10-pack: Players who should retire

LOL! someone made a 10 list of players that should retire & NOW lol!!!!!

some i agree with & some i don't!!!

THOUGHTS??

1. Jason Taylor, DE, Miami Dolphins: By skipping a big chunk of the offseason workout program so he could cut a rug in a dancing competition aimed at reviving the careers of has beens or kick-starting the show business runs of wannabes, Taylor is making it known that his passion for football has waned. Unless, of course, he can't parlay his twice-per-week exposure on national television into something that pays better. He still has the physical tools to play in the NFL, but football isn't really a priority for him anymore. If it were, he'd save the Fred Astaire routine for later.

2. Zach Thomas, ILB, Dallas Cowboys: I'm not a neurologist (and have not played one on television or stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night, or ever). The fact that being in a fender-bender caused Thomas to develop post-concussion syndrome tells me he has had his brain box busted a few times too many. Maybe he should be the one Dancing with the Stars -- it's a better outcome than regularly seeing them. ( New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Dan Morgan and St. Louis Rams quarterback Trent Green fall into this category as well, but without the fender-bender. It would have been easy to make them No. 3 and No. 4 on the list with "See Zach Thomas" as the explanation, but I get paid by the word. Yes. I do. By the word. Punctuation. Too.)

3. Michael Strahan, DE, New York Giants: Last year, Strahan wanted more money. When he didn't get it, he stayed away from training camp as he "contemplated retirement," which most folks interpreted to mean, "hoped for more money or a trade to a contender." The irony is he ended up playing for a legitimate contender and landing an unlikely Super Bowl trophy. Strahan's best move would be to get out while he's still reasonably healthy and parlay that title into a media career that would instantly eclipse the well-engineered (but poorly executed) post-football endeavors of former teammate/nemesis Tiki Barber.

4. Brad Johnson, QB, Dallas Cowboys: With Vinny Testaverde finally packing it in, Johnson now is the official over-the-hill quarterback with the arm strength of a Tyrannosaurus. Johnson was dreadful in his final season as a starter with the Minnesota Vikings; if Tony Romo ever gets hurt, the team facing the Cowboys can confidently replace its safeties with nose tackles.

5. Byron Leftwich, QB, free agent: I actually feel bad for Leftwich. After four NFL seasons, Leftwich was abruptly dumped by the Jacksonville Jaguars in favor of a career backup who now has pocketed a big-money contract. Leftwich, meanwhile, was deemed to be not good enough for the quarterback-starved Atlanta Falcons and still is waiting for the phone to ring. He should exercise what little remaining control he has over his life by ripping the phone out of the wall. Permanently.

6. Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens: Ogden is another guy who should quit talking about retirement and just do it. For the future Hall of Famer, however, it's not about whether he loves the game. It's about whether he can continue to use a constantly injured toe to push off his 345-pound frame. (Then again, it's likely the toe is constantly injured from all those years of doing just that.)

7. Orlando Pace, OT, Rams: Although the first overall pick in the 1997 draft hasn't mused about calling it quits, he should. As the cornerstone of St. Louis' offensive line, Pace has been too injured far too often. The Rams can no longer rely on him, and Pace can no longer rely on his body. The team might give him a nudge in a few weeks by drafting Michigan's Jake Long. If Pace doesn't take the hint, the smarter move might be to move him to right tackle and treat any game in which he's actually able to play like a $20 bill found in an old pair of stone-washed jeans.

8. Chad Johnson, WR, Bengals: In a misguided effort to get out of town, the Bengals' No. 1 wideout has been threatening to retire. Coach Marvin Lewis has called his bluff. Johnson should call Marvin's bluff and pack it in. Not because it's in Johnson's best long-term interests to do so, but because the football-following world is sick of listening to his routine. The only problem is someone would likely hire Johnson to talk about football on television. So maybe it's better if he doesn't retire. Ever.

9. Troy Brown, WR, free agent: Brown is a legend in New England, but the Patriots aren't interested in bringing him back for another year. Arguably, however, Brown has been on scholarship for several seasons; he has started only 12 games in four years. Last month, Brown visited the Jets. Sure, he's free to go where he wants, but why taint his legacy in Boston to spend another season riding the pine? He has as much of a claim to the launch of the Pats' dynasty as does Tom Brady or Adam Vinatieri. If Brown finishes his career in another helmet, the memory of Pats fans regarding this specific point could fade a bit.

10. Matt Jones, WR, Jaguars: Three years ago, Jones created a huge buzz in the days leading up to the draft. Chris Mortensen of ESPN sang Jones' praises, predicting he'd qualify for more Pro Bowls than pretty much any of the rest of the skill-position players taken in Round 1. But in his third year -- the one in which receivers are supposed to break out -- Jones had a career low in catches (24) and yards (317). Although he still has the physical tools to remain in the NFL for several more years, the reality is that Jones, by all appearances, doesn't care. And if he doesn't care, he should quit. There are too many guys with less natural ability, but loads more desire and heart. Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a frequent contributor to Sporting News.

