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Gosselin: Despite numbers, Witten faces obstacles in quest to Hall of Fame
RICK GOSSELIN
rgosselin@dallasnews.com
OXNARD, Calif. — Jason Witten already has a presence in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His jersey and gloves have been on display in the Hall’s Pro Football Today Gallery — the jersey from his position-record 110 receptions in 2012 and the gloves for his position-record 18 catches in a game against the New York Giants.
But getting your apparel in Canton is one feat. Getting Witten himself into Canton will be a bit more challenging.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do, I know that,” Witten conceded after practice the other day.
Canton has already been in his thoughts. He’ll admit that.
Last summer, when the Cowboys visited Canton for their preseason opener, Witten and his teammates took a tour of the Hall. It was difficult not thinking thoughts of the Hall when you’re standing in front of a case with your jersey on display.
“That was a surreal moment,” Witten said. “I thought, ‘Man, if one day I could ever accomplish [the Hall] ...’ That would be the ultimate dream.”
Witten has to like the path he has forged thus far. His 879 career receptions rank 17th in NFL history among players at all positions. He has more catches than any current tight end, and only one tight end in history has more. Tony Gonzalez ranks second all-time with 1,325.
But Witten has two obstacles in his path to Canton.
First and foremost, it’s the position he plays.
The Hall of Fame selection committee doesn’t look favorably on tight ends. The position has been around for the better part of seven decades, yet there are only eight tight ends enshrined in Canton.
There has never been a first-ballot Hall of Fame tight end. John Mackey, who was selected to the NFL’s 50th anniversary team, had to wait 13 years for enshrinement.
Charlie Sanders, an all-decade tight end from the 1970s, had to wait 25 years. Dave Casper had to wait 15 and Jackie Smith 12. Shannon Sharpe retired after the 2003 season as the all-time leader among tight ends with 815 receptions but still had to wait three years for the Hall to invite him in.
Kellen Winslow, who won two NFL receiving titles, also had to wait three years. Todd Christensen won two receiving titles in the 1980s. He’s never even been discussed as a finalist and has been eligible for 22 years. Ben Coates was an all-decade tight end in the 1990s. He’s never been discussed as a finalist, either. His eligibility clock is ticking at 10 years.
Witten has never been on an all-decade team or won a receiving title.
The other issue Witten is fighting is the lack of team success. The Cowboys have never won a championship in his 11 seasons. Only once in his career has he participated in a postseason victory.
Like it or not, consciously or subconsciously, team success factors into a player’s worthiness with the selection committee. Seventy-three percent of Hall of Fame enshrinees won championships. That’s why there are 11 Packers from the 1960s and nine Steelers from the 1970s enshrined. First come the rings, then come the busts.
Witten has Hall of Fame toughness. He’s a throwback to the Iron Mike Ditka era, when players didn’t miss any practices or games. Witten has missed only one game in his career, playing through a broken jaw at one point and a lacerated spleen in another.
Witten has always been there for his team. Now he needs his team to be there for him.
Witten is only 32. He has plenty of time left to become a 1,000-catch receiver and possibly chase Gonzalez. And every catch he makes pads his franchise record for receptions. But Witten doesn’t play football to catch passes and set records. He plays to win games and championships.
“Ultimately, one’s legacy isn’t about catching 1,000 balls,” Witten said. “The gratification would come, in the end, in knowing that we were champions. That’s the ultimate legacy you want. There’s no question there’s a lot at stake. The urgency that I have at this point of my career is as high as it’s ever been.”
RICK GOSSELIN
rgosselin@dallasnews.com
OXNARD, Calif. — Jason Witten already has a presence in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His jersey and gloves have been on display in the Hall’s Pro Football Today Gallery — the jersey from his position-record 110 receptions in 2012 and the gloves for his position-record 18 catches in a game against the New York Giants.
But getting your apparel in Canton is one feat. Getting Witten himself into Canton will be a bit more challenging.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do, I know that,” Witten conceded after practice the other day.
Canton has already been in his thoughts. He’ll admit that.
Last summer, when the Cowboys visited Canton for their preseason opener, Witten and his teammates took a tour of the Hall. It was difficult not thinking thoughts of the Hall when you’re standing in front of a case with your jersey on display.
“That was a surreal moment,” Witten said. “I thought, ‘Man, if one day I could ever accomplish [the Hall] ...’ That would be the ultimate dream.”
Witten has to like the path he has forged thus far. His 879 career receptions rank 17th in NFL history among players at all positions. He has more catches than any current tight end, and only one tight end in history has more. Tony Gonzalez ranks second all-time with 1,325.
But Witten has two obstacles in his path to Canton.
First and foremost, it’s the position he plays.
The Hall of Fame selection committee doesn’t look favorably on tight ends. The position has been around for the better part of seven decades, yet there are only eight tight ends enshrined in Canton.
There has never been a first-ballot Hall of Fame tight end. John Mackey, who was selected to the NFL’s 50th anniversary team, had to wait 13 years for enshrinement.
Charlie Sanders, an all-decade tight end from the 1970s, had to wait 25 years. Dave Casper had to wait 15 and Jackie Smith 12. Shannon Sharpe retired after the 2003 season as the all-time leader among tight ends with 815 receptions but still had to wait three years for the Hall to invite him in.
Kellen Winslow, who won two NFL receiving titles, also had to wait three years. Todd Christensen won two receiving titles in the 1980s. He’s never even been discussed as a finalist and has been eligible for 22 years. Ben Coates was an all-decade tight end in the 1990s. He’s never been discussed as a finalist, either. His eligibility clock is ticking at 10 years.
Witten has never been on an all-decade team or won a receiving title.
The other issue Witten is fighting is the lack of team success. The Cowboys have never won a championship in his 11 seasons. Only once in his career has he participated in a postseason victory.
Like it or not, consciously or subconsciously, team success factors into a player’s worthiness with the selection committee. Seventy-three percent of Hall of Fame enshrinees won championships. That’s why there are 11 Packers from the 1960s and nine Steelers from the 1970s enshrined. First come the rings, then come the busts.
Witten has Hall of Fame toughness. He’s a throwback to the Iron Mike Ditka era, when players didn’t miss any practices or games. Witten has missed only one game in his career, playing through a broken jaw at one point and a lacerated spleen in another.
Witten has always been there for his team. Now he needs his team to be there for him.
Witten is only 32. He has plenty of time left to become a 1,000-catch receiver and possibly chase Gonzalez. And every catch he makes pads his franchise record for receptions. But Witten doesn’t play football to catch passes and set records. He plays to win games and championships.
“Ultimately, one’s legacy isn’t about catching 1,000 balls,” Witten said. “The gratification would come, in the end, in knowing that we were champions. That’s the ultimate legacy you want. There’s no question there’s a lot at stake. The urgency that I have at this point of my career is as high as it’s ever been.”
