ESPN: WITTEN WILL RETIRE, JOIN “MNF”
TEXAS» Dallas Cowboys FRISCO, 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 had 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.”
Jones said the Cowboys would have no other comment on Witten’s future the rest of the weekend, which includes the last two days of the NFL draft on Friday and Saturday.
If Witten, who turns 36 early next month, 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.
Chargers’ Gates not returning.
COSTA MESA, CALIF.»
Tight end Antonio Gates will not return for a 16th season with the Los Angeles Chargers, a person with knowledge of the decision told 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-catching tight ends 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 become the top receiver in franchise history, catching 927 passes for 11,508 yards and 114 touchdowns — the NFL scoring record for a tight end.
Gates ranks third in career receptions by a tight end behind Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten.
But Gates will turn 38 years old in June, and his role in the offense diminished steadily over the past three seasons.
Gates’ resolve to play on is apparently renewed, but it won’t be with the Chargers and Philip Rivers, his quarterback for the past 12 seasons. Gates and Rivers have combined for 87 touchdown passes, another NFL record between a quarterback and a tight end.
49ers-Pats make trade.
CALIF.» The SANTA CLARA,
49ers traded right tackle Trent Brown to the 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 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.
Footnotes.
Defensive end Rakeem Nunez-Roches signed his restricted freeagent tender with the Chiefs and will make just under $2 million next season. … Virginia State Police won’t release video of a traffic stop involving Redskins wide receiver Paul Richardson Jr., who said a state trooper asked if he was a gang member or drug dealer. Richardson’s s tweets about the questions he was asked during a Tuesday traffic stop prompted an internal review by state police.