Q&A with Cowboys TE Jason Witten

EDINBURG -- Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten played a little baseball back in high school, but when he visits the Rio Grande Valley this weekend during the National Independent Tournament, it won't be to man center field.

Instead, the four-time Pro Bowl selection will sign autographs inside the air-conditioned City of Edinburg suite on Saturday at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. Witten's the latest of more than two dozen Cowboys to visit the RGV with the help of local promoter C.J. Cavazos.

Before joining the Broncs' baseball team for what Cavazos is billing as chance to spend a day at the ballpark with an all-pro, Witten spoke with The Monitor about playing football without a helmet, starring on HBO and whether or not Jessica Simpson really did jinx the Cowboys.

Q: You recently appeared at a celebrity bowling event and now you're headed to an independent baseball tournament. What are your thoughts on hanging out at the ballpark this weekend?

A: I'm excited. I know there are a lot of Cowboys fans in the Valley so I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of them. I know they pull for us a lot so I'm excited about coming down there.

Q: You played center field in high school. Are you still any good?

A: I was good back in the day, in high school, but I don't think I've got much game anymore.

Q: The Cowboys appeared primed to finally get a win in the playoffs and make a run to the Super Bowl last season, but it was another disappointing loss in the divisional playoffs, and to the N.Y. Giants no less. Are you guys over that loss yet?

A: I think we're eager to get back to this season. I think losing to the Giants and then them going on to win the Super Bowl, I think it motivated us and obviously it was upsetting that we lost that way. But I think this team understands that we have a good team and we have a short window to kind of maximize that, so we're all working hard and hoping we can get back there and make a run at it. I just think we really have to play better down the stretch. We lost three of our last four games and went into the playoffs and lost that one.

Q: Did it make worse that you lost to the Giants, a hated division rival, and then they went on to win Super Bowl XLII?

A: I think more than that just a team that you beat twice in the regular season, and for them to come to Dallas (and win), I mean we had it set up pretty good with home field advantage throughout, so we had it set up for us. That was tough. But you have to give them credit. They played well in the playoffs, they made the run, they got hot, they won three games on the road and then beat the team that hadn't lost all year.

Q: You're now famous for a play last season in a 38-17 win over Philadelphia in which you lost your helmet and kept on running for a 53-yard gain. Is playing NFL football without a helmet something you would recommend?

A: No, definitely not. If I had it all over to do I don't know if I would have kept doing that, but you know what, you get caught up in the moment. There's so much adrenaline running I just kept on going, you know, but it was a crazy play and obviously it brought a lot of attention and recognition.

Q: No matter what else you go on to accomplish, do you think that will forever be your signature moment now?

A: Absolutely. A lot of people always tell me they love that play, and there are some pretty cool pictures of that, but yeah, I think that's something I'll probably be remembered for.

Q: It was recently announced that the Cowboys will be featured on the HBO documentary Hard Knocks, which chronicles life at an NFL training camp. The last time the Cowboys were on the show was in 2002, when the team finished 5-11. What do you think about having all those cameras at camp?

A: I guess it will be good for fans to be able to see it. For us, you try to stay focused and hopefully it won't be a distraction to us. I think it allows the fans to be able to see what it's like behind the scenes and what goes on in developing your team, but that's a crucial time for us, so I think as players we've got to stay focused and not get too caught up in what Hard Knocks has to offer.

Q: We all know it's not TV, it's HBO. So who do you think will emerge as the biggest star?

A: Probably 81, Terrell Owens. He always finds a way to be a star on TV.

Q: Not you?

A: No, I doubt it. I'm too low key.

Q: There was a lot of talk last season about Jessica Simpson being bad luck for the Cowboys after she attended a game in which Tony Romo struggled in. Did she really jinx you guys?

A: I don't think so. I think unfortunately we lost the game that she came to, but we're professionals, we don't let that kind of stuff bother us, so that didn't affect us at all.

Q: If she was a bad luck charm, then I guess some players on the team may be happy about the news that Romo and Simpson recently split. What I want to know is, who really broke up with who?

A: I don't know. I don't even know that that's accurate, so I don't know.

Q: Last season was a record-breaking one for you. You set a team-record for tight ends with 96 receptions, tied an NFL record for most receptions in a game by a tight end (15) and became the first Dallas tight end to record more than 1,000 yards receiving. What do you think about all the personal success you've enjoyed so far?

A: It's been great, coming to Dallas and obviously there are some great tight ends that have played here, so to break their records that's obviously been a goal. And to be mentioned with some of the great ones that have played in a Cowboy uniform obviously is an honor, but they have those Super Bowl rings and that's what I'm after.

Cowboy comes to town

>> Who: Dallas tight end Jason Witten.

>> What: Witten will sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Picture packages, which include an autographed action photo of Witten and a personal picture with the star, are $110. Witten will not be signing any personal memorabilia.

>> When: Gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. Witten will sign and greet from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

>> Where: City of Edinburg suite at Edinburg Baseball Stadium, behind the University of Texas-Pan American.