The leading conversation around the Dallas Cowboys on Friday morning involved the potential retirement of Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten after 15 seasons. All of this has come about now due to his significant interest in taking a lead analyst position for ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast team next season.
Witten has been in the running for the position this offseason and looks to be a serious candidate to snag the job. With that in mind, the 35-year-old has spoken to team owner Jerry Jones, who has voiced that there has yet to be a final decision on retirement from the star tight end, according to Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News.
Jerry Jones: I've talked to Jason Witten several times this week, met with him a few hours ago and we've had great discussions. He has some things to think about and discuss with his family and he'll need a few more days of consideration. No final decision made on retirement.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) April 27, 2018
Prior to that meeting, there had been a growing notion that Witten had already made his mind up to step away from the game. Jones has likely made a strong pitch to continue playing as he previously stated that he wanted to keep going until he was 40-years-old.
There is also the fact that Witten is set to enter the first year of his restructured four-year, $29.5 million deal that he signed last offseason that runs through the 2021 season. He is also still playing at a high level after putting together another strong year where he recorded 63 catches for 560 receiving yards and five touchdowns while playing in all 16 regular season games for the 14th consecutive year. He has notched more than 60 catches and more than 550 receiving yards in each campaign over that span.
Ultimately, this entire situation looks like it should finally have clarity at some point over the next few days. There is a clear desire from Jones and the Cowboys to have the Pro Bowler still in the fray, but that choice lies solely in his hands.
Regardless if he continues to play or calls it a career, Witten has put together a historic tenure in the NFL that could land in him the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.
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