Jason Witten Sees "Too Many Positives" To Consider Calling It A Career

lostxn

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Jason Witten Sees "Too Many Positives" To Consider Calling It A Career
Sunday, December 24, 2017 9:03 PM CST

By David Helman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas – In the wake of a season-ending loss, it’s hard not to think about the big picture – especially for someone who is finishing off a 15th NFL season.

Last year, following the Cowboys’ elimination from the playoffs, Jason Witten was emotional in discussing his future. Sunday night’s elimination loss to Seattle was similar – albeit with a bit more resolve that Witten’s playing career isn’t quite over.

“It’s a great question,” Witten said. “Every week I have an opportunity to break this team down, and I see too much positive – I really do. I feel too good to think that that would end. My intention is to keep playing.”

Witten finished with five catches for 39 yards in the 21-12 loss to the Seahawks, which puts him over the 60-catch marker for the 14th time in 15 seasons. He is on pace to finish with his lowest yardage total since his rookie year, but his five touchdowns tie his second-best mark in the last seven years.

Next week’s game in Philadelphia will be his 235th consecutive game, as he continues to add to a surefire Hall of Fame resume.

Impressive as all those numbers are, they won’t offset another disappointing finish for Witten, who was clearly emotional in talking to reporters after the game.

“Right now there’s just a lot of emotion with it. You go on this journey and this quest and nothing is guaranteed to you,” he said. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity and I see a lot of positive in our team, but as I’ve said, that margin is so dang tight. We weren’t able to capitalize. We fought hard, but we just weren’t able to get the results.”

The Cowboys signed Witten to a four-year extension this past offseason, so there shouldn’t be any concerns about his future other than his own desire to play. He’ll turn 36 in the spring, and his upcoming 16th season with the team would set a franchise record – making him the longest-tenured Cowboy in the organization’s history.

To hear it from Witten, no matter the disappointment of the moment, he’s not ready to call it a career just yet.

“There’s not always a fairy tale end, I realize that,” he said. “Nobody’s more critical of themselves than me, and I understand the expectation. But I see too many positives and I feel too good to think that it would end right now.”
 

1bigfan13

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I really wish he would take the DeMarcus Ware/Tony Gonzalez route and go to another team to finish his career. Just so he can have legit shot at competing for a championship.
 

boozeman

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I really wish he would take the DeMarcus Ware/Tony Gonzalez route and go to another team to finish his career. Just so he can have legit shot at competing for a championship.
If he were truly serious about wanting to win a Super Bowl he would do that instead of sit there, burrowed in like a tick and spouting off about how great the Cowboys are.

I don't know whether to admire him for being a stand up guy or question what exactly he is angling for.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Well we can save 7.4 mil if we cut him....

In all honesty though, can anyone say that what he gives us is worth 12 mil next year? I would love to keep Jason around in a reduced role splitting time with another TE. But that will never happen and we will never use a different TE significantly until Witten retires.
 

vince

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I really wish he would take the DeMarcus Ware/Tony Gonzalez route and go to another team to finish his career. Just so he can have legit shot at competing for a championship.
In all seriousness, do you think we're that far from having a really good team? I'm thinking we're 2-3 key positions away, especially with these rookie corners we drafted.
 

1bigfan13

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In all seriousness, do you think we're that far from having a really good team? I'm thinking we're 2-3 key positions away, especially with these rookie corners we drafted.
I don't see us being real contenders until Garrett and Jerry are both gone.

Also, we have a huge question mark at QB. We've seen flashes of greatness from Dak, so we know the potential is there but he lacks consistency.

I don't mind that he doesn't have the ceiling of an elite QB but his lows are way too low.
 

1bigfan13

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Well we can save 7.4 mil if we cut him....

In all honesty though, can anyone say that what he gives us is worth 12 mil next year? I would love to keep Jason around in a reduced role splitting time with another TE. But that will never happen and we will never use a different TE significantly until Witten retires.
I know people will view talk like this as an attack on Witten but these are honest discussions that need to take place at Cowboys HQ. Most sane organizations do this all the time.