48 Comments On: "10-pack: Players who should retire"

 
Troy Brown, Zach Thomas, Pace, and Odgen I agree with. Thomas is one concussion away from having his brain turned into Jello. Brown had his run doubt he'll impact anyones roster, he needs to go be receivers coach somewhere. Byron Leftwich might be forced into retirement the way he's played over the last few seasons. Good Read!!!!!!

thanks gunna, always appreciated from you!!!!

good article, and it was pretty serious until it mentioned Chad Johnson and Matt Jones. The guys are young and Jones was a bust...so that means he should retire? I'm all for the older fogeys who are hangin on by their dentures, but don't put young players in there who still have a chance to show their worth

yeah i didn't get the chad one either.....
hangin on by there dentures LMAO!!!!!

Chad can retire and then re-up with Dallas. Hell yeah!!!!!

I agree. Troy Brown should retire. I love him as my fav player, but really is 37 this year or something like that. That being said..why do they NOT want to retire??? I mean I like my job too, but if I could retire at 37 I would be like C-YA!!!! thanks and give me my comp package with xtra zeros please!!

lol chicka!!!
good reply!!!

Im glad someone posted this I just read this thinking this guy is crazy. Matt Jones? come on

thanks gotfive!!!

we can throw in junior seau also

hey welcome back love4dastar!

thanks ck0712...been busy with some stuff for class...the professors r killin me this semester...but i'm back

glad to see you, glad all is well !!!

Seems to me like Seau had a good year last year considering how long he's been around.

he did indeed fiver!!!

Taylor and Ocho don't make any sense - Taylor is a year removed from his reign as DPOY, and Johnson, despite his antics, is one of the best receivers in the league and works hard at what he does. And as long as Big Strahan wants to play, he's still doing a decent job, what's the big worry?

Add Steve McNair to the list, please.

kgoon- took the words right off of my keyboard. As far as Strahan is concerned, the NYG can very well be a SB contender next season, but to go out on top and healthy would be nice for him, too.

true mom, very true....i'm a sucka for him & shockey LOL!

Steve McNair definitely.........Strahan? No. He had a good year, too. Not the norm but not bad.

Agreed, i dig strahan anyway i hope he hangs around for at least one more year!!

Can we add an owner in there? Ahem - Al Davis.

LMAO!!! i hear that GSWgirl

Wow, a Raider fan who actually realizes that Davis is hurting the team ... how fascinating.

I think you would be suprised. He is not very popular in Oakland.
He did great things back in his day but after that fiasco with the resignation letter......everyone just thinks he's senile.

That's because he is.

strahans funny...ill miss tha GAP if wnas when he goes... dont understand the ocho thing...all the others can go...o yea add dan morgan MR. CONCUSSION. himself.

mr. concussion lol!

Lorenzo neal should retire. Actually i think he will.

he just might rhcp!!

Donovan should be at the top of this list.

i say that the WR stuff is messed up but (except brown) CK awsome as usual and i think old Vinny needs to just stay gone he keeps showing back up hes like herpes just go away

LMAO! 520 !!!

alright i may be an idiot for asking CK but i honestly dont know what LMAO means could somebody tell me?

laughing my a$$ off
:)

Not up on that internet lingo, killa?

Don't feel bad - that took me a few weeks to figure out. LMAO!!

i overuse it ;0 !!!!

the top 4 yes and ogden and pace....troy brown i guess so but not leftwich jones and chad....jones can be makin money as a backup leftwich same thing and chad has more years

agreed birdsfan, nice to see u !!

Matt Jones, wasnt very good in my book. Saying that he was a bust because of one bad year is a little far fetched as well. If anyone doesnt remember he was a QB his whole life.... Then going to WR in the NFL probably takes a couple of years to get used to. Everybody has a bad year here and there... Chris Mortensen liked Matt because his son was behind him on the depth chart!! He likes Arkansas a lot.

yes, excellent points, the oneandonly !!

I live just outside Jacksonville, and I know that Matt Jones sucks really bad

thaks ck u da WOman!

rings i cant lie to u bro i was always to busy to jump on this craze when i wasent playin football ii was traning for foot ball by wrestling or running tack to stay in shape for football so i started doing this recently when i was layed up with a cartiledge tair in my knee so i just startede traning agian so i probably wont be bloging much guys but ill check in when i can and im sure every time i do im sure there will be some new HIPE JIVE FUNKY FRESH 23 SCEDO LENGO to learn and i look dumb then so much love to all u guys.

no worries 520-no question is ever dumb, that's for sure :) ask away!!!!

Trent Green had two major concussions in his career and they didn't come til way into it last year and the year before, but to say he is concussion prone is a bit over exaggerated both hits were ridiculous hits that would have put anybpody in that postion

Chad Jonhsons let me put it in a way you can understand LMAO!!!! yeah right just becasue he wants more money and is being an ass doesn't mean he can't play in fact when he gets signed or traded he will still be top 10 receivers got to be kidding me man

Marvin HArrison or Isacc Bruce makes way more sense

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