>- he has the numbers for now (although in 5-10 years, the
>current wave of tight ends will lap him)

... I assume we're only talking Gronk and Graham, both of whom realistically will *also* have HOF resumes if they can manage to stay healthy for that next 5-10 (which isn't necessarily a given either, though they have such strong head starts that even if they *aren't* healthy consistently, they could feasibly still crack 10k yards and will easily pass Witten's relatively blah TD totals).

I don't think anyone would argue that Witten is as good as some of the other guys who are in/will be in the HOF... but when you combine numbers and his general affability, it's going to be hard to keep him out.