A Cowboy no more… Elizabethton native, former Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten set to become a Raider
Published 11:31 pm Wednesday, March 18, 2020
- File Photo/Ivan Sanders Former Elizabethton Cyclone, Tennessee Vol, and Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday according to reports. It will be only the second team that Witten has played for in his 17-year NFL career.
Heath, who has started every game he has played over the past three seasons, agreed to a two-year deal with the Raiders worth as much as $8 million, a source told ESPN on Tuesday.
Earlier this offseason, Witten said he wanted to play in 2020, and his wish was to continue with the Cowboys.
Speaking at the scouting combine last month in Indianapolis, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he did not want to see Witten play in another uniform.
On Monday, the Cowboys signed Blake Jarwin to a four-year deal worth a max of $24.25 million that included $9.25 million in guaranteed money, which all but signaled the end of Witten’s time with the Cowboys.
Witten’s departure from the Cowboys ends one of the most productive careers that the franchise has seen.
A third-round pick in 2003, Witten holds Cowboys records for years of service (16), games played (255), games started (244), consecutive games started (179), receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977).
He is tied with Bob Lilly for the most Pro Bowl selections (11) and is second to Dez Bryant in touchdown receptions (72).
Witten spent 2018 as an analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football, but he opted to return to the playing field in 2019 and started every game, catching 63 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns, while playing 75.4% of the snaps — a significant decrease from his first 15 seasons with the team.
