Cowboys’ Witten reportedly retiring
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten plans to retire after 15 seasons and join ESPN as its lead analyst for the “Monday Night Football” telecast, the network reported Friday.
Witten met with owner and general manager Jerry Jones, who said no announcement was coming Friday. Jones said he’d have several conversations with Witten this week and indicated the franchise leader in games, catches and yards receiving hadn’t made a final decision.
“He has some things to think about and discuss with his family from a professional perspective,” Jones said before the introductory news conference for first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch.
“He also told me those things are going to require a few more days of consideration, at least through the weekend. He has not made any decisions that are definite at this time.”
If Witten leaves Dallas, it’s the second straight year that a Cowboys star is retiring to go into broadcasting. Former quarterback Tony Romo became the lead analyst for CBS last season.
Witten is also the franchise leader in consecutive games, starts and consecutive starts. The 10-time Pro Bowl player will finish tied with defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones, safety Bill Bates and late offensive lineman Mark Tuinei for most seasons in franchise history.
Chargers to part with Gates: Tight end Antonio Gates will not return for a 16th season with the Los Angeles Chargers, a person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the Chargers haven’t publicly announced their plans for Gates, one of the most prolific pass catchers in NFL history.
Gates has spent his entire career with the Chargers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He went on to catch 927 passes for 11,508 yards and 114 touchdowns, an NFL scoring record for a tight end.
Patriots acquire tackle: The San Francisco 49ers traded right tackle Trent Brown to the New England Patriots a day after drafting Mike McGlinchey as his replacement in the first round.
The 49ers dealt Brown and the 143rd overall pick to New England on Friday for the 95th overall pick.
Brown is coming off season-ending shoulder surgery that has sidelined him for the start of the offseason program. But when healthy, he is considered one of the top pass blockers in the league at right tackle.
The Patriots also used a first-round pick on Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn on Thursday night as they try to shore up their blocking in front of quarterback Tom Brady.
The 49ers weren’t ready to commit to Brown after this season when he will be eligible to be a free agent and chose his replacement instead in the draft.
San Francisco took McGlinchey ninth overall out of Notre Dame.