Witten approaching 1000 career catches

[jazzcat22]

Jason Witten is approaching 1000 career receptions. He is 2nd in TE's only to Tony Gonzales who has 1325 and is at #2 all-time behind Jerry Rice of course.
Jason has 987 and currently is #11 all-time in receptions.

With 13 more he will tie Hines Ward at 1000. Next on the list is Isaac Bruce at #9 with 1024. He will need to average 4.625 catches per game to tie. I think with Tony coming back, this is a good possibility.

Just some appreciation and something positive for a future hall of fame Cowboys player.
At least we can root for this to happen, move him up the list.
T.O. is at #6 with 1078. Would be nice if Jason can move ahead of him at some point in the next few years.


http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_career.htm

 

[Rack]

I'm sure he'd give 'em all up for a ring.

 

[Amy50632]

Him and Tony deserve a ring.

 

[dallasdave]

Him and Tony deserve a ring.

I think they deserve 2 rings each !!!!

 

[Asklesko]

what a crap time to hit 1000

 

[perrykemp]

Jason Witten is approaching 1000 career receptions. He is 2nd in TE's only to Tony Gonzales who has 1325

Couple of thoughts:

1. Witten is utterly deserving of his eventual place in Canton. What a consummate pro -- on and off the field. The 1000 receptions just doubles down on his case for 1st ballot
2. My goodness I didn't realize Tony Gonzalez had 1325 catches. That's stunning. What makes it even more stunning he was still HIGHLY productive at the end -- the final year before he decided to hang it up he had 83 receptions for 859 yards and 8 TDs!

 

[sureletsrace]

What a pleasure it's been watching him haul in all of those passes. Top 5 TE in NFL history.

His Hall of Fame Induction Speech will be one for the ages.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

One of the best Cowboys ever and a true leader.

 

[dallasdave]

I'm sure he'd give 'em all up for a ring.

Well said indeed sir

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah, Tony G was amazing. His numbers just dwarf Witten's. He'd need to play another 5 years to hope to reach them.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Witten is a great TE, but I find it hard to call him a great leader, since he has same knock as romo. Only 2 career playoff wins

 

[AdamJT13]

Yeah, Tony G was amazing. His numbers just dwarf Witten's. He'd need to play another 5 years to hope to reach them.

Witten needs 13 more catches this season to surpass what Gonzalez had at the same age (33). He's on pace to finish with more catches this season than Gonzalez had at the same age. If Witten finishes this season with 1031 catches (which would happen if he has as many in the last eight games as he did in the first eight), he'd need to average 74 catches over the next four seasons to pass Gonzalez (or 59 over the next five).

Witten has been ahead of Gonzalez (and every other player -- including wide receivers) in NFL history for career catches at each age. So it's not like he has to be MORE productive than Gonzalez was into his mid- to late-30s to surpass him in career catches. He has been more productive all along. He'll just have to play as long as Gonzalez and not be too much less productive. (That's pretty much the opposite of everyone who was supposed to challenge Emmitt's record -- none of them were nearly as productive as Emmitt in their prime, so they would have to play longer and/or be MUCH more productive in their 30s to even come close to Emmitt's record.)

CAREER CATCHES THROUGH AGE 33 SEASON
1. Andre Johnson, 1,012
2. Tony Gonzalez, 999
3. Jason Witten, 987 (eight games remaining)

 

[RunDMC]

Greatest tight end ever. Love me some Jason Witten. Jerry should issue a public apology for wasting the careers of two all time greats. Him and Romo. Both belong in Canton and the Ring of Honor. Ware is right there with him as well. Sure Dez will be someday as well.

 

[bark]

Witten needs 13 more catches this season to surpass what Gonzalez had at the same age (33). He's on pace to finish with more catches this season than Gonzalez had at the same age. If Witten finishes this season with 1031 catches (which would happen if he has as many in the last eight games as he did in the first eight), he'd need to average 74 catches over the next four seasons to pass Gonzalez (or 59 over the next five).

Witten has been ahead of Gonzalez (and every other player -- including wide receivers) in NFL history for career catches at each age. So it's not like he has to be MORE productive than Gonzalez was into his mid- to late-30s to surpass him in career catches. He has been more productive all along. He'll just have to play as long as Gonzalez and not be too much less productive. (That's pretty much the opposite of everyone who was supposed to challenge Emmitt's record -- none of them were nearly as productive as Emmitt in their prime, so they would have to play longer and/or be MUCH more productive in their 30s to even come close to Emmitt's record.)

CAREER CATCHES THROUGH AGE 33 SEASON
1. Andre Johnson, 1,012
2. Tony Gonzalez, 999
3. Jason Witten, 987 (eight games remaining)

Adam enters the thread With a truth sandwich. Risen take a handy wipe, there's a little something on the corner of your lip.

 

[Joe Realist]

Jason Witten is approaching 1000 career receptions. He is 2nd in TE's only to Tony Gonzales who has 1325 and is at #2 all-time behind Jerry Rice of course.
Jason has 987 and currently is #11 all-time in receptions.

With 13 more he will tie Hines Ward at 1000. Next on the list is Isaac Bruce at #9 with 1024. He will need to average 4.625 catches per game to tie. I think with Tony coming back, this is a good possibility.

Just some appreciation and something positive for a future hall of fame Cowboys player.
At least we can root for this to happen, move him up the list.
T.O. is at #6 with 1078. Would be nice if Jason can move ahead of him at some point in the next few years.


http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_career.htm

Witten is the only hall of famer on this Cowboy team era. If he stays healthy, he could end up in To 3-5 all time at his retirement.

 

[tyke1doe]

Jason Witten is approaching 1000 career receptions. He is 2nd in TE's only to Tony Gonzales who has 1325 and is at #2 all-time behind Jerry Rice of course.
Jason has 987 and currently is #11 all-time in receptions.

Shouldn't it be ... He (Witten) is 2nd in TE's only to Tony Gonzales who has 1325 and is at #3 all-time behind Jerry Rice (and Gonzales) of course?

Forgive me, but I'm kind of a literalist when I read so that sentence threw me off, unless I'm reading it incorrectly.

As for the topic, Witten is a cinch to be elected into the Hall of Fame. I don't know if he'll get in first ballot (depending on his nominating class), but I think he should.

 

[tyke1doe]

Adam enters the thread With a truth sandwich. Risen take a handy wipe, there's a little something on the corner of your lip.

 

[tyke1doe]

I'm sure he'd give 'em all up for a ring.

This is an interesting comment. Think about it:

He's either the best or the best at his position. He's proven that over the years. Do you think he would give all that up just for a ring? And, I ask this from the perspective of players who have a ring merely by being on a Super Bowl winning-team's roster and contribute virtually nothing to the game of football and certainly aren't legends. They're easily forgotten but at least they exit the game with a ring.

Do you really think Witten would trade being just an average player (remove his stats from him and that, essentially, is what he would be in the eyes of NFL history) simply to win a Super Bowl ring?

Would you? Would I?

If the choice were being one of the greatest players at your position but not winning a Super Bowl ring vs. winning a Super Bowl ring but being the Eric Bjornson of NFL TEs as far as NFL history remembers you, which one would you take?

I don't know if that's necessarily as easy a choice as people seem to think it is.

 

[RunDMC]

This is an interesting comment. Think about it:

He's either the best or the best at his position. He's proven that over the years. Do you think he would give all that up just for a ring? And, I ask this from the perspective of players who have a ring merely by being on a Super Bowl winning-team's roster and contribute virtually nothing to the game of football and certainly aren't legends. They're easily forgotten but at least they exit the game with a ring.

Do you really think Witten would trade being just an average player (remove his stats from him and that, essentially, is what he would be in the eyes of NFL history) simply to win a Super Bowl ring?

Would you? Would I?

If the choice were being one of the greatest players at your position but not winning a Super Bowl ring vs. winning a Super Bowl ring but being the Eric Bjornson of NFL TEs as far as NFL history remembers you, which one would you take?

I don't know if that necessarily is as easy a choice as people seem to think it is.

Lol is this even a question? Seriously? Of course Witten would give it all up for a ring. This guy doesn't kill himself every year and training extensively and putting in extra work to put up big numbers. He does it because he wants to win above all else. I'm sure he appreciates being up there with the Sharpes and Gonazlez of the world, but he definitely trade it all for a Super Bowl. That's what it's all about. That's the peak, the pinnacle. The same is true for Romo. You think he keeps trying to come back from multiple back surgeries and all the other injuries because he loves putting up gaudy numbers. No it's about winning and winning alone.

 

[tyke1doe]

Witten is a great TE, but I find it hard to call him a great leader, since he has same knock as romo. Only 2 career playoff wins

I think you're being a little harsh. TEs aren't considered to be the same leaders as quarterbacks are expected to be.

Not too many people are going to knock a TE if he doesn't make the playoffs/Super Bowl. But they are if it's quarterback who is being argued as one of the greatest.