DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Las Vegas Raiders have reached an agreement with former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten on a contract, according to multiple reports.
Vincent Bonsignore was the first with the report Tuesday.
In an appearance at the NFL Combine, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wanted Witten to return to the team in 2020.
Jones went on to say that he believes he can get contribute to the team but he must be comfortable with a lesser role, according to David Helman of DallasCowboys.com.
For his part, Witten echoed the same sentiments, saying he hoped to continue playing for the only franchise he's ever played for but he realizes he may not return to the Cowboys.
“I hope that (my future) is here just because there’s nothing I want more than to bring a championship here,'' Witten said before the "Witten Collegiate Man of the Year'' ceremony. "I think this team is close. I think it really has the makeup to do some special things.”
Witten added that he "understands this is a business" and would explore his options with other teams.
"I realize I'm a free agent too in March. Any time a new staff comes together, I've played a long time, so I realize that may mean somewhere else too," he said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Shortly after his arrival, new Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told the media, including 105.3 The Fan's Mike Fisher, that he had spoken to Witten, and the tight end has some opportunities elsewhere. It's unknown which teams would be interested in the 37-year-old but former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (34 years old) was courted by several teams before settling on an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday. Might the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins (two other teams known to have had an interest in Olsen) jump in? Could he re-connect with Jason Garrett in New York? Those could be the "options" on the table for the veteran.
Witten returned for a club-record 16th season with Dallas after a year in retirement as a broadcaster in part because the tight end thought the Cowboys could make a Super Bowl run. Dallas began the season 3-0 but proceeded to go 5-8 the rest of the way and missed the playoffs.
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