Witten ready to go home
Pro Bowl TE to play in Tennessee for first time since college
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The week has been a whirlwind for Jason Witten.
The Pro Bowl tight end and his wife, Michelle, had the couple's first child, a boy, Christopher Jason, on Tuesday and on Sunday Witten returns to his home state for his first game as a professional when the Cowboys play the Tennessee Titans.
Witten grew up in Elizabethton, Tenn., about five hours from Nashville, and played at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Witten said he limited the ticket request to 15 family and friends for Sunday's game. His grandfather, Dave Rider, who coached him in high school and helped raise him, will be in attendance.
"It's a little surreal," Witten said. "You really don't know what to expect. You're getting the tickets and you have a new baby and at the same time you've got to concentrate on the game plan. You try and soak it all in."
Witten said he attended four or five Titans' games while in college.
"Me being a tight end I was watching Frank Wycheck and always trying to go scout it out and experience an NFL game," Witten said.
Witten left Tennessee after his junior year but finished as third all time for catches (68) and yards (797) by a tight end. He's not the only former Volunteer to make the trip; linebacker Kevin Burnett was a two-time captain at Tennessee.
"Hopefully there's a few cheers," Witten said, "but that's part of playing on the road."
Game-time decisions: Coach Bill Parcells will wait until game time to decide on who will return punts and who will kick off.
The return job depends on whether Terrell Owens plays or not. Jamaica Rector handled the job in Week 1, but was inactive for the second game, which allowed Terence Newman and Patrick Crayton to share the duty.
As for kicker, Shaun Suisham has four touchbacks on two games, but Parcells would rather not eat up two roster spots on kickers, but Mike Vanderjagt's kickoffs are not as good.
Watkins told to improve: Parcells said starting free safety Patrick Watkins needed to improve his tackling technique or he'll get benched. Watkins said a bruise in his left biceps prevented him from wrapping up.
"We'll see what he does under pressure," Parcells said. "He needs to practice more safety. It doesn't make any difference what the reason is he's putting himself in jeopardy."
Briefly: With a noon kickoff Sunday, Parcells moved up Friday's practice 15 minutes in order to give his players more rest.
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The week has been a whirlwind for Jason Witten.
The Pro Bowl tight end and his wife, Michelle, had the couple's first child, a boy, Christopher Jason, on Tuesday and on Sunday Witten returns to his home state for his first game as a professional when the Cowboys play the Tennessee Titans.
Witten grew up in Elizabethton, Tenn., about five hours from Nashville, and played at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Witten said he limited the ticket request to 15 family and friends for Sunday's game. His grandfather, Dave Rider, who coached him in high school and helped raise him, will be in attendance.
"It's a little surreal," Witten said. "You really don't know what to expect. You're getting the tickets and you have a new baby and at the same time you've got to concentrate on the game plan. You try and soak it all in."
Witten said he attended four or five Titans' games while in college.
"Me being a tight end I was watching Frank Wycheck and always trying to go scout it out and experience an NFL game," Witten said.
Witten left Tennessee after his junior year but finished as third all time for catches (68) and yards (797) by a tight end. He's not the only former Volunteer to make the trip; linebacker Kevin Burnett was a two-time captain at Tennessee.
"Hopefully there's a few cheers," Witten said, "but that's part of playing on the road."
Game-time decisions: Coach Bill Parcells will wait until game time to decide on who will return punts and who will kick off.
The return job depends on whether Terrell Owens plays or not. Jamaica Rector handled the job in Week 1, but was inactive for the second game, which allowed Terence Newman and Patrick Crayton to share the duty.
As for kicker, Shaun Suisham has four touchbacks on two games, but Parcells would rather not eat up two roster spots on kickers, but Mike Vanderjagt's kickoffs are not as good.
Watkins told to improve: Parcells said starting free safety Patrick Watkins needed to improve his tackling technique or he'll get benched. Watkins said a bruise in his left biceps prevented him from wrapping up.
"We'll see what he does under pressure," Parcells said. "He needs to practice more safety. It doesn't make any difference what the reason is he's putting himself in jeopardy."
Briefly: With a noon kickoff Sunday, Parcells moved up Friday's practice 15 minutes in order to give his players more rest.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:09 AM
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