Antonio Gates and the Chargers for instance. Gates has been just as much of a franchise staple for San Diego as Witten has been for the Cowboys yet San Diego was smart enough to remove Gates from the starting lineup and increase the roles of their younger guys.

Anyone think Dallas would do this with Witten? I don't.

Again, this isn't an attack on Witten. This is just me looking at the roster as a whole and identifying positions where we should be looking to upgrade. I know Witten is far from our main problem on offense, but he's one of the guys I'd actively look to phase out if I were serious about putting a more explosive product on the field.
 

vince

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I know people will view talk like this as an attack on Witten but these are honest discussions that need to take place at Cowboys HQ. Most sane organizations do this all the time.

Antonio Gates and the Chargers for instance. Gates has been just as much of a franchise staple for San Diego as Witten has been for the Cowboys yet San Diego was smart enough to remove Gates from the starting lineup and increase the roles of their younger guys.

Anyone think Dallas would do this with Witten? I don't.

Again, this isn't an attack on Witten. This is just me looking at the roster as a whole and identifying positions where we should be looking to upgrade. I know Witten is far from our main problem on offense, but he's one of the guys I'd actively look to phase out if I were serious about putting a more explosive product on the field.
Just admit it. You hate Witten. Don't worry, Rico's time will come.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I don't see us being real contenders until Garrett and Jerry are both gone.

Also, we have a huge question mark at QB. We've seen flashes of greatness from Dak, so we know the potential is there but he lacks consistency.

I don't mind that he doesn't have the ceiling of an elite QB but his lows are way too low.
His rookie year was pretty darn consistent. This past year was anything but. I think he would really benefit from a new offensive coordinator. I look at McVay and what he has been able to do for Jared Goff and I feel like an upper echelon offensive coordinator could do great things for Dak. But Garrett and Linehan's offense has become stale and way too predictable. And neither guy is capable of scheming receivers open. Everything seems predicated on Dez beating the opposite teams top corner. It's destined for failure.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Again, this isn't an attack on Witten. This is just me looking at the roster as a whole and identifying positions where we should be looking to upgrade. I know Witten is far from our main problem on offense, but he's one of the guys I'd actively look to phase out if I were serious about putting a more explosive product on the field.
If we had explosive guys all over the field it might be different. But Witten's 8.9 yards per catch just isn't going to get it done when we have WR's who are not capable of stretching the field at all.

I'm starting to not be a huge fan of Beasley either. Seems like every time he runs a route, even a crossing route there is a guy right on his ass. His quickness has been neutralized because everyone knows what routes he is going to run. And frankly he just doesn't have the long speed to beat corners when running those crossing routes. His hole advantage is being a slick route runner but defenses have definitely figured him out. But ultimately this may be our coaches as well. I think they give away 90% of our plays by the formation we have out there. When you go from empty backfield on one play to 3 TEs and Dez being your only WR, things tend to get a bit stale.
 

Rev

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So our list for the off-season includes:

Owner
GM
HC
OC
DC
Wr or WRs
TE
Safety
Run stuffing DT
Depth at OL
Heath at LB

Fill out the wishlist.....
 

1bigfan13

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If we had explosive guys all over the field it might be different. But Witten's 8.9 yards per catch just isn't going to get it done when we have WR's who are not capable of stretching the field at all.

I'm starting to not be a huge fan of Beasley either. Seems like every time he runs a route, even a crossing route there is a guy right on his ass. His quickness has been neutralized because everyone knows what routes he is going to run. And frankly he just doesn't have the long speed to beat corners when running those crossing routes. His hole advantage is being a slick route runner but defenses have definitely figured him out. But ultimately this may be our coaches as well. I think they give away 90% of our plays by the formation we have out there. When you go from empty backfield on one play to 3 TEs and Dez being your only WR, things tend to get a bit stale.
Good points. We have way too many receivers who are "specialists". That's part of the reason why it's so easy to defend the Cowboys' offense. You know Beasley is likely only running underneath routes. You know Butler will only run go routes and fades. Same with Dez. Etc.

I mentioned in the game day thread that it's pretty sad that Terrence Williams is probably our most well-rounded WR in terms of route combos. Right behind him it's starting to look like Brown might be our most versatile WR.
 

