Apr 27, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Detailed view of a NFL Network microphone during a press conference introducing Houston Texans first round draft pick defensive end Whitney Mercilus of Illinois at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

Recently the NFL Network completed there Top 100 Players of 2012. The 11 part series consisted of 100 players voted by other players to be the best in the league. Now considering that these are player votes and not official nor are they decided by statistics, I guess almost everyone could disagree with the rankings. I was certainly not happy with the majority of it, after last season I don’t understand how Joe Flacco, Phillip Rivers, Michael Vick, and Cam Newton could be ranked higher than Tony Romo.

Jason Witten was ranked at #75 and although he missed the Pro-Bowl for the first time since his rookie year, I feel even his peers shouldn’t have put him any higher than 50. Jason Witten is consistently putting up good numbers every year. He may not had Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham numbers but those guys will never make 7 pro-bowls straight. Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten are the only guys that should be considered top class TE’s in the entire league.  They are the only sure Hall of Fame TE’s still playing.

The Dallas Cowboys only had 3 players in the Top 100. I feel that a few more guys should have been on that list. I believe Sean Lee and Jay Ratliff should have made it and possibly DeMarco Murray and Tyrone Smith. Both of these young guys showed tremendous talent and if Cam Newton got ranked on the better side of 50 then these guys deserve to be on it as well. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant only missed the list due to injury but healthy either of them are capable of 1300 plus yards per season. I am hopeful that they both can have those numbers next year.

Dec 11, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) drops into pass coverage against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Then the last and well deserved member of the Dallas Cowboys was called at #6, DeMarcus Ware. DeMarcus Ware is every quarterback and offensive coordinators worst nightmare. He has instincts that can’t be taught but only born with. He beats double teams time after time, and is great in coverage as well. DeMarcus Ware is the most complete football player in the NFL. Ware has 99.5 sacks in his 7 year career and at that rate is second only to Reggie White. You cant help but wonder if #6 is suitable for a player with his resume. There is two ways to look at it, you can say that 5 other players are better than him. Or you can say that 3 of the five are QB’s in this pass happy league along with a WR and a CB. I think everyone should agree that Darrelle Revis is in a class of his own at CB, and that Megatron is the best receiver right now. But nobody can agree with the state of best quarterback with Brees, Brady and Rodgers. Ware is alone in his class and was ranked the #1 linebacker and the 4th best position. I may disagree with the slot his position fell in, I can’t agree more with him being the best linebacker in the league.

We all know Witten, Gates, and Gonzales all have had hall of fame careers so far, and are still considered elite tight ends in the NFL, but there comes a time in age where your body starts slowing down and the speed of the game catches up to you. Players around the league are only getting younger and faster, it’s only a matter of time until father time catches up with Witten.

Jason Witten has been the best tight end the Dallas Cowboys have had in a while. Witten has produced as a top tier tight end year in and year out and hasn’t showed any signs of fatigue. That’s great, but everyone knows that unless you’re a quarterback once your age hits 30 your performance starts declining. Jason Witten has showed little to no decline in the past years but its very possible that we will start seeing him slow down very soon.

So what happens if Witten loses his spark and slows down because of age? Its simple Tony Romo loses his security blanket and his best receiving threat. Witten has bailed out Romo in countless situation and Tony has been able to check it down to Witten in the knick of time. Having a big pass catching tight end like Jason Witten matched up against linebackers is a luxury any quarterback would enjoy. To lose that luxury is the last thing a quarterback would want. So how can the Cowboys try to prepare for a potential decline of performance in Jason Witten; they got to find his replacement before Witten declines.

Just like any other position in the NFL a team always wants to be prepared for a potential loss of a star player on the team. The only way to do that is to develop a player that shows some flashes of greatness, a player that has the potential to be quick on his feet and be prepared when his name is called out. Right now the Cowboys should prepare by drafting or trading for Wittens replacement. At the moment the only other players behind Witten that are worth mentioning are John Phillips and the unproven Rookie out of Oklahoma James Hanna.

The fact is, times running out for Witten that being said he is still performing at a high level and can go toe to toe with any other tight end in the NFL. Unfortunately, there will come a time when Jason Witten will no longer see the production he once had before. So until that time comes lets hope Tony Romo and company find a way to get over their playoff slump and make a run at the Super bowl with Romos number one target at hand, Jason Witten.