Cowboys’ Witten gets no respect

By Carlos Zepeda  |   Friday, June 22, 2007  |  Comments( 6 )

Dallas Cowboys
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The Dallas Cowboys' Jason Witten has been a Pro Bowl tight end for the last three years. He has played the part of blocker and receiver in an offense that doesn't look for the tight end in every red-zone appearance, and he's had to share catches with some of the best receivers in the game throughout his career. So why is he not mentioned with the likes of Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez?

Sportsline.com columnist Pete Prisco released his annual Top 50 NFL players list and the only two tight ends to make it were Gates (23rd) and Gonzalez (46th). The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Witten didn't even make the "Just Missed" list of players.

Gates and Gonzalez are arguably two of the best tight ends in the game right now, because they put up monster numbers. Gates entered the league the same year as Witten which makes him a better comparison. Gonzalez had been making Pro Bowl rosters before those two were in high school.

Gates gets all the attention because of his touchdown totals. In four years with the Chargers, he has produced 34 TDs to Witten's 14.

Witten, a 2003 third-round pick, doesn't put up the same numbers as Gates and Gonzalez for one simple reason: He is not the only receiver on his team. Gates and Gonzalez have had the luxury of not having a decent receiver on their roster over the years in San Diego and Kansas City, respectively.

Over the last four years Gonzalez has split catches with the formidable trio of Johnnie Morton (now retired), Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker. Gates had it easier with David Boston, Keenan McCardell and Eric Parker.

Both Gates and Gonzalez have been the No. 1 option in their respective offenses. Gonzalez has been the entire passing offense for Kansas City in his career, while Witten has been forced to compete with Antonio Bryant, Terry Glenn, Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens.

The 25-year-old Witten has never been the top pass-catching option for Dallas, yet he still averages 63 receptions, 709.5 yards and 3.5 touchdowns a season. Gates, meanwhile, has averaged 66 grabs, 844.5 yards and 8.5 TDs. Over the last four seasons Gonzalez has averaged 81 catches, 994.75 yards and six touchdowns.

In no way is this column intended to take anything away from Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates. They are both top-flight tight ends, and Gonzalez is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. But face it, they have both been the beneficiaries of systems that feature them as the No. 1 receiving target both in and out of the red zone.

If you put either of those guys on teams that focus on the wide receiver, their numbers might be more similar to NFC East TEs like Witten, Jeremy Shockey and L.J. Smith.

So to all those who consider themselves experts, give Witten his due and at least consider him the third-best tight end in the NFL.

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CommentsComments: 6  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
warren		10:59 AM
06/22/2007
Agreed, if you look at complete tight ends Witten may be the best overall with good blocking to go with recieving. Gates isn't...
No.2
Sey		11:20 AM
06/22/2007
I think third place belongs to Todd Heap. Witten might be fourth. However, if Kellen Winslow Jr. can stay healthy....
No.3
Eric Silva		01:36 PM
06/23/2007
Witten is the most complete tightend in the NFL. if those other 2 actually had wide recievers on their teams they wouldnt put up...
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