Witten needs to retire

[heir]

I think the blame should be less on Witten and more on the front office who can't seem to find a reasonable replacement.

 

[Bleu Star]

The guy had a horrible year where he only avg 35 yards a game and a liitle over 8 yards a catch. We need more production and speed out of that position, Witten could never do what Ertz did last night. Now I know one poster here who thinks its irrational for us fans to want to replace Wittens production, because players run up to him after a game and show him respect.lol At this point in his career, Dallas needs to move on or Witten needs to retire.

It totally agree here. I hope within my heart of hearts that he does finally decide to retire. While he is still great for 3-5 yards, YAC is virtually non-existent nowadays from the TE position. It's a level of complexity that our offense lacks.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

Witten's "Leadership" and "Legacy" is quickly getting outpaced by his lack of ability. Unless his role/paycheck is reduced, he needs to go. Having Witten eat up 100% of the TE1 snaps is killing this offense and is starting to look selfish. It's not entirely Witten's fault, though. The coaches have not and will not allow another TE to compete for that TE1 spot. This whole "Everyone competes" mantra from Garrett is BS when it comes to certain positions.

 

[ZekeTrain]

I don't think he needs to retire but he should not be the defacto starter any more. I don't know if we have simply failed at replacing him or if he has been gifted the never ending starters role but there is still plenty he can provide this team as the 2nd or 3rd TE. We clearly need a threat at the TE position.

 

[9of11]

I like me some Witten but he's more of a novelty now of days gone by. I hate to see him go but he's become more of a problem than a solution for our offense. We need a play making, stretch the field Tight End more than ever now. After last night, its more than obvious we need another Tight End. I'm just afraid we are going to spend countless draft picks on tight ends that dont pan out. It took the cowboys 7 years from Novacek retiring in 1997 to finding Witten in 2003 draft. And we had some bad choices in the draft trying to get us another Tight End.

In parenthesis are the Tight Ends who were on the roster during those years.

1997 – David Lafleur 2nd rd 22nd pick (Scott Galbraith, Eric Bjornson, David Lafleur)

1998 – Roderick Monroe 7th rd 48th pick (Eric Bjornson, Hayward Clay, David Lafleur)

1999 – Mike Lucky 7th 23rd pick (Eric Bjornson, David Lafleur, Mike Lucky, Ryan Neufeld)

2000 – No Tight End pick. (Jackie Harris, David Lafleur, OJ Santiago, James Whalen)

2001 – No Tight End pick. (Jackie Harris, Mike Lucky, Johnny Huggins, Randall Williams)

2002 – Bob Slowikowski 6th 39th pick. (Tony McGee, Mike Lucky, James Whalen, Randal Williams)

2003 - BINGO!, THE SURVEY SAYS! Jason Witten 3rd rd 5th pick. BAM! We hit with a Tight End.

So with our history of drafting Tight Ends, I'm a bit worried with the Cowboys trying to draft a replacement for Witten.

 

[Sydla]

I had high hopes for LaFleur.

 

[remdak]

I agree
As soon as we get a 1 that’s better than him
Hopefully Rico is that guy or we don’t have that guy

Considering that Rico hasn't practiced since the injury, I wonder if he will ever amount to much. Basically, a wasted year for him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Rico should finally be recovered and he is a player who can be a big thread downfield. Love his size.

 

[Idgit]

What is this weird tendency to eat our own when things don't go right? Witten's an all-time great. He should play until he wants to quit or we have a better player on the roster. There wasn't a better TE on the roster than Jason Witten last season.

Of all the issues with this team, TE isn't even on my list. Unless it's tremendous value (like Witten was back in his draft), I'd hate to blow a top 100 pick on a TE when we've got so many more obvious needs. And there isn't a guy in the draft after the top 100 who has a chance of coming in and unseating Jason as a rookie.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The guy had a horrible year where he only avg 35 yards a game and a liitle over 8 yards a catch. We need more production and speed out of that position, Witten could never do what Ertz did last night. Now I know one poster here who thinks its irrational for us fans to want to replace Wittens production, because players run up to him after a game and show him respect.lol At this point in his career, Dallas needs to move on or Witten needs to retire.

but that's the problem though. Jerry doesn't have the balls to get rid of old player. he hangs on to them out of loyalty. even the niners, at one point forced Montana and Rice to leave. Parcells was the only coach who had the balls to tell emmitt smith, you are done here..... we hang on for far too long. Witten maybe a good back up, a good mentor, but he is starting and he is way way way past his prime.

