FRISCO -- Rico Gathers was on the phone with his brother when his wife interrupted him, sharing the news that would crank up the pressure and open previously nonexistent possibilities for all Cowboys tight ends.
Reports surfaced in late April that Jason Witten, the durable legend who almost never left the field, indeed intended to retire.
"Witten has been here 15 years, and you really just learned from him," Gathers said. "There was no major opportunity to really do anything to grow from as far as expecting to play and taking snaps from him. He's not about to let that happen.