When should Jason Witten consider retirement?

[basstapp]

He should have quit/ retired two years ago. Here are the problems with Witten:

• He's slow
• He cannot break tackles
• He runs routes 1-2 yards short of the first down marker in hopes of getting YAC but hardly ever gets them
• He's good for 1-2 false starts a game
• He's a progress stopper for other TE's

And im disturbed that he has neglected his physical fitness. Compare his physique to Vernon Davis. Smh

Did you just compare witten to the physical specimen Vernon Davis, the 2nd string te in denver....

 

[percyhoward]

When we played the Patriots this year, their plan was to take Jason Witten out of the game.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

We can all agree Witten isn't what he used to be. He's still very solid and reliable, but when should he call it quits. When would you want a different starting tight end. Witten wants to play until his late 30's, but would it be better for the team to have a big play te. I personally want Jason to get a super bowl as the starter.

I can't agree on anything that reads "he isn't what he used to be"... Who is?

STILL very effective. He produces.

He should quit after the back to backers like Elway

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

He should have quit/ retired two years ago. Here are the problems with Witten:

• He's slow
• He cannot break tackles
• He runs routes 1-2 yards short of the first down marker in hopes of getting YAC but hardly ever gets them
• He's good for 1-2 false starts a game
• He's a progress stopper for other TE's

And im disturbed that he has neglected his physical fitness. Compare his physique to Vernon Davis. Smh

Vernon Davis is one of the biggest busts of all time at tight end lol. And what on earth is wrong with Wittens physical fitness? He's the most durable tight end in the league. Vernon surely isn't.

 

[KJJ]

Obviously, there's a difference in the ages and time left possibly playing in the league for the two players. That doesn't mean the Skins have a leg up on us at QB.

Two years is a lifetime in the NFL. I'd also disagree that Romo has a downward arrow just because he broke a collarbone on a tackle that would have sidelined any QB in the league. Romo's capable of playing QB in this league at the highest level. Cousins is going to cash in a huge contract on the basis of one decent season.

We were hearing similar stories of impending doom re: RG3 just a few seasons back. Now the guys angling to be our backup.

They'll have a leg up if Cousins continues to develop the way he has and Romo continues to miss games due to injury. The fact that Cousins is 9 years younger than Romo and is reaching his prime while Romo is suffering injuries which has the team contemplating taking a QB with their first pick does give Washington an advantage right now when looking into the future. They did win the NFC East primarily due to the steady play of Cousins while the Cowboys finished in the basement due mostly to their QB situation. Besides the injuries Romo had a pretty rough season in the games he played. He was awful vs Carolina and only tossed 5 TD's compared to 7 int's this season and also lost a fumble. His 79.4 passer rating was by far the lowest of his career. When injuries start frequently occurring with an older player decline usually isn't far behind.

RG3's situation was a lot different than with Cousins he got off to a great start his rookie year and a knee injury that year contributed to his steady decline. While RG3 got worse over the years Cousins has developed and improved every season. He completed almost 70% of his passes this season with almost 4200 yards and 26 TD's and 11 int's. He finished 2015 with a passer rating of 101.6. Cousins has a good head on his shoulders you can see that in his interviews and although the jury is still out on him he has the appearance of a QB who could have a very solid career.

Anytime a team is thinking QB with a top 5 pick there's concern with their current starter and for their future. While Washington may have their QB of the future the Cowboys are going to have to start looking for one and having a top 5 pick doesn't guarantee they'll find their answer as the Commanders can attest to with RG3. This is an uncomfortable time for the Cowboys because with Romo aging and missing games the past 3 seasons the future appears uncertain. There's issues with the team that extend far past the QB position.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We can all agree Witten isn't what he used to be. He's still very solid and reliable, but when should he call it quits.

Whenever he feels like it. I'm in no hurry.

 

[Idgit]

They'll have a leg up if Cousins continues to develop the way he has and Romo continues to miss games due to injury. The fact that Cousins is 9 years younger than Romo and is reaching his prime while Romo is suffering injuries which has the team contemplating taking a QB with their first pick does give Washington an advantage right now when looking into the future. They did win the NFC East primarily due to the steady play of Cousins while the Cowboys finished in the basement due mostly to their QB situation. Besides the injuries Romo had a pretty rough season in the games he played. He was awful vs Carolina and only tossed 5 TD's compared to 7 int's this season and also lost a fumble. His 79.4 passer rating was by far the lowest of his career. When injuries start frequently occurring with an older player decline usually isn't far behind.

RG3's situation was a lot different than with Cousins he got off to a great start his rookie year and a knee injury that year contributed to his steady decline. While RG3 got worse over the years Cousins has developed and improved every season. He completed almost 70% of his passes this season with almost 4200 yards and 26 TD's and 11 int's. He finished 2015 with a passer rating of 101.6. Cousins has a good head on his shoulders you can see that in his interviews and although the jury is still out on him he has the appearance of a QB who could have a very solid career.

Anytime a team is thinking QB with a top 5 pick there's concern with their current starter and for their future. While Washington may have their QB of the future the Cowboys are going to have to start looking for one and having a top 5 pick doesn't guarantee they'll find their answer as the Commanders can attest to with RG3. This is an uncomfortable time for the Cowboys because with Romo aging and missing games the past 3 seasons the future appears uncertain. There's issues with the team that extend far past the QB position.

Eventually, if one guy continues to get better, and the other guy starts to get worse, you're right, they'll then inevitably have an advantage.

If, and if. Right now, QB is a huge advantage in our favor.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Back when the cowboys cared. They didnt let themselves go. Worked hard in practice an i the weight room. Conditioning!





Now i liked how jay ran after the catch, hurdled dudes, juked dudes.

 

[KJJ]

Eventually, if one guy continues to get better, and the other guy starts to get worse, you're right, they'll then inevitably have an advantage.

If, and if. Right now, QB is a huge advantage in our favor.

I don't see where QB is a huge advantage for us right now with our QB who's going to be 36 coming off a rough injury plagued season and the talk swirling that we may use our 4th overall pick on a QB. The one guy who's likely to continue getting better is Cousins due to his youth and the fact that has gotten significantly better the past 2 seasons.

Romo's best days are behind him all we can hope for is that he can stay healthy and maintain a high level of play until we find his replacement. The last thing we want is to be left empty handed at the position like were were in 2000 which led to some very lean years trying to find a QB.

 

[Silver N Blue]

Oh please. If we can talk about Romo's eventual heir and retirement, we sure as heck can talk about Witten's. And what does Witten being a class act have to do with the subject anyway?

Anyway, I still think he has another season or two. He's still playing at a consistent enough level for the time being, IMO.

Class act by the way he plays, leads, and represents off the field. Agree with your last point he probably has a couple of good years left.

 

[BigStar]

Blah, blah, blah.

Not when he is the #2 receiving target in this offense? He will be a HOF TE but not let homerism fool us into thinking we couldn't do better. Change the scheme so that the #2 WR gets the targetts Witten gets and would be just fine with that scheme change as well and allow Witten to retire with the team when he is ready (hopefully at reduced cost/team friendly).

Most TEs coming out of college can't block; don't rely on them to block but instead create mismatches, spread the field, use draws, etc. We have the OL to bulldoze but also the luxury of them having the athleticism to get out in space to make blocks some OL couldn't (Free excluded). When needed, the lack of complete TEs makes that a hard scheme to accomplish power running game/high 3rd down version rate) .

 

[BigStar]

I just wanted to make sure everyone understands this thread is not about Witten retiring soon, it's about how long do you think he has, Witten said age 39-40 and I wanted to see who would be ok with that.

How many other TEs have proven that to be a realistic expectation? But to answer your question I hope this is his last year in any meaningful capacity and even that is just coming from loyalty/his own health/pride, etc.

 

[mattjames2010]

He certainly shouldn't retire yet. Witten can still be valuable due to his blocking skills and has good hands (Even though he loves tipping balls into the air that almost or do turn into INTs)

BUT his playing time should decrease while we usher in our future TE.

 

[BigStar]

When we played the Patriots this year, their plan was to take Jason Witten out of the game.

Just a variable, etc.
qbs tends to go to Witten on first look, why wouldn't they scheme around that? We won't get into why they weren't worried about passing down the field and why the #1 target was a TE whose name isn't Gronk when it insinuates lack of aggression on behalf of the O (JG scheme)?

 

[yimyammer]

Does Witten really have a beer gut now?

lol, thats what I was wondering, I don't think thats true

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Never said they did. Big difference between upstart and Romo. But nobody can deny they have a head start on their future at the QB position. Good thing they took both RGIII and Cousins. That's being proactive at a major position.

Romo, if he's upright, will hopefully continue to be what we saw in 2014. If not, we better draft our future QB in the first round this year. Ain't very often we suck bad enough to get the 4th overall pick in the NFL. Time to be proactive and stop with the excuses for not needing to draft a QB early.

They're about to back up the brinks on that upstart.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I think Witten and Tony will retire together so 5 more years.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

He should have quit/ retired two years ago. Here are the problems with Witten:

• He's slow
• He cannot break tackles
• He runs routes 1-2 yards short of the first down marker in hopes of getting YAC but hardly ever gets them
• He's good for 1-2 false starts a game
• He's a progress stopper for other TE's

And im disturbed that he has neglected his physical fitness. Compare his physique to Vernon Davis. Smh

Awful post, way to discount his career and contributions. Hes still a productive player.... even though he may not break out for 70 yard tds. He played through countless injuries this year, a true iron man

 

[khiladi]

Now compare Vernon Davis and Jason Wittens careers. Vernon Davis cant even surpass Owen Daniels

Is Romo throwing to him?

 

[waving monkey]

Who doesn't love Witten his perplexing. He moves the chains. His a security blanket
for Romo. We need the next Witten