Cowboys’ Witten retiring for TV job
Jason Witten mostly held it together while announcing he was retiring after 15 years with the Dallas Cowboys to go into TV.
One wavering moment came when the tight end turned to owner Jerry Jones on a stage in front of his family, teammates and club employees.
“The hardest part of this decision was knowing that I would never be able to hand you that Lombardi Trophy,” Witten said during his 15-minute speech Thursday. “I told you back in 2006 that I would not let you down. I hope that in your eyes, I held up my end of the bargain.”
Just days away from turning 36, Witten is leaving to be the analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” telecast.
The decision by the franchise leader in games, catches and yards receiving is similar to the one friend and longtime teammate Tony Romo, the club passing leader in yards and touchdowns, made last year with CBS.
They joined the Cowboys together in 2003: Witten a third-round pick out of Tennessee and Romo the undrafted quarterback three years from becoming the starter. They left without getting Dallas to an NFC Championship Game.
“Jason has given so much to this team, to this franchise. He emptied the bucket here,” Jones said. “When I look at where we were with the great legacy of our fans that have had 56 years of being around some of the greatest people and names of players ever ... to me, no one has ever given more of himself and no one has ever made any bigger impact.”
Witten also was known for durability, holding club records for consecutive games (235) and starts (179). With 1,152 catches for 12,448 yards, Witten joins Tony Gonzalez as the only NFL tight ends with at least 1,000 catches and 10,000 yards. Witten’s 15 seasons are tied for the most in Dallas with defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones, safety Bill Bates and late offensive lineman Mark Tuinei.
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The Atlanta quarterback became the league’s highestpaid player by agreeing to a five-year contract extension that could be worth as much as
Washington looking into cheerleader story
Washington President Bruce Allen said the franchise is concerned by and looking into allegations made by cheerleaders in a New York Times article about a trip to Costa Rica for a photo shoot in 2013.
The New York Times reported the cheerleaders had their passports collected, were forced to be topless for a calendar photo shoot that included male spectators and were asked to be escorts for sponsors at a nightclub. The story, published Wednesday, quoted cheerleaders on condition of anonymity because they signed confidentiality agreements.
Allen says if the investigation shows any employees acted inappropriately, “those employees will face significant repercussions.” But he said team officials have had dialogue with a number of current and former cheerleaders and have “heard very different firsthand accounts that directly contradict many of the details” of the article.
$150 million, but he is assured of receiving at least $100 million. That surpasses the total compensation of the $84 million, three-year guaranteed deal that quarterback Kirk Cousins received from the Vikings.
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