ESPN: Witten will be retiring to take MNF analyst job

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 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 included the last two days of the NFL draft Friday and today.

The news on the second day of the draft could affect Dallas’ plans just a week after Witten suggested he might play until he was 40 and intended to return this coming season. Witten turns 36 early next month.

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.

The decision by Witten also would mean the Cowboys have lost two of their top three players in career touchdown catches this month. The club released receiver Dez Bryant, the club leader with 73 TD grabs, in a cost-cutting move. Witten is third with 68, three behind Hall of Famer Bob Hayes.

Chargers: Tight end Antonio Gates will not return for a 16th season, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

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.

Gates’ role in the Chargers’ offense declined steadily over the past three seasons. He caught just 30 passes last year, his lowest total since his rookie season.

Panthers: Greg Olsen isn’t quite ready to become a fulltime NFL broadcaster — he still has football to play.

The Panthers agreed to a two-year contract extension with three-time Pro Bowl tight end Olsen worth $8.5 million per season, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday.

Olsen stands to make up to $20 million in all if he reaches certain incentives, according to the source. He is now under contract through 2020. Olsen worked as a NFL analyst last season for one game and ESPN liked his work. He has said he would consider the profession after his career is complete.

49ers: Prosecutors will move forward with the domestic violence case against Reuben Foster despite his former girlfriend’s claims that she lied about the incident and has a video to prove it.

Through her attorney, Elissa Ennis this week said she had made up the story about the 49ers linebacker having punched her and dragged her by her hair on Feb. 11, saying that the injuries she suffered were from a previous fight with a woman.

Prosecutors, however, say they will continue with the case, in which the charges include an allegation that Foster inflicted great bodily injury — Ennis suffered a ruptured eardrum — forcefully attempted to prevent a victim from reporting a crime and was in possession of an assault weapon. A hearing is set for Monday in San Jose.

Patriots: Acquired right tackle Trent Brown from the 49ers for the 95th overall pick in the draft. San Francisco, which drafted former Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first round Thursday, also sent the 143rd overall pick to New England.

Witten