The Dallas Cowboys are currently weighing their options sign Odell Beckham Jr. and we got Jason Witten’s thoughts on the matter.
Before this weekend’s big rivalry game, USAA, presenting sponsor of the Army-Navy Game –partnered with NFL legends and longtime rivals Brian Dawkins and Jason Witten to give away two vehicles to deserving military veterans in need. Dawkins and Witten will display ultimate unity by gifting one vehicle to an Army veteran, and one to a Navy veteran.
We sat down with Witten briefly to get his thoughts on the Cowboys’ Odell Beckham situation which has gotten a bit complicated in recent days.
For the past week, the star wide receiver has been visiting several teams, including the Cowboys, in an effort to to get signed. It’s currently unclear when Beckham will be available to play due to his ACL injury, but Witten believes that if he’s not ready before the postseason the Cowboys should stand pat because their squad is pretty solid,
“Obviously, if you’re looking at somebody before the postseason and potentially going to a post-season run, you don’t want to wait until the postseason to do that. I think that’s kind f common sense. I think in the next coming weeks, because he’s had a major surgery that he’s recovering from, if anybody can do it, it’s Odell, he’s extremely good and he’s got a strong work ethic. He’s had this before, so he knows what to expect.
So I think in the next couple of weeks, right, there’s five games left. Next couple of weeks you have to go in with the expectation, I’m assuming that it’s going to take five to ten days of practice time to give him up to speed on his injury and the plays and what the responsibility and what the role is. So I don’t think it’s panic right now, but I think if you’re going to do that, it would need to happen here in the next couple of weeks, but I think they’re in a good position because their skill group is playing really well right now and there’s going a lot of points. Michael Galllup is getting comfortable.”
“Tony Pollard has been a nice asset, CeeDee Lamb is turning into that true number one wide receiver. The team is playing dominant week in and week out, so they’re in a good position. I don’t think they have to have that. That would be almost like icing on the cake out if they sign a guy of Odell’s ability.
If Odell is healthy Witten believes he can be an X-factor for the Cowboys in the playoffs.
“I think he’s just a dynamic threat, much like CeeDee is that he can take an ordinary play, a slant or twelve yard dig route, and he has the ability to take it the distance at any point in time. He’s shown that playmaking ability obviously has a great catch radius, so it gives you a little bit of ability to maybe throw it up there at times or maybe you wouldn’t because you know there’s a strong chance that he’s going to come down with it. And so I think more than anything else, it’s the big play strike and the big playability that Odell brings that kind of separates and really could be icing on the cake for the Cowboys because they have guys that can do that right now. Now they’re just adding another weapon.”
Witten also talked to us about his partnership with the USAA ahead of this weekend’s Army-Navy game.
“I’m honored to partner with USAA. They’re the sponsor for the 123rd game between army and Navy. What great pageantry this game is going to be. They’re still raising 100 years, USAA. And with that, they’re giving away 100 vehicles through the recycled rides program. And so Friday, Brian Dawkins and I, we had a great rivalry over the years. We’re going to partner up and we’re going to give away a vehicle to both an army veteran and a Navy veteran. There happened to be purple hearts kind of custom out for these guys.
So it’s really cool to be able to be a part of that. I think it’s awesome what USAA is recognizing the true heroes in our military and to celebrate the rivalry of this game and I think it’s a bucket list game for me. I’m excited to be up there and more importantly, to show my appreciation to these young men that have made the commitment to serve our country and protect our freedom, it’s a great stuff from USAA. Giving these vehicles away to also these athletes represent academy in our country, so we’re trying to be a part of it.”