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IRVING — Tony Gonzalez has the most receptions, most receiving yards and most touchdowns for a tight end in NFL history. Gonzalez, though, won’t acknowledge that he’s the best.
In fact, Gonzalez argues that Jason Witten is tops at the position these days."Jason, in my opinion, he’s the best tight end in the NFL," Gonzalez said in a conference call with the media that covers the Dallas Cowboys. "His ability to catch the ball and block [makes him the best]. A lot of people forget about that. The tight-end position is not just about catching footballs. It’s about going out there and opening holes as well. You’re part offensive lineman, and I think Jason epitomizes that, and he’s done well for the last couple of years."Gonzalez and Witten have traded accolades in the media all week. They surely will share more of the same privately before Sunday’s game when Gonzalez’s Falcons play at Cowboys Stadium. The NFL’s top tight ends, along with San Diego’s Antonio Gates, Gonzalez and Witten have been on opposite sides of the field the past five Pro Bowls. But they have met in the regular season only once previously. Gonzalez had five catches for 94 yards in a 2005 game the Kansas City Chiefs lost 31-28, while Witten had seven receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown."I’ve always had a lot of respect for what he does, the way he plays the game," Witten said. "To do it the way he’s done it, year in and year out for over a decade, all you can do is just take your hat off to him. I think he’s kind of the top of the pack. He’s the guy that everybody looks to. For a long time, he didn’t have a whole lot else on his team there in Kansas City, and he still made plays."Witten was a sophomore in high school when Gonzalez began his NFL career. By the time Witten was drafted in 2003, Gonzalez already was a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro.Witten has started for the NFC in the past two Pro Bowls and has played in three others. Gonzalez, though, now resides in the NFC, having been traded from the Chiefs to the Falcons for a second-round draft pick in the off-season.Gonzalez, a 10-time Pro Bowler, started for the AFC in Hawaii six times, including last year.The two have similar stats this season — Witten has 28 catches for 259 yards and a touchdown; Gonzalez has 23 receptions for 267 yards and three touchdowns — but the Falcons (4-1) have a better record than the Cowboys (3-2).Winning, both players attest, is the most important thing. Neither has ever won a playoff game. "That’s the reason I ... was so happy to be traded [to Atlanta], because it was such a successful team," Gonzalez said. "These are young guys going in the right direction, and we’ve got a chance to be a good team around here for however long I choose to play. "I think I know for the next couple of years we’re going to be a really good football team as long as we stay healthy. Really my goal is to get to the Super Bowl and win it. I will take it one step at a time, and to get that first playoff victory would be great." Gonzalez, 33, has Witten by six NFL seasons, putting him 482 catches, 6,013 yards and 53 touchdowns up on Witten. Gonzalez, though, predicts Witten can beat all his tight end records, if Witten stays healthy."No way," Witten said. "... Nowhere close to it, obviously. That’s just him being humble. What he’s done, he’s set the bar really high, and I don’t think anybody will get to that."Charean Williams, 817-390-7760
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