Jason Witten gives the best props possible to two Cowboys veterans
One of my favorite Jason Wiitten stories came in 2016 when then-rookie quarterback Dak Prescott revealed the lesson given to him by the already legendary Dallas Cowboys tight end in training camp. In 2020, Prescott revealed that when throwing a 30-yard pass to Witten, the veteran "sticks his arms out, and the ball probably goes […]
One of my favorite Jason Wiitten stories came in 2016 when then-rookie quarterback Dak Prescott revealed the lesson given to him by the already legendary Dallas Cowboys tight end in training camp.
In 2020, Prescott revealed that when throwing a 30-yard pass to Witten, the veteran "sticks his arms out, and the ball probably goes two inches over his fingertips." The future Hall of Famer could've made the catch but refused to stick his arms out just a little bit more.
"Hey, rook, hit me in my hands," Witten told the fourth-round rookie who would lead the Cowboys to the #1 seed in the NFC. "I shouldn’t have to stretch for it and I shouldn’t have to stop running"
Oh, how times have changed.
Almost seven years removed from that sequence in practice, Witten points at Prescott as an example for young players.
In a recent interview with ESPN's Todd Archer, Witten talked about second-round rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker reaching out to him for advice. In doing so, Witten gave the ultimate props to two veterans on the team that he knows very well.
“He didn’t have to reach out to me, but obviously I’m pulling for him. I know it’s a tough transition. He’s got a lot of great resources, that’s what I told him. Get in the back pocket of Dak [Prescott] and Zack [Martin]. Watch them train, watch them study, watch them recover, watch how they lead, what kind of teammates they are, what they do in the weight room, and he’ll be just fine. I know he’s got great guys to follow.”
– Jason Witten via ESPN
Let's face it, you couldn't ask for a better player to recognize your leadership and work ethic than Witten if you are a member of the Dallas Cowboys. We're talking about the man that won the Bob Lilly Award six times, given to players that have shown sportsmanship, leadership, dedication, and achievement.
And there's no question that Martin and Prescott have earned that kind of praise. What they do on the field goes well beyond the stat sheet. Dak has been recognized as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in terms of leadership by many people, including three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman. Martin, from the quiet position that is right guard, sets the example every year by being the ultimate teammate.
If the Cowboys are to make it far in 2023 and fulfill those championship goals that have eluded the team for almost three decades now, it'll start with the tone they set. But everyone on the roster, including rookies like Schoonmaker, will have to follow suit.
