbers, and the voters will, they'll see a slew of tight ends encroaching on Witten's numbers by the time he is eligible, and year after year of not getting in his numbers will seem less and less prestigious compared to the active tight ends in the league who are averaging on a scale essentially the same numbers he did.

Gronkowski might not be able to stay healthy but he has been in the league 4 years and almost has as many touchdowns as Witten.
 

mldardy

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I hate when people make straw man arguments.

My argument isn't that all these other tight ends are going into the hall, my point is Witten only distinguishes himself by yards and receptions, and his TD numbers by comparison to most top tight ends is lacking. His lack of TDs combined with the lack of prestige for this generation of Cowboys will keep him out of the hall of fame at least initially.

Antonio Gates will get into the hall of fame before Jason Witten, as will Tony Gonzalez. You have to start asking yourself if the hall of fame will induct 3 tight ends in a similar time frame, when they aren't well known for allowing tight ends in the first place.

When you look at the numbers, and the voters will, they'll see a slew of tight ends encroaching on Witten's numbers by the time he is eligible, and year after year of not getting in his numbers will seem less and less prestigious compared to the active tight ends in the league who are averaging on a scale essentially the same numbers he did.

Gronkowski might not be able to stay healthy but he has been in the league 4 years and almost has as many touchdowns as Witten.

I hate when people say something and then backtrack and make it even worse by not making any sense.

Never said Gates wasn't going to make it. I just said that Witten has more yards, receptions. And stating Gonzalez will, well no freaking **** of course he will. He owns every TE record so please tell us something we don't know which i know is extremely difficult for you.

And you keep focusing on TD's that isn't the only standard used to judge a receiver or TE. Gronk has been hurt a lot so great he scores TD's but longevity, yards, receptions, Pro Bowls, All Pros mean much more. He's had 1 1000 yard season, started 16 games once. He's got a long way to go.

You aren't making any sense. i just gave you facts. You are giving me ********.
 

WoodysGirl

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Witten’s role

As the Cowboys move to balance their attack by running the ball more, something will have to give in the passing game.

That something could be a decline in the number of receptions for perennial Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten, who has been quarterback Tony Romo’s most trusted and prolific target for much of the past decade. He has had seven consecutive seasons of 73 or more catches and 10 consecutive with 64 or more.

“We want more consistency in our offense,” Witten said. “We want to run the ball, and everything falls after that.”

Witten acknowledges when the Cowboys do pass in this season that getting the ball to game-breaking receiver Dez Bryant will be the primary focus because he “is such a huge playmaker.”

Witten is secure with his place in history as the Cowboys’ all-time leading receiver and a possible Hall of Fame candidate as a tight end.

“I want to be the best player I can be and have high expectations, but at the same time I want to win football games,” Witten said.


Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/09/04/6093408/cowboys-notes-marinelli-calls.html#storylink=cpy
 

dfense

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Doubt he does that Sunday but he will get there eventually.

FWIW he will get into the HOF but prolly not 1st ballot.

He's an 11 time Pro Bowler.
#2 all time tight end in receptions.
Iron man longest current starting streak.

He's a lock 1st time.
 

Galian Beast

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I hate when people say something and then backtrack and make it even worse by not making any sense.

Never said Gates wasn't going to make it. I just said that Witten has more yards, receptions. And stating Gonzalez will, well no freaking **** of course he will. He owns every TE record so please tell us something we don't know which i know is extremely difficult for you.

And you keep focusing on TD's that isn't the only standard used to judge a receiver or TE. Gronk has been hurt a lot so great he scores TD's but longevity, yards, receptions, Pro Bowls, All Pros mean much more. He's had 1 1000 yard season, started 16 games once. He's got a long way to go.

You aren't making any sense. i just gave you facts. You are giving me bull****.


Reading is fundamental.

I never said you made any claim about Gates not making it. My point was that Gates will enter before Witten, and the HoF isn't about to induct 4 or 5 tight ends into the nfl in the next 15-20 years... Gonzalez is getting in before Witten and so is Gates. The voters will look at the overall landscape and Witten is going to have a hard time making the cut.

TD isn't the only standard, but the fact that he is so behind in it, hurts his chances.

I didn't backtrack at all.
 

mldardy

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Reading is fundamental.

I never said you made any claim about Gates not making it. My point was that Gates will enter before Witten, and the HoF isn't about to induct 4 or 5 tight ends into the nfl in the next 15-20 years... Gonzalez is getting in before Witten and so is Gates. The voters will look at the overall landscape and Witten is going to have a hard time making the cut.

TD isn't the only standard, but the fact that he is so behind in it, hurts his chances.

I didn't backtrack at all.
It definitely is for you. Pointing out that Gates will make it before Witten isn't groundbreaking news. That is pretty much for sure. Pointing out Gonzalez gets in before Witten most definitely isn't news. Gonzalez is a 1st ballot HOFer. My point is what were you trying to gain by stating those two obvious things. Also I just gave you FACTS that stated Witten will not have a hard time making the cut. And the NFL most certainly can induct 4 or 5 tight ends in the next 15-20 years. There is a thing called noticing the era those tight ends played in changed the way the position is being played and recognizing the best of the best. Witten definitely fits in that category. Going by the way TE's got in the past is not indicative of what will happen in the future because the TE position has evolved in the last 10-15 years. Get out of the mindset that 'well only a few TE's got in so it will stay that way' That's ridiculous to think that way.
 

dfense

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I don't care if he gets 461, Witten is not a HOF player.

In fact he along with : Can't win any big games Tony" are the definitions of "compilers"

I'd take Jay Novacek over Witten twice on Sunday.

Dan Marino....compiler?
 

Galian Beast

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It definitely is for you. Pointing out that Gates will make it before Witten isn't groundbreaking news. That is pretty much for sure. Pointing out Gonzalez gets in before Witten most definitely isn't news. Gonzalez is a 1st ballot HOFer. My point is what were you trying to gain by stating those two obvious things. Also I just gave you FACTS that stated Witten will not have a hard time making the cut. And the NFL most certainly can induct 4 or 5 tight ends in the next 15-20 years. There is a thing called noticing the era those tight ends played in changed the way the position is being played and recognizing the best of the best. Witten definitely fits in that category. Going by the way TE's got in the past is not indicative of what will happen in the future because the TE position has evolved in the last 10-15 years. Get out of the mindset that 'well only a few TE's got in so it will stay that way' That's ridiculous to think that way.

No, I was pointing out the obvious that you were ignorning. Tight ends as a whole have become more productive in this era, but the hall of fame still doesn't induct many players in. I think you're overlooking that.

You've got a total of 280 players. Only a few players go in per year, and that probably won't change.
 

dfense

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If left up to some posters here, Witten would be inactive or riding the bench in favor of Escobar, Dunbar or Williams. Whitten is old and slow, don't you see.

Old and slow 2013 Pro Bowler
 
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