Dallas Cowboys are underestimating loss of Jason Witten

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IRVING, TX – JANUARY 14: Jay Novacek #84 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Texas Stadium on January 14, 1996 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys won 38-27 . (Photo by: Al Bello/Getty Images) /

MANY DUDS BETWEEN STARS

The Cowboys unearthed a wasteland of lacking tight ends between Jay Novacek‘s final season in 1995 and drafting Witten in 2003.

Novacek made five Pro Bowls from 1985-95. Witten snagged 11 during 2003-17. No Dallas tight end in the seven seasons between them even sniffed the honor.

It’s also worth noting the team fired three head coaches and scraped together a dismal 49-63 record during those down years at the position.

Below are the Cowboys leading receivers at tight end from 1996-2002.

1996: Eric Bjornson – 48 catches, 388 yards, 3 TD (1995 4th round)
1997: Eric Bjornson – 47 catches, 442 yards, 0 TD
1998: Eric Bjornson – 15 catches, 218 yards, 1 TD
1999: David LaFleur – 35 catches, 322 yards, 7 TD (1997 1st round)
2000: Jackie Harris – 39 catches, 306 yards, 5 TD (FA – 1990 4th round)
2001: Jackie Harris – 15 catches, 141 yards, 2 TD
2002: Tony McGee – 23 catches, 294 yards, 1 TD (FA – 1993 2nd round)

Now compare those stats to the final season of Novacek (62-705-5) and Witten (63-560-5). Not one came close in catches or yards, and only one had more TD’s.

Bjornson wasn’t special but deserves a hat tip. His hard work and effort squeezed the most out of the least natural pro fit for the position on that list.

Regardless, in the final season of their grueling careers, the two old war horses were far superior to seven years of replacements in between.

The lesson is it’s not wise to shrug off a legendary tight end’s stroll out to pasture.

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