Rev

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If we had explosive guys all over the field it might be different. But Witten's 8.9 yards per catch just isn't going to get it done when we have WR's who are not capable of stretching the field at all.

I'm starting to not be a huge fan of Beasley either. Seems like every time he runs a route, even a crossing route there is a guy right on his ass. His quickness has been neutralized because everyone knows what routes he is going to run. And frankly he just doesn't have the long speed to beat corners when running those crossing routes. His hole advantage is being a slick route runner but defenses have definitely figured him out. But ultimately this may be our coaches as well. I think they give away 90% of our plays by the formation we have out there. When you go from empty backfield on one play to 3 TEs and Dez being your only WR, things tend to get a bit stale.
Beasley is getting squeezed because our coach is too predictable. Well that and the WRs don't really demand attention.
 

VA Cowboy

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So our list for the off-season includes:

Owner
GM
HC
OC
DC
Wr or WRs
TE
Safety
Run stuffing DT
Depth at OL
Heath at LB

Fill out the wishlist.....
Yeah, pretty much everything except RB and CB, assuming the rookies step up next year.
 

BipolarFuk

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I still saw Witten running wide open quite a few times this year while the supposed franchise qb was too busy looking to make has been Dez happy.

If Dez could run a fucking route half as good as Witten, he'd still be a 1000 yard double digit WR.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Beasley is getting squeezed because our coach is too predictable. Well that and the WRs don't really demand attention.
I just don't understand how he can run all the way across the field and still have a corner right on his ass but yet he always does. His lack of top speed is really starting to be concerning.

In case anyone is curious here are some names of the biggest cap savings if we cut them.

Zack Martin - 9.3 mil
Dez Bryant - 8.5 mil
Jason Witten - 6.5 mil
Cole Beasley - 3.25 mil
Sean Lee - 4 mil
Dan Bailey - 3.4 mil
Benson Mayowa - 2.75 mil
James Hannah - 2.75 mil
Tyrone Crawford - 1.8 mil (We are so upside down on his contract)
Byron Jones - 1.6 mil
Orlando Scandrick - 1.4 mil

Those are basically all of the guys that if you cut them you could save over a mil in salary. There are really two that stick out like sore thumbs.
 

VA Cowboy

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Beasley is getting squeezed because our coach is too predictable. Well that and the WRs don't really demand attention.
We have Dez who is no longer a threat. Pouts half the game and then drops passes and fumbles when he does get the ball. TWill who shows up maybe twice a year. Beasley is a poor mans Edelman who the coaches can't figure out how to use or adjust to the defenses.

In the meantime a team like the Steelers have three guys, AB, rookie JuJu and Bryant who are better than our #1. And even have Rogers and Hunter stepping up and making plays with AB out.

We definitely need an upgrade at WR but I don't have any faith in the GM finding better receivers or the staff in coaching or using them properly.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I still saw Witten running wide open quite a few times this year while the supposed franchise qb was too busy looking to make has been Dez happy.

If Dez could run a fucking route half as good as Witten, he'd still be a 1000 yard double digit WR.
Yeah Witten is still pretty good at finding soft spots in zones. He isn't outrunning anyone and he is dreadful after the catch but I still think he would be useful as a #2 TE.
 

1bigfan13

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I still saw Witten running wide open quite a few times this year while the supposed franchise qb was too busy looking to make has been Dez happy.

If Dez could run a fucking route half as good as Witten, he'd still be a 1000 yard double digit WR.
On that awful pick six that Dak threw, he missed Witten wide open over the middle. He was literally jumping waving his hand.

Would have been an easy 10-15 yard gain.
 

Cowboysrock55

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On that awful pick six that Dak threw, he missed Witten wide open over the middle. He was literally jumping waving his hand.

Would have been an easy 10-15 yard gain.
Yeah, he just never looked off the left side of the field. I think he really wanted to go to Dez there but he was covered well. The decision to throw to Zeke at that point was dumb though. Dak just looked panicky on that one though. Like he just expected the pressure to be there already.
 
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