 

[OmerV]

No way Witten needs to retire. He isn't the elite TE he once was, but he still has great hands and can block. The key is simply for the team to give him a diminished role in favor of someone who is younger and can do more than Witten is capable of at this point in his career. Witten would still be a big asset in 2 TE sets.

 

[Hardline]

Why does our best TE need to retire?
Who are you going to replace him with?
Please think about it before making these statements.

 

[CyberB0b]

What is this weird tendency to eat our own when things don't go right? Witten's an all-time great. He should play until he wants to quit or we have a better player on the roster. There wasn't a better TE on the roster than Jason Witten last season.

Of all the issues with this team, TE isn't even on my list. Unless it's tremendous value (like Witten was back in his draft), I'd hate to blow a top 100 pick on a TE when we've got so many more obvious needs. And there isn't a guy in the draft after the top 100 who has a chance of coming in and unseating Jason as a rookie.

He had a $12.2M cap hit in 2017, the highest in the league amongst TEs. In 2018, it will still be $6.5M. If Dez needs to take a pay cut, so does Witten.

 

[MCMetal69]

Should Beasley retire too? He's slower, but defenses were clogging the middle of the field because Dak can't attack the sidelines. We don't even run route that way unless it is a go route.

When Dak can be consistent attacking the sideline 10-20 yards down field is when this offense is going to shine.

But see , that's the problem ; Witten is incapable at his age now of getting 10-20 yards upfield , unless you're timing him with a calendar..........The Boys need a 25 year old TE who can attack the seam(s) , which will open things up for Beasley.............................

 

[Whyjerry]

Jason Witten is not to blame for last season. Huge leadership void when he goes. Plus he still makes plays. Want to blame someone try the moronic GM, or the in way over his head head coach, or the offensive coordinator with the JV scheme, or the pea brained WR1 that can't get open or the immature RB that the team has built around. Those guys are the primary issues in Dallas not a sure fire HOF TE that may have slipped a bit. Witten is still a good player.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Stats are evil. People watching the super bowl should clearly see that those two qbs were throwing on a different level than Duk, but you know some bean counter will point out some rating or passer thingy to show that Duk is on par.
During the game peeps were commenting Brady or Foles are dinking and dunking and then pow Brady launches a 40yd pass or pow foles launches of a couple of 20+ yders in air.

Same goes for witten. His stats are misleading. He's serviceable but no longer elite in terms of a dangerous offensive weapon.

You show me all the dang lists you want. He's a safe security blanket nothing more. He's going to be in HOF and deservingly so but right now he's not a playmaking machine.

 

[robjay04]

I think he still could play a huge role for us but he doesn't need to be the featured guy anymore.

Also, it would help us later on in the season having a fresher Witten.

But Dallas will be stupid i'm sure and depend completely on him.

On 3rd and less than 5..he is still an excellent option.

So sick of seeing him catch a 6 yard pass on 3rd and 8 with no chance to turn up field. I would also like a tight end that defenses fear that he can get behind you. That would open up even more for our running game. If Witten fakes that he is running a route on a delayed handoff, a linebacker will never have to turn his shoulders.

 

[Ranching]

The guy had a horrible year where he only avg 35 yards a game and a liitle over 8 yards a catch. We need more production and speed out of that position, Witten could never do what Ertz did last night. Now I know one poster here who thinks its irrational for us fans to want to replace Wittens production, because players run up to him after a game and show him respect.lol At this point in his career, Dallas needs to move on or Witten needs to retire.

Why should he retire? If he's not good enough they need to cut him. Witten would have had a much better year playing for a coach like Pederson, instead he's stuck with Garrett like the rest of us!

 

[TheCoolFan]

We either need a great TE or a great #1 WR. Right now, we have neither.

 

[Idgit]

He had a $12.2M cap hit in 2017, the highest in the league amongst TEs. In 2018, it will still be $6.5M. If Dez needs to take a pay cut, so does Witten.

Maybe. I have no issue with him being asked to take a pay cut.

His cap hit last year was accounting for what the team had done with his salaries previously, not anything relating to what he actually got paid. And it was significantly higher than his cap hit has been historically.

FWIW, the $6.5MM for next year would put him 15th in the league for the year in terms of AAV. Right between Vance McDonald and Jack Doyle.