Witten pointed to the prestige of the "MNF" booth as reasoning for not returning for a 16th seasonGetty Images
Jason Witten, who officially retired from the Cowboys to join ESPN as an analyst for "MNF," now follows other Cowboys players "down a similar path into broadcasting," according to Drew Davison of the Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM. Late Cowboys QB Don Meredith was an "original member" of the "MNF" broadcast team in '70. Fellow former QBs Troy Aikman (Fox) and Tony Romo (CBS) are the "lead analysts at their respective networks," and former FB Daryl Johnston "calls games for Fox as well." Former WR Michael Irvin and CB Deion Sanders are also "regular fixtures on NFL Network" and former S Darren Woodson is a "football analyst on ESPN." The position at ESPN was "simply too prestigious of a gig for Witten to pass up in order to play what would have been a 16th season in the NFL" in '18. Witten said, "I knew that was John Madden's chair. That was Jon Gruden's chair. Having the opportunity to do that, I just expressed [to Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones] what the details of what could possibly be out there for me. He shared with me what he thought and in the only way he can do it, he told me to go be John Wayne" (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/4). In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel writes the Cowboys "indeed are America's team." Tramel: "If you don't believe it, watch the marquee games next season." Not because the Cowboys will "necessarily be playing, but because former Cowboys will be announcing." It is "one thing for a network to hire" a QB. It is "quite another for a network to hire" a TE on a non-championship team. Tramel: "Such is the power of the silver star" (OKLAHOMAN, 5/4).
THROWN INTO THE FIRE: In N.Y., Andrew Marchand notes for weeks now, new "MNF" play-by-play man Joe Tessitore "not only has been auditioning prospective candidates" on ESPN's Bristol campus, but also has been "spending the day with each prospect." Sources said that ESPN has been "going to these lengths in part because it wants an improved chemistry the network thought the previous MNF team, Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden, lacked." But ESPN is "taking a huge gamble with Witten." Neither he nor Tessitore "ever has called an NFL game," and "MNF" is a "heck of a place to start" (N.Y. POST, 5/4). Meanwhile, SI.com's Jimmy Traina wrote he is "not going to judge the Witten hire without ever hearing him call a game, but the first reactions is that it does seem a little uninspiring." Traina: "Has he ever said anything memorable? Has he ever shown any personality?" Witten "should be given a chance," but the hire still "seems like one big shoulder shrug" (SI.com, 5/3).
