In the last several days, the talk around the Dallas Cowboys has centered around the future of Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten with him contemplating retiring after 15 years for a lead analyst job for ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage. Much of this has given the inclination that Witten is leaning toward taking the gig at some point in the near future.

However, there has been some chatter that the team is hoping to talk the 35-year-old into continuing his NFL career. Team vice president Stephen Jones stated that the Cowboys have not attempted to convince Witten into playing next season, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram.

Jones said the Cowboys have resisted trying to talk Witten into playing because of the commitment it takes to play the game. They want it to be his decision.

“We struggle with that,” Jones said. “You don’t want to talk someone into something. This is a tough game. I learned a lot from Coach Bill Parcells. You have to be all in to play this game. You want to him to do what’s in the best interest of him and his family. We don’t need to be selfish.

“We support what's best in for him. We don’t need to be talking him into something. He knows we are a much better football team with him. We would love to have him. At the same time, we are going to be so supportive of him.”

Aside from what previous reports have stated, the Cowboys are clearly looking to give Witten all the space he needs to make a sound decision. He is set to enter the first year of his four-year, $29.5 million extension that he signed last season with the team.

There is clearly interest on their side of things to have him on the team as one of the central pieces of the puzzle offensively. It also helps that he is still playing at a high level that should see him once again be one of the primary targets in the passing game for quarterback Dak Prescott.

Ultimately, this is a decision that Witten will make separate from the team that the organization sounds like they will respect either way he goes.