Jason Witten’s drive hasn’t diminished after 15 years,
OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten hasn’t changed his approach in 15 years. His drive to be among the best remains as strong as ever.
Witten has been going through the repetitive and mundane drills of a training camp practice for years, but an outsider couldn’t tell. There is no lax mode when it comes to Witten.
He jogs onto the practice field every day when others might walk. He goes through every drill with intensity. He continues to be the veteran coaches tell the younger players to follow.
There’s no worry that his drive is waning as he enters the final stages of what many consider a Hall of Fame career.
“I don’t think it’s dwindled at all,” coach Jason Garrett said. “In fact, I think his drive is greater than it’s ever been.”
Witten, 35, is given “veteran” treatment by the coaching staff with a day off once a week. He’s among six veterans who didn’t practice Monday. But that has been earned throughout his career.
Witten already owns a handful of franchise records. He has the most career receptions (1,089), most consecutive games with a reception (130), most games started (213) and most consecutive games played (219). The list continues to grow.
He should add a couple of more early in the regular season. He’ll pass Michael Irvin for most receiving yards in franchise history — he is only 16 yards shy of tying Irvin’s record 11,904 — and is one game away from tying Ed Jones’ record of 224 games played.
Those numbers are why Witten already has Hall of Fame credentials. But Witten is more concerned about winning a Super Bowl, which has always been the underlying reason for his daily drive.
He’s not ready to walk away from the game quite yet, even though he’s seen friends DeMarcus Ware, Tony Romo and Doug Free do so just this past offseason.
“As I was reflecting, I was overwhelmed with joy knowing that this game provided relationships like that,” Witten said. “In saying that, I’m also excited about the new bonds I’ve been able to form and grow with that. It’s an interesting relationship that I find myself in with these guys. It’s a lot of fun. It really is.
“I think the common ground is that we love football, and the drive that we have to chase something special together is what I’ve enjoyed so much with this group.”
A coveted Super Bowl remains the priority. Witten, however, admitted the idea of being enshrined in Canton might creep in later this week when the Cowboys open their preseason Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game, with owner Jerry Jones being inducted into the Hall on Saturday.
“I’d be lying to say that’s not one of the things you hope as a player, you come in, that just to be mentioned with those guys is such an honor,”
Witten said. “I think I’ll have plenty of time to reflect on it, being there. That’s the highest honor, individually.
“Obviously we don’t play for that. But, individually, that’s what you hope you can be a part of. They don’t let anybody slip through the cracks.”
McCaffrey’s play creating a buzz
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Christian McCaffrey remembers running around his backyard as a young boy playing tackle football, dodging his brothers while pretending to be Barry Sanders.
All of those moves have paid off for the Panthers’ rookie running back.
McCaffrey created quite a buzz during his first week of training camp with veteran players and coaches raving about his athleticism and ability to make people miss. There hasn’t been this much anticipation from fans over a Panthers rookie since 2011 when quarterback Cam Newton was drafted No. 1 overall.
Panthers veteran running back Jonathan Stewart, who rarely heaps praise on anyone, said McCaffrey is “pretty unstoppable as a receiver coming out of the backfield.
“I can tell you now there’s not going to be anybody in this league that can cover him one-on-one,” Stewart said. “He’s a special player.”
But McCaffrey, who is no stranger to this setting — his father Ed played 12 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Denver Broncos and won three Super Bowls — seems at home on the football field and is taking the attention in stride.
“Anytime I’m on the football field, that’s my comfort zone,” McCaffrey said Tuesday. “That’s my safe place.”
He’s looked plenty comfortable despite missing almost all of OTAs and minicamp due to an NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement rule preventing college players from participating in those practices until their school has completed its final exams. Stanford finished later than most schools.
You’d never know he’s trying to make up for lost time.
McCaffrey already has shown a good grasp of the playbook and displayed what Stewart called a “deadly” first step.
Panthers three-time AllPro linebacker Luke Kuechly found out the hard way last week in practice.
While running a route over the middle McCaffrey put one foot in the ground, then shifted in the other direction in one fluid motion, creating immediate separation to break free for a reception. Kuechly fell for the move, stumbled briefly and then frantically raced to try to close the gap.
Cornerback James Bradberry said he let out an “ooh ahh” when he watched it on tape.
“He got me,” Kuechly acknowledged with a wide smile.
Clady to retire
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Ryan Clady, the talented and towering tackle whose nine-year NFL career was checkered with injuries, is retiring from football.
“I’m excited about what life holds for me going forward,” Clady wrote Tuesday on Twitter, where he thanked the Broncos and team owner Pat Bowlen for bringing him to an organization where he was “blessed to experience eight great years, four Pro Bowls and a world championship.”
The Broncos selected him 12th overall in the 2008 draft out of Boise State.
Adams comments about passion
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets rookie Jamal Adams says his comments about the football field being the “perfect place to die” were simply about his passion for the game and he meant no disrespect to players and families dealing with effects of concussions.
Adams said Tuesday that his love for football is “indescribable” and that’s the message he was trying to convey Monday during a question-and-answer session that included NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.