Cowboys’ Jason Witten stalks greatness, for himself and his team

There was a time when Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten cared about the numbers.

He was never selfishly obsessed like former teammate Terrell Owens.

But it was important for him to be involved in the passing game. He took pride in not only leading the team in receptions, but also being quarterback Tony Romo’s most trusted pass catcher.

Ten Pro Bowls and 943 catches later — he has caught more passes than any player in Cowboys history and the second most for a tight end in NFL history — what keeps him going in his 13th season is the same as it was when he started.

“I want to be the best. I want to be a part of a team that’s about that,” Witten said. “It really isn’t about 55 more catches. It’s about being part of a team that went after it and tried to be great. I love that process of doing it and doing it at a high level. When I can’t, it’s time for me to get out of it.

“Only one way to play. I love doing it. I love starting this process with good guys who kind of approach it the same way and go after the same goals.”

Time has flown by since Witten came to the Cowboys as an unheralded third-round pick in 2003.

His role has changed on an offense that features the run first and getting the ball to game-breaking receiver Dez Bryant second.

He spends more time blocking than he ever has. Yet, the thought of walking away has not entered his mind. He remains committed as ever with his eye on the team goal of winning a championship.

“You can’t do that. You can’t let that enter your mind,” Witten said. “One, it’s selfish. I think two, you’re not going to allow yourself to be the best when you let those thoughts enter your mind. When I get out here, it’s completely focused on what’s going to allow me to be a better player, how can I contribute more.

“And show them that you consistently still do it. That’s something regardless of if you’re in your 13th year and you’ve been to a bunch of Pro Bowls, you’ve got to earn that. I don’t take that lightly.”

That’s evident daily in practice. There is no one who plays with more passion, intensity or attention to detail.

That he stays after practice sometimes just working on the basic routine of coming in and out of his three-point stance was not lost on coach Jason Garrett.

“He wants to be a great player,” Garrett said. “He has proven that over the course of his career that he has been that. And it’s because of the approach that he takes. He has a great feel for the game. But what he is all about is what makes Jason Witten the player that he is — his dedication to be the best that he can be in every single opportunity that he has.

“The standard he has for himself about doing things the right way every minute of every day is as high as any player that I have ever seen. That’s a great illustration. He is very deliberate in everything he does, and it shows up in his play.”

Witten’s practice habits and leadership have become more important as he has gotten older and the team has grown decidedly younger around him.

He is someone Garrett counts on to spread his overall philosophy about hard work, taking it one day at a time and playing with an edge.

“I just believe that you set the tone by the way you play and when things need to be addressed, you address. That’s what is good about this group,” Witten said. “We have a lot of different guys who do it in a lot of different ways. This is a young team and you have to show them the way. You have to show them the standard.”

Witten has no problem being a vessel for Garrett’s messages because he buys into what Garrett is preaching. The culture Garrett has established combined with the success they had during last year’s 12-4 breakthrough season has Witten excited about the team’s championship more than he has ever been.

“It doesn’t feel like 13 years,” Witten said. “It’s a great culture to play together. It’s really special, the opportunity we have in front of us.”

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Cowboys’ Jason Witten stalks greatness, for himself and his team."