Whitworth invites, shuts down speculation about joining Cowboys

Retired offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Retired offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth invites, then shuts down, speculation about joining the Dallas Cowboys

By Adam Stites | Last updated 8/26/22

Retired offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth says he hasn't received calls from the Dallas Cowboys, after all.

On Thursday night, Whitworth was asked during a preseason game broadcast on Amazon Prime whether his phone has been ringing with the regular season fast approaching. He answered the question by implying that the Cowboys were interested in signing him after losing star left tackle Tyron Smith to a leg injury that will require surgery.

Andrew Whitworth just said on TNF that the Dallas Cowboys called him.

(via @NFLonPrime) pic.twitter.com/JZvWBTUo1o
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) August 26, 2022

"Obviously there's been some things with the Cowboys losing Tyron Smith, which is an awful deal," Whitworth said. "It's been a busy day of answering calls. The problem is they're calling and texting the wrong person. They need to be calling and texting Melissa Whitworth and the kids, because they have final approval on whether I'm ever going to play football again."

If Dallas did reach out to Whitworth, it would break NFL tampering rules as the Los Angeles Rams still have the player rights to the offensive tackle. So the four-time Pro Bowler quickly clarified that he never said it was the Cowboys trying to get a hold of him.

Not what I said. I said I answered calls and text from people all day since the injury. Begging me to go to the cowboys! Thx https://t.co/aoyA5DEvuE
— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) August 26, 2022

I answered many messages yesterday from national and a few dallas sports reporters and journalist.
☝ The “people” I mentioned last night. Asking me if cowboys had reached out? Or if I was interested?
Answer was “No” 2 both! Appreciate them for doing it the right way!
✌!
— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) August 26, 2022

Whitworth, 40, played 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before finishing his career with five seasons in Los Angeles. In February, he won his first career Super Bowl and announced his retirement a month later.

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