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ESPN's Jason Witten Makes Return To Dallas For "MNF" Broadcast

Tonight's Titans-Cowboys game is Jason Witten's first broadcast involving his former team, and the new ESPN analyst said it will "certainly be emotional," according to Jori Epstein of USA TODAY. The scene "isn't new" for the Cowboys, who welcomed Tony Romo for the "first time exactly a year earlier" for a CBS telecast. For last year's Week 9 Chiefs-Cowboys game, a "'WELCOME HOME 9' banner canvassed the end zone," and the Cowboys "played a tribute video narrated by Witten" before kickoff. Now, Witten "hopes his deep knowledge of the game overshadows rookie slip-ups." Meanwhile, Witten has been getting "regular advice from Romo" on performance in the booth (USA TODAY, 11/5). Witten said that he "closely followed" Romo's first season with CBS, and "sought advice from him, among others, when the ESPN opportunity presented itself." Witten said that he has "learned to use less inside-football terminology" during broadcasts, and has a "better sense of when to speak and how much he should say" (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/2). The AP's Schuyler Dixon wrote the "obvious question is whether Witten will hesitate to criticize" Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, coach Jason Garrett or "any of the tight ends trying to replace him" (AP, 11/4).

TRYING TO IMPROVE: In Knoxville, Mike Wilson wrote Witten has "viewed the experience" of calling "MNF" like he treated his rookie season with the Cowboys, "diving into it with the understanding that he will make mistakes and learn as he goes." Witten said, "I knew it was going to be a work in progress. I would never walk in and say, 'I'm going to be on this level from minute one.' I went into it knowing it was a long-game approach." Wilson noted Witten "pegged the flow of a broadcast with multiple members as one of the biggest challenges" so far. He has also had to "learn that while sharing in-depth football is a strength, it has to be done in a manner that all viewers can understand." Witten said, "The last five games, I have looked at it as a whole and said now it's starting to seem more myself." He added that he "hears the criticism but is such a harsh critic of his own mistakes that he tries not to let it affect him." Witten: "All you can do is just self-deprecate and move forward" (Knoxville NEWS-SENTINEL, 11/4).

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