For much of his career in Dallas, Jason Witten has flown under the radar. Little of that has to do with his ability -- he's quietly one of the NFL's best tight ends -- but instead with the reality-show atmosphere created by owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
The 2003 third-round pick out of Tennessee has 898 career receptions and 52 touchdowns. In fact, Tony Romo considers Witten so valuable that he called the tight end one of the best ever to don a Cowboys uniform.
"He might be the best Dallas Cowboy of all time," Romo said. "Literally, his career has been exceptional. He's hit every mark you could ever have, and he's going to go down as the first- or second-greatest tight end of all time. I've just been lucky enough to play with him."
Tony Gonzalez will be the greatest pass-catching tight end of all time when he's officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in a few years, and Witten faces stiff competition for best ever Cowboys player too. There's Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, as well as the 12 other Cowboys currently enshrined in Canton: coach Tom Landry, general manager Tex Schramm, defensive tackle Bob Lilly, quarterback Roger Staubach, running back Tony Dorsett, defensive tackle Randy White, defensive back Mel Renfro, quarterback Troy Aikman, offensive tackle Rayfield Wright, wide receiver Michael Irvin, wide receiver Bob Hayes and cornerback Deion Sanders.
All of these men won at least one Super Bowl. As it stands, Romo and Witten have none, and neither has been to the playoffs since 2009. If Romo wants to make the case that Witten is the best teammate he's ever had, he might have a case. Best Cowboys player ever? Not even close and we say that with complete respect for Witten's sustained production during his 12-year career.
