The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Witten leaves ESPN to return to Cowboys
Jason Witten is coming out of retirement and rejoining the Dallas Cowboys after one season as a television analyst.
The 36-year-old Witten says the “fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong.”
The Cowboys announced Thursday that the 11-time Pro Bowl tight end has agreed to a one-year contract. The deal is worth about $5 million.
When he retired last May to become the lead analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” Witten shared the club record with three others at 15 seasons with Dallas. Now he’s poised to add that franchise mark to the list of records he already has in games, starts, catches and yards receiving.
“This team has a great group of rising young stars, and I want to help them make a run at a championship,” Witten said. “This was completely my decision, and I am very comfortable with it.”
Witten and Tony Gonzalez are the only NFL tight ends with at least 1,000 catches and 10,000 yards. Gonzalez was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first try this year. Witten is postponing consideration of his date with Canton.
The return of Witten gives quarterback Dak Prescott another run with one of his most trusted targets months after the Cowboys won their first playoff game with the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time NFL rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott.
Dallas struggled at tight end without Witten. Geoff Swaim was the most productive before his season ended with a broken wrist after 10 games.
With Witten, the Cowboys get back someone coach Jason Garrett believes is one of the best two-way tight ends in NFL history.
The return comes nine months after an emotional farewell ceremony at team headquarters.
“We thank Jason for his many contributions to “Monday Night Football” and to ESPN over the past year and wish him continued success,” the network said in a statement. “We have seen many former coaches and players go into broadcasting before eventually returning to the game they love, so we understand Jason’s desire to return to the Dallas Cowboys. In the coming weeks we will determine our MNF plans for the 2019 season.”
Witten weathered some criticism in his first season with ESPN, but kept saying he was committed to improving and sticking with broadcasting.
■ Kyler Murray may not show off his arm or his legs at the NFL scouting combine, but on Thursday he assuaged colossal concerns about his size.
The Heisman Trophy-winning dual-threat quarterback and speedy outfielder from the University of Oklahoma checked in at just over 5 feet 10 and 207 pounds with a hand size, as measured from his pinkie to his thumb, of 9½ inches.
Although he’s the shortest quarterback measured at the combine since 2003, those numbers were welcome news for Murray, the executives and coaches gathered in Indianapolis and fans wondering how his size would affect his draft stock.
Murray is being compared to Russell Wilson in 2012 and Baker Mayfield, last year’s top overall draft pick. Murray is a half-inch shorter but three pounds heavier than Wilson, and his hand is a quarter inch larger than Mayfield’s.
■ Browns general manager John Dorsey did his homework before signing free agent Kareem Hunt. At least that’s what he told reporters Thursday.
“We did extensive research. We talked to a lot of people and we felt comfortable with the information we had, listening to how remorseful he was, knowing that once he comes here there are no guarantees,” Dorsey said. “He’s going to have to earn respect in the Cleveland Browns organization by his actions not words.”
The Chiefs released their starting running back late last season after a video showed Hunt shoving and kicking a woman.
Hunt signed a one-year deal with the Browns earlier this month but is currently on the commissioner’s exempt list and it’s not known when he’ll be allowed to play again.
■ Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said any team interested in the No. 3 pick in the draft should give him a call, including the Giants.
“Right now we feel good at No. 3, but I’d definitely say if there’s an opportunity to trade down, we would absolutely look at it,” Maccagnan said. “If we end up picking a player at three, we’ll feel really good. If there’s an opportunity for us to move back and acquire more picks, that’s something we’d definitely be potentially interested in.”
Maccagnan made the big move last year, jumping from six to three to position the Jets to take Sam Darnold. The Giants have the No. 6 pick and need a quarterback to eventually replace Eli Manning. They are believed to have Ohio State’s Dwyane Haskins rated as the best one in this